Ver. 29. The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, &c.— Houbigant renders this verse, the things which were hidden with the Lord our God, are revealed to us and our children for many generations; that we may obey all the words of this law: i.e. says he, "Those things, which, by God's providence, are to happen hereafter, are made known to us by prophesy, that we, who hear how many and great evils threaten our posterity, if rebellious against God, may fear, and obey his laws." The words are spoken in the persons of those who are introduced as speaking in the preceding verses. Grotius understands it in pretty nearly the same sense, abscondita Domino Deo nostro, et revelata nobis; i.e. "those secret things of the Lord our God heretofore secret, are now revealed to us and our posterity." So that, in this view, the words might properly enough be rendered, the secret things of the Lord our God are revealed to us and our children for ever, &c. The reader will observe, that, in our version, there are many words inserted in italics, which frequently render a translation doubtful, as those words are never in the Hebrew. Those, however, who approve our version, (which may in some measure be justified, and rendered more near the Hebrew, secret things are for the Lord our God, and revealed things for us, &c.) may thus understand the passage: Should particular circumstances be inquired into, such as, whether the Hebrew nation will actually revolt from God, and at what time the punishments before described will be inflicted upon them or their posterity, Moses replies, that such events are among the secrets of Providence, which it is not proper for men to know. Mean time, says he, it is sufficient for you to be plainly told the consequences of a wilful breach of those laws which God has revealed to you and to your children. Thus the expression will be much of the same import with that of our Saviour, Acts 1:7. It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father hath put in his own power. Dr. Beaumont observes, that, upon these last words of this chapter, the Hebrew text has extraordinary marks, to raise the greater attention to the matter in hand. See Stillingfleet's Origines Sacrae, p. 215.
REFLECTIONS.—We have here the covenant laid before them, and warmly recommended to them. 1. The parties of the covenant: God, as their God, engaging to bless them with every mercy, and confirming with an oath the immutability of his counsel; and they solemnly binding themselves, in return, to be his people, one and all. The captains and officers must subscribe to it: when great men are good men, their examples are greatly influential. Their wives and children are admitted to it. Believers' children are sharers in their covenant mercies; and not only native Israelites, but the stranger, even to the meanest follower of the camp, is invited to come. Note; None are beneath God's regard; to his covenant the poor have as welcome access as the great; and all are called to consent thereto: though sickness or business of necessity prevented personal attendance, all must come under the bonds of the covenant, and, according to their fidelity or disobedience, share the blessings or curses therein contained. 2. The great article of the covenant on God's part, is, his being their God; this comprehending all imaginable bliss and happiness: on their part, he expects (and well he may) that they shall be his people, dependent on his promises, loving him unfeignedly, and cheerfully observant of all his commands and ordinances. Nothing so reasonable as this. Note; The promises of grace must engage us to the duties of obedience. 3. As idolatry was the rock which threatened the most danger, they are especially warned to beware of it. Their abode in Egypt had probably infected them, and the idols of the nations they had passed by had ensnared them; they had need therefore to watch against so besetting, and withal so provoking a sin, lest ruin inevitable and dreadful should come upon them for their idolatry, whether on individuals or the whole nation. [1.] On individuals. None can escape God's eye; none are above his arm, or beneath his notice. We have this apostacy from God set in very striking colours: (1.) It begins in the departure of the heart from God, to some creature-love and idol-service. (2.) The fruit from this root is gall and wormwood, detestable principles, malignant and poisonous, and a conversation corrupt and abominable, adding drunkenness to thirst. (3.) Withal, the sinner, secure and confident, promises himself peace, though walking in these vile imaginations of his heart. But, (4.) His fearful end approaches, and the smoaking wrath of God will seize him in the midst of his fatal security. Hence learn, 1. That many are blessing themselves, over whom the curse of God hangs terrible. 2. That insensibility is one of the most fatal symptoms of a desperate soul. 3. Nothing more effectually serves to stupify the conscience than a habit of drunkenness. 4. They, who now glory in their shame, are like those who got drunk in honour of their idols, and sin with greater aggravation. 5. Let the presumptuous sinner tremble; the wrath of God abideth on him: his smoaking jealousy, like a fiery furnace, shall burn, and none shall quench it; deep as hell, abiding as the days of eternity; under it, the perishing wretch must lie down without pity, without reprieve, and, worse than all, without hope of abatement of his torment, or end of his misery. O that sinners were wise, that they understood these things, that they would consider their latter end! [2.] On the whole nation the same sins would bring the same punishment. Their land would become as the sulphureous plains of Sodom; and to this day, that once fruitful spot of Judea bears the marks of this divine curse, being now almost desolate of inhabitants, and barren as the rocky wilderness. A scene so strange could not but excite the neighbouring nations to inquire into the cause; and the answer is fully satisfactory: Because they forsook the God of their fathers, transgressed his covenant, and turned unto idols; therefore are these curses come upon them, and their desolations accomplished. Note; (1.) The judgments of God should awaken our inquiries into the cause of them, that we may take warning. (2.) They, who have abused the greatest national privileges, may expect the heaviest national visitations. (3.) They, who forsake their fathers' God, deserve to lose their fathers' inheritance. Lastly, He concludes with silencing every objection which might be raised against God's judgments, and with an admonition to follow the plain and clear revelation of God's will. Note; (1.) There are a thousand questions that curious pride would ask, which God forbids to answer. (2.) All that is needful for us to know, we may know, if we consult God's revealed will; where he sets bounds, 'tis our wisdom to be content to be ignorant. (3.) The revelation that God has made is designed not to communicate speculative and useless knowledge, but to engage us to holy practice and dutiful obedience. (4.) In this we cannot be too careful to walk ourselves, and instruct our children to walk, as the surest means of averting all those plagues which are ready to descend upon the ungodly.