Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 5

Verse 3

"Handfuls of Purpose"

"The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day." Deu 5:3

There is a general revelation intended for all men through all time. There is also a special revelation given to individuals, and limited by precise periods of duration. All moral revelation that is, revelation dealing with righteousness, truth, duty is universal and everlasting. Jesus Christ answered the lawyer who temptingly questioned him, "What is written in the law? how readest thou?" Whilst it is true that some portions of the Bible were written for individuals, and were limited by local circumstances, it is surprising how many of these apparently merely local texts assume a relation to our individual necessities. Wherever this is the case we have been mistaken in calling such passages local and limited. The heart often creates its own Scripture. When the true soul reads the Bible and sees in it an anticipation of his distresses and a remedy for his sufferings, he is entitled to believe that the passage was written for himself as if he had been the only individual in the world. We are not to go in quest of these passages as if with an intention to force them into new meanings, but when they open naturally to the touch of necessity and pain we are certainly entitled to accept their doctrine and their solace. It is beyond all doubt that every law bearing upon purity of spirit and goodness of conduct was written for the benefit of the whole race throughout every age of its development. This is at once the glory and the defence of the Bible. It abides through all time; the Word of the Lord endureth for ever. The Bible is a book addressed to humanity, and therefore it is at home in every land and in every language. It has been remarked upon as a notable and suggestive circumstance that no book is so available for purposes of translation into all tongues as is the Bible. Every man whose soul is hungry has, by virtue of his hunger, a right to this tree of life. Let every one beware, however, how he takes the consolations and omits the commandments. This would be a felonious use of the Scriptures. The Bible is not to be read as a compliment to our feelings, but as a stimulus to our whole nature, that the man of God may be thoroughly instructed and perfected in all holiness. Many men are particular about having the covenants confirmed who do not appear to be quite so particular about having the commandments obeyed.