Deuteronomy 17

And you shall find a mighty power in it to bear fruit, as if you were planted by the rivers of waters, for the Spirit of God breathing in the word, and your hearts sucking it up, and by meditating upon it, you grow in more knowledge in the object of your faith, in the rootedness…

1. Why three? So great an action as this was needed valuable testimony, for the law says in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every thing shall be established (Deuteronomy 17:6). Now Christ would go to the utmost of the law, and would have not two only but three witnesses, as…

Therefore we may not swell in pride for outward things. The king must not lift up his heart against his brethren (Deuteronomy 17:20). Rich men (says Paul) must not be high-minded (1 Timothy 6:17).

The second answer is, that God did not approve the polygamy of the fathers, or commend it, but did only tolerate it, as a lesser evil, for the preventing of a greater. This toleration appears, in that God commanded that the king must not multiply his wives (Deuteronomy 17:17), a…

Here is our limit; we may not desire to be rich (verse 9). The king himself must not multiply his gold, and silver (Deuteronomy 17:17), and yet has he more need of gold and silver, than any private man. 4. There must be a moderation in the spending of our goods: contrary to the…

3. for men of the same country. Thus all the Jews are called brethren one to another (Deuteronomy 17:15), From among your brethren shall you make a king over you, and (Deuteronomy 23:19), You shall not give to usury to your brother, and (Romans 9:1), Paul says, he could wish him…

For they had turned them from the confidence which they ought to have had in God: it being the custom of Princes to solicit their neighbors, and offering them help, to the end they may use them afterward in the like case. But God had forbidden the Jews to go down into Egypt for…

In which respect it is no marvel that our Prophet is so earnest in rebuking of them for so monstrous an outrage. Their very going down into Egypt simply considered in itself deserved a sharp reprehension, because God had forbidden them so to do (Deuteronomy 17:16, 28), but the o…

Our Lord reckoned it enough to select three witnesses, because that is the number which the Law has laid down for proving anything; at the mouth of two witnesses or three witnesses, (Deuteronomy 17:6.) The difference as to time ought not to give us uneasiness.

Therefore, as before Job joined counselors with kings, so here he joins gold with princes; the next expedient for princes to counsel and wisdom, are gold and treasures. We find indeed, that God gives it in charge to the kings of Israel, concerning their gathering of treasures, t…

Mercy] The former word teaches us how great the change is that is wrought by the calling of God, this teaches us how free it is; the people of God, that is the good attained in the change, obtained mercy, that is the spring from where it flows; it is implied indeed in the words…

If you would know whether or not you are the children of God, see that of the Apostle (Romans 8:16): The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. As under the Law, in the mouth of two witnesses every doubtful thing was to be established (Deut…

But indeed, a not insignificant question arises here: how are those said to have sinned who appear to have asked for a king according to God's plan? For God had once spoken through Moses in Deuteronomy 17: 'Only set over yourself a king whom the Lord your God shall choose,' etc.…

For those who sit at the helm receive from prescribed laws what their duty is, with God himself as teacher and master. For in Deuteronomy 17 God prescribes what the future right of the king shall be, as we shall see below. But there is another kind of right, namely with respect…

In favor of this sense it may be alleged, 1. That certainly the king was bound to study the law of God, as you shall see (Deuteronomy 17:18-19). When he sits upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the pri…

By judgments is meant the precepts and directions of the word, as invested with threatenings and promises; for so the word contains every man's doom: not only the execution of God's providence, but the word shows what will become of a man. Now these I have laid before me; that i…

1. Doctrine: That nothing is so necessary for the potentates of the world to know, as God's testimonies. The King of Israel was to write a copy of the law of God in a book, and to have it ever before him, that he might read therein, and learn to fear the Lord his God (Deuteronom…

The word signifies either to turn aside, or to turn back. Sometimes it is put for turning aside to the right hand or to the left: as (Deuteronomy 17:11): You shall not decline from the way which they shall show to you, to the right hand or to the left. Sometimes for turning back…

[illegible], as Hierocles, to be banished from God, and the divine life, is the worst of deaths. 2 'Tis a curse, an accursed state, to be under the curse of God; as (Matthew 25:41) not only depart from me, but depart you cursed: There's not the least dram of blessing or blessedn…

Therefore the Lord in his infinite wisdom, does so temper the sweetness of his mercy, and the severity of his wrath, in the recovery of a lost and forlorn wretch; riches of mercy to the soul to save that, rigor of severity against the loathsomeness of sin to destroy that; so tha…

Love will be apt to grow wanton, if it be not poised with holy fear. No better Curb or Antidote against sin, than fear, Deuteronomy 17:13. They shall fear, and do no more presumptuously.

For every child of God is a child of promise: you say, you are weary of sin, and have come to Christ, and blessed are they that seek God, their hearts shall live for ever, etc. It is well; these promises will bear you out, for there is no day you read the Scripture, as daily you…

God's bestowing special spiritual mercies on a person at such a time, is no sign that he approves of every thing that he sees in him at that time. David had very much of the presence of God while he lived in polygamy: and Solomon had some very high favors, and peculiar smiles of…