IMPORTANT FOR US TO OBEY THE LORD
The prayer of Moses recorded in this verse, and his own thoughts on it are very touching. He had suffered much both in body and mind in bringing the people to the borders of the Promised Land; and it was natural enough for him to wish to see these people he has been leading established in it, and to enjoy a share of that inheritance himself, which he knew was a type of the heavenly kingdom.
“Sovereign LORD, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth WHO CAN DO THE DEEDS AND MIGHTY WORKS YOU DO? (Deut. 3:24) [But nevertheless in spite of his very earnest prayer, and God’s special favor towards him, he was not permitted to go over Jordan (Remember, he struck the rock after God told him to “speak to the rock”)! He had grieved the Spirit of God, and The Lord passed a sentence against him of prohibiting from entering the Promised Land. Yet he permitted him to see it, and gave him the fullest assurances that the people whom he had brought out of Egypt should possess it.] “Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. For the LORD your God IS A CONSUMING FIRE, a jealous God.” (Deut. 4:23-24) [They had seen him on the mount as a consuming fire, while appearing to Moses, and giving the law; and they had seen him as A CONSUMING FIRE in the case of Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their company (They directly disobeyed the Lord and He opened the earth and swallowed them up.). They had, therefore, every good reason of what to expect from his approval, and every evil to fear of what to expect from his annoyance.] “For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.” (Deut. 4:31) [I thank God for his everlasting mercy!] “For his anger lasts only a moment, but HIS FAVOR LASTS A LIFETIME; weeping may stay for the night, but REJOICING COMES IN THE MORNING.” (Psa. 30:5) [God is so good, that he cannot delight in either the depression or ruin of his creation. When he troubles us, it is for our advantage, that we may be partakers of his holiness, and not be condemned with the world. If he be angry with us, it is just for a moment; but when we choose to serve him, and seek his face, his favor is soon obtained, and there are lives in that favor – the life that NOW is, and THE LIFE THAT IS TO COME.]
Be blessed as you praise The Lord, knowing that THAT WEEPING MAY STAY FOR THE NIGHT, BUT REJOICING COMES IN THE MORNING!
-Bill Stockham
Related items
Facebook Comments
