patriarchs and prophets-第121章
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of obedience； and the curses that would follow upon transgression：
〃If thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God； to
observe and to do all His commandments which I command thee this day；〃
〃blessed shalt thou be in the city； and blessed shalt thou be in the field；〃
in 〃the fruit of thy body； and the fruit of thy ground； and the fruit of thy
cattle。 。 。 。 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store。 Blessed shalt thou
be when thou comest in； and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out。 The
Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten
before thy face。 。 。 。 The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy
storehouses； and in all that thou settest thine hand unto。〃
〃But it shall come to pass； if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the
Lord thy God； to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I
command thee this day； that all these curses shall come upon thee；〃 〃and
thou shalt become an astonishment； a proverb； and a byword； among all
nations whither the Lord shall lead thee。〃 〃And the Lord shall scatter thee
among all people； from the one end of the earth even unto the other； and
there thou shalt serve other gods； which neither thou nor thy fathers have
known； even wood and stone。 And among these nations shalt thou find no ease；
neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest： but the Lord shall give thee
there a trembling heart； and failing of eyes； and sorrow of mind： and thy
life shall hang in doubt before thee； and thou shalt fear
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day and night； and shalt have none assurance of thy life： in the morning
thou shalt say； Would God it were even！ and at even thou shalt say； Would
God it were morning！ for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear；
and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see。〃
By the Spirit of Inspiration； looking far down the ages； Moses pictured the
terrible scenes of Israel's final overthrow as a nation； and the destruction
of Jerusalem by the armies of Rome： 〃The Lord shall bring a nation against
thee from far； from the end of the earth； as swift as the eagle flieth； a
nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand； a nation of fierce
countenance； which shall not regard the person of the old； nor show favor to
the young。〃
The utter wasting of the land and the horrible suffering of the people
during the siege of Jerusalem under Titus centuries later； were vividly
portrayed： 〃He shall eat the fruit of thy cattle； and the fruit of thy land；
until thou be destroyed。 。 。 。 And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates；
until thy high and fenced walls come down； wherein thou trustedst；
throughout all thy land。 。 。 。 Thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body；
the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters； which the Lord thy God hath
given thee； in the siege； and in the straitness； wherewith thine enemies
shall distress thee。〃 〃The tender and delicate woman among you； which would
not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness
and tenderness； her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom； 。 。 。
and toward her children which she shall bear： for she shall eat them for
want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness； wherewith thine
enemy shall distress thee in thy gates。〃
Moses closed with these impressive words： 〃I call heaven and earth to record
this day against you； that I have set before you life and death； blessing
and cursing： therefore choose life； that both thou and thy seed may live：
that thou mayest love the Lord thy God； and that thou mayest obey His voice；
and that thou mayest cleave unto Him： for He is thy life； and the length of
thy days： that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy
fathers； to Abraham； to Isaac； and to Jacob； to give them。〃 Deuteronomy
30：19； 20。
The more deeply to impress these truths upon all minds； the great leader
embodied them in sacred verse。 This song was not
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only historical； but prophetic。 While it recounted the wonderful dealings of
God with His people in the past； it also foreshadowed the great events of
the future； the final victory of the faithful when Christ shall come the
second time in power and glory。 The people were directed to commit to memory
this poetic history； and to teach it to their children and children's
children。 It was to be chanted by the congregation when they assembled for
worship； and to be repeated by the people as they went about their daily
labors。 It was the duty of parents to so impress these words upon the
susceptible minds of their children that they might never be forgotten。
Since the Israelites were to be； in a special sense； the guardians and
keepers of God's law； the significance of its precepts and the importance of
obedience were especially to be impressed upon them； and through them； upon
their children and children's children。 The Lord commanded concerning His
statutes： 〃Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children； and shalt
talk of them when thou sittest in thine house； and when thou walkest by the
way； and when thou liest down； and when thou risest up。 。 。 。 And thou shalt
write them upon the posts of thy house； and on thy gates。〃
When their children should ask in time to come； 〃What mean the testimonies；
and the statutes； and the judgments； which the Lord our God hath commanded
you？ then the parents were to repeat the history of God's gracious dealings
with themhow the Lord had wrought for their deliverance that they might
obey His Lawand to declare to them； 〃The Lord commanded us to do all these
statutes； to fear the Lord our God； for our good always； that He might
preserve us alive； as it is at this day。 And it shall be our righteousness；
if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God as He
hath commanded us。〃
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Chapter 43
The Death of Moses
In all the dealings of God with His people there is； mingled with His love
and mercy； the most striking evidence of His strict and impartial justice。
This is exemplified in the history of the Hebrew people。 God had bestowed
great blessings upon Israel。 His loving…kindness toward them is touchingly
portrayed： 〃As an eagle stirreth up her nest； fluttereth over her young；
spreadeth abroad her wings； taketh them； beareth them on her wings： so the
Lord alone did lead him。〃 And yet what swift and severe retribution was
visited upon them for their transgressions！
The infinite love of God has been manifested in the gift of His
only…begotten Son to redeem a lost race。 Christ came to the earth to reveal
to men the character of His Father； and His life was filled with deeds of
divine tenderness and compassion。 And yet Christ Himself declares； 〃Till
heaven and earth pass； one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the
law。〃 Matthew 5：18。 The same voice that with patient； loving entreaty
invites the sinner to come to Him and find pardon and peace； will in the
judgment bid the rejecters of His mercy； 〃Depart from Me； ye cursed。〃
Matthew 25：41。 In all the Bible； God is represented not only as a tender
father but as a righteous judge。 Though He delights in showing mercy； and
〃forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin；〃 yet He 〃will by no means
clear the guilty。〃 Exodus 34：7。
The great Ruler of nations had declared that Moses was not to lead the
congregation of Israel into the goodly land； and the earnest pleading of
God's servant could not secure a reversing of His sentence。 He knew that he
must die。 Yet he had not for a moment faltered in his care for Israel。 He
had faithfully sought to prepare the congregation to enter upon the promised
inheritance。 At the divine command Moses and Joshua repaired to the
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tabernacle； while the pillar of cloud came and stood over the door。 Here the
people were solemnly committed to the charge of Joshua。 The work of Moses as
leader of Israel was ended。 Still he forgot himself in his interest for his
people。 In the presence of the assembled multi
