Deuteronomy 33:29 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

The man of GOD, having poured out his praises on Israel's GOD, now bestows his commendation on Israel. They have the eternal GOD for their refuge. JEHOVAH is engaged in all his covenant relations for their defense. He will protect, and govern, and bless, and rejoice over them; nay, he will not only protect, and govern, and bless them, but he will destroy their enemies. And when he hath thrust out all before them, they shall dwell securely in their GOD; they shalt abound with a fulness of all blessings; corn and wine shall be their sustenance, and their heavens shall drop down dew. If we read these things as temporal mercies, we must read them with certain limitations. It is sad to consider how Israel, in after ages, forfeited these things by their disobedience and ingratitude. But if we read them spiritually, and with an eye to the gospel church of the LORD JESUS, (and which no doubt, is the chief sense of the words), to what a degree of greatness and sublimity do the blessings then rise to our view? Reader! look at the gospel church of the LORD JESUS; and see the Israel of GOD in him! Here indeed, the eternal GOD is the refuge of his people; for in the Covenant of redemption, in the blood and righteousness of JESUS, all the perfections of the GODHEAD are made over in an everlasting covenant, which cannot be broken, for the eternal security of his people. And GOD is not only the support and security of his people; but he is their refuge, their hiding place, their everlasting, and eternal home. Hence one of old, calls the LORD his hiding place, and bids his soul to return to his rest. See Psa_46:1; Psa_32:7; Psa_90:1; Psa_116:7. And how is the church of the LORD JESUS provided for? Every individual believer of it, hath the charter of all these blessings secured to him, in the blood of the covenant. GOD the FATHER is his, in all his covenant relations. JESUS, in his person, offices, and character; and the HOLY GHOST, with all his gracious influences. These mercies are the fountain of Jacob here spoken of, because they are fountain mercies indeed, which send off streams innumerable, to make glad the city of GOD. These are the heavens which drop down their dew upon the church, and every individual believer of it, to refresh, to comfort, to enlarge, and make fruitful. Well might the man of GOD, in a review of these things, and well may everyone interested in them, echo to the same, and cry out, as he did, Happy art thou, O Israel, who is like unto thee, O people, saved by the LORD!