Ver. 25. It shall be our righteousness— Houbigant renders this, for a just reward shall not be wanting to us, if, &c. that is, says he, the promised reward mentioned in the foregoing verse. The word צדק zedek is often so used, as well as the Chaldee וזכותא uzekutha, which the Latin interpreter well renders praemium, reward: the LXX and Vulgate render it, and it shall be mercy, or, he will be merciful to us, if, &c. Our version, however, may well be justified.
REFLECTIONS.—Repeated warnings are needful. 1. He charges them in no exigence to distrust God's power or love; assuring them, that diligent obedience would be crowned with infallible success against all their enemies. Whilst we trust God, and follow on in the way of duty, his promise secures our safety and happiness. 2. They, must seize every opportunity to instruct their children, that their religion, and the deep remembrance of God's dealings with them, may be transmitted to their latest posterity. Hearing so often the law read and taught, and seeing so many rites and ceremonies performed, their children would be naturally inquisitive into the meaning of them; then they must seize the good opportunity to inform them of their former deplorable estate in Egypt, the great deliverances wrought for them, and the favours bestowed on them in these institutions, in the perfect observance of which they might attain righteousness and life. Note; (1.) It should be highly pleasing to parents to hear their children's inquiries about the things of God. It is their duty to inform them, even when they are averse from instruction; and how much more so, when teachable and desirous to learn. (2.) Righteousness and life eternal are inseparable: not indeed to be obtained by a sinner through obedience to the law, but by him who is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.