Verse:
Deuteronomy
The LORD shall establish thee an holy (sanctify / qadowsh) people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.
Commentary by Adam Clarke
The Lord shall establish thee a holy people unto himself If thou shalt keep,
This is the sum of all blessings, to be made holy, and be preserved in holiness. Source
Here is the solemn condition; if they did not keep God's testimonies, taking them for the regulators of their lives, and according to their direction walking in his ways, under the influence and aids of his grace, then the curses, and not the blessings, must be their portion. See Deuteronomy 28:15,
Deuteronomy 28:15
However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:
Commentary by Coffman
Again notice the recurring IF in Deut. 28:9 and Deut. 28:13,14. Also, it is significant that both in this paragraph and in the preceding one, there is the exaltation of Israel "high above all nations," "the head, and not the tail," "above only, and not beneath," etc. In a word, all these blessings are merely facets of the larger promise that God would bless Israel in every conceivable way, bodily health, material wealth, victory in war, etc. etc. One cannot think of any blessing that is not included in these superlative promises, even "everything to which they would put their hands" would prosper! Source
Deut. 28:13,14
13 The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.
14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.
Commentary by David Guzik
Perhaps the best blessing has to do with Israel's own relationship with God: The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself. God would separate and obedient Israel unto Himself, speaking of a special relationship. If not for this, all the material blessings described previously would be empty.
Source
Commentary by John Gill
And the Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, Source
etc. Having separated them from all others, for his service, honour, and glory, should continue them as such, and settle them in the land, and confirm all their privileges, natural, civil, and religious. The Targum of Jonathan is, he that brought them out of Egypt, through the Red sea and wilderness, to the land of Canaan: as he hath sworn unto thee:
``the Word of the Lord shall establish thee''
and to their fathers; see (Deuteronomy 7:12,13) ; if thou shall keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways;by which tenure they held the land of Canaan, and their settlement and continuance in it, and enjoyment of all the good things thereof; see (Isaiah 1:19,20) .
Deuteronomy 7:12,13
12 If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your forefathers.
13 He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land-your grain, new wine and oil-the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land that he swore to your forefathers to give you.
Isaiah 1:19,20
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the best from the land;
20 but if you resist and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword."
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Commentary by John Wesley
Establish thee - Shall confirm his covenant with thee, by which he separated thee to himself as an holy and peculiar people.
Source
Commentary by Matthew Henry
We have here the conditions upon which the blessing is promised. (2.) From the whole we learn (though it were well if men would believe it) that religion and piety are the best friends to outward prosperity. Though temporal blessings do not take up so much room in the promises of the New Testament as they do in those of the Old, yet it is enough that our Lord Jesus has given us his word (and surely we may take his word) that if we seek first the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof, all other things shall be added to us, as far as Infinite Wisdom sees good; and who can desire them further? Matthew 6:33.
1. It is upon condition that they diligently hearken to the voice of God (Deuteronomy 28:1,2), that they hear God speaking to them by his word, and use their utmost endeavours to acquaint themselves with his will, Deuteronomy 28:13. 2. Upon condition that they observe and do all his commandments (and in order to obedience there is need of observation) and that they keep the commandments of God (Deuteronomy 28:9) and walk in his ways. Not only do them for once, but keep them for ever; not only set out in his ways, but walk in them to the end.
Deuteronomy 28:13
The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.
3. Upon condition that they should not go aside either to the right hand or to the left, either to superstition on the one hand, or profaneness on the other; and particularly that they should not go after other gods (Deuteronomy 28:14), which was the sin that of all others they were most prone to, and God would be most displeased with. Let them take care to keep up religion, both the form and power of it, in their families and nation, and God would not fail to bless them.
Deuteronomy 28:14
Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them. It is likewise promised that the grace of God should establish them a holy people, Deuteronomy 28:9. Having taken them into covenant with himself, he would keep them in covenant; and, provided they used the means of stedfastness, he would give them the grace of stedfastness, that they should not depart from him. Note, Those that are sincere in holiness God will establish in holiness; and he is of power to do it, Romans 16:25. He that is holy shall be holy still; and those whom God establishes in holiness he thereby establishes a people to himself, for a long as we keep close to God he will never forsake us.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Source
Romans 16:25
Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past,
About Commentary Authors
Prepared by William C. Barman for George Young Memorial United Methodist Church -- Palm Harbor, FL on 10/3/03; 5:46:05 PM