Deuteronomy 3:23-25 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

As this is a very interesting part in the life of Moses, and as the subject held forth to us in it is highly instructive, I would beg the Reader to pause over it, and remark with me some of the sweet considerations which arise out of it. And first, consider the mercy prayed for. It was to see that good land, which was Canaan, the glory of all lands, as the Prophet called it. Ezekiel 20:6. But it was not simply the good land of Canaan, considered in respect to its fruitfulness and excellency, but that goodly mountain and Lebanon, which Moses longed to behold. And, if I mistake, not, the reason was this: that goodly mountain was mount Moriah, that memorable spot where Abraham offered up Isaac, and which was to become yet infinitely more memorable in gospel-days, when JESUS, by the one offering of himself, should forever perfect them that are sanctified. That Moses, under the divine illumination of the HOLY GHOST, had such views of salvation, and was perfectly satisfied in all the great leading points of it, no one, I think, can doubt who compares his first vision of JESUS at the bush with what the apostle relates of his faith, under which all his ministry, he expressly tells us, was conducted. It was by faith that he esteemed the reproach of CHRIST greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. It was through faith he kept the passover. And what faith, but faith in the promised and expected Redeemer? Hence the mercy he prayed for was to behold that memorable spot, which should be sacred in after ages to the ministry of the LORD JESUS. Hebrews 11:26, etc. But this is not all; for secondly, let us consider the arguments by which he pleaded for the mercy, and they were the LORD'S past blessings, which are no doubt the strongest of all possible reasons to hope in the completion and fulfillment of all that are to come. It is true, the LORD had before threatened that he should not go over. But as the LORD had not sworn to it, as he did in the case of the spies, there appeared to be room for prayer. See the cases of Hezekiah and Jonah, 2 Kings 20:1-6; Jonah 3:4.