I. A leading feature, theleading feature, of the Old Testament revelation, is that life and all that crowns it its crown of blessings is the gift of a living, intelligent Being, and comes to us bearing the seal of His love. The Jews were separated to this end, that God's methods and purposes with all men might be laid bare, that for once the Hand might be clearly manifest which is busy about every life. All things happened unto them for our ensamples, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the world are come.
II. The motive which is pleaded for all the noblest human effort is God's example. God has done thus and thus for you; "Go ye and do likewise" for your fellow-men.
III. The exhortations of Scripture are amply sustained by our own experience of life. There is no joy that fills man's heart which is comparable with that which he shares with God. Man's gladdest experiences, his most self-approved acts and ministries, are those which have absolutely no explanation but in his Godlikeness.
IV. Part of this Godlike duty finds expression in the text. "They shall not appear before the Lord empty." Help God, for His great mercy's sake, to help the world.
V. Another great thought of the Old Testament is the help which it is in man's power to render to God. These old records show us how much there is that God's heart most deeply cares for in which our help is essential. His ends can never be reached without us in the way in which His wisdom has ordered the world.
J. Baldwin Brown, The Sunday Afternoon,p. 71.
References: Deuteronomy 16:17. Parker, vol. v., p. 10. Deuteronomy 16:18. Clergyman's Magazine,vol. iv., p. 208. Deuteronomy 16 Parker, vol. iv., p. 255.