121275489 deuteronomy-33-verse-20-24

DEUTERONOMY 33 VERSE 20-24
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
20 About Gad he said:
“Blessed is he who enlarges Gad’s domain!
Gad lives there like a lion,
tearing at arm or head.
BARNES, “i. e., Blessed be God who shall grant to Gad a spacious territory. Compare the
blessing of Shem Gen_9:26.
With the crown - Rather, yea, the crown. The warlike character of this tribe is shown by their
leading the van in the long campaigns of Joshua (compare Jos_4:12-13; Jos_22:1-4). Compare
also 1Ch_5:18-22; 1Ch_12:8 ff, and the acts of Jehu, the Gadite, in 2 Kings 9; 10.
CLARKE, “Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad - As deliverance out of distress is termed enlarging,
(see Psa_4:1), this may refer to God’s deliverance of the tribe of Gad out of that distress
mentioned Gen_49:19, and to the enlargement obtained through means of Jephthah, Jdg_11:33,
and probably also to the victories obtained by Gad and Reuben over the Hagarites, 1Ch_5:18-20.
He dwelleth as a lion - Probably the epithet of lion or lion-like was applied to this tribe from
their fierce and warlike disposition. And on this supposition, 1Ch_12:8, will appear to be a
sufficient comment: And of the Gadites there were men of might, men of war for the battle, that
could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were Like The Faces Of Lions, and were as swift as
the roes upon the mountains. Tearing the arm or shoulder with the crown of the head seems
simply to mean that no force should be able to prevail over them, or stand against them; as the
arm or shoulder signifies dominion, and the crown of the head, sovereign princes.
GILL, “And of Gad he said,.... The tribe of Gad, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem:
blessed be he that enlargeth Gad; that is, the Lord, to whom the praise and glory were to be
given, who had appointed to Gad a large inheritance on the other side Jordan, and had settled
him in it, and which became larger by the conquest of the Hagarites, and others, 1Ch_5:18,
he dwelleth as a lion; bold and courageous, secure, and without fear of any of his enemies, though
near him, on his borders, as the Moabites and Ammonites were; of the same spirit and temper
were the men of the tribe of Gad in the times of David, 1Ch_12:8,
and teareth the arm with the crown of the head, at once, just as a lion tears its prey; which
figurative phrases are expressive of this tribe conquering and destroying strong and mighty men,
signified by the "arm", in which the strength of a man lies, and of kings and governors, pointed
at by the "crown of the head"; as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; which was done in the
times of Joshua, when with and under him they subdued and destroyed the kings and princes of
the land of Canaan.

HENRY, “The blessing of the tribe of Gad comes next, Deu_33:20, Deu_33:21. This was one of
the tribes that was already seated on that side Jordan where Moses now was. Now,
1. He foretels what this tribe would be, Deu_33:20. (1.) That it would be enlarged, as at present
it had a spacious allotment; and he gives God the glory both of its present and of its future
extent: Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad. We find how this tribe was enlarged by their success in a
war which it seems they carried on very religiously against the Hagarites, 1Ch_5:19, 1Ch_5:20,
1Ch_5:22. Note, God is to have the glory of all our enlargements. (2.) That it would be a valiant
and victorious tribe, would, if let alone, dwell secure and fearless as a lion; but, if provoked,
would, like a lion, tear the arm with the crown of the head; that is, would pull in pieces all that
stood in his way, both the arm (that is, the strength) and the crown of the head (that is, the policy
and authority) of his enemies. In David's time there were Gadites whose faces were as the faces of
lions, 1Ch_12:8. Some reckon Jehu to be of this tribe, because the first mention we have of him is
at Ramoth Gilead, which belonged to Gad, and they think this may refer to his valiant acts.
2. He commends this tribe for what they had done and were now doing, Deu_33:21. (1.) They
had done very wisely for themselves, when they chose their lot with the first, in a country already
conquered: He provided the first part for himself; though he had a concern for his brethren, yet
his charity began at home, and he was willing to see himself first served, first settled. The Gadites
were the first and most active movers for an allotment on that side Jordan, and therefore are still
mentioned before the Reubenites in the history of that affair, Num_32:2. And thus, while the
other tribes had their portion assigned them by Joshua the conqueror, Gad and his companions
had theirs from Moses the law-giver, and in it they were seated by law; or (as the word is)
covered or protected by a special providence which watched over those that were left behind,
while the men of war went forward with their brethren. Note, Men will praise thee when thou
doest well for thyself (when thou providest first for thyself, as Gad did), Psa_49:18. And God will
praise thee when thou doest well for thy soul, which is indeed thyself, and providest the first part
for that in a portion from the law-giver. (2.) They were now doing honestly and bravely for their
brethren; for they came with the heads of the people, before whom they went armed over Jordan,
to execute the justice of the Lord upon the Canaanites, under the conduct of Joshua, to whom we
afterwards find they solemnly vowed obedience, Jos_1:12, Jos_1:16. This was what they
undertook to do when they had their lot assigned them, Num_32:27. This they did, Jos_4:12.
And, when the wars of Canaan were ended, Joshua dismissed them with a blessing, Jos_22:7.
Note, It is a blessed and honourable thing to be helpful to our brethren in their affairs, and
particularly to assist in executing the justice of the Lord by suppressing that which is provoking
to him: it was this that was counted to Phinehas for righteousness.
JAMISON, “of Gad he said — Its possessions were larger than they would have been had they
lain west of Jordan; and this tribe had the honor of being settled by Moses himself in the first
portion of land conquered. In the forest region, south of the Jabbok, “he dwelt as a lion”
(compare Gen_30:11; Gen_49:19). Notwithstanding, they faithfully kept their engagement to join
the “heads of the people” [Deu_33:21] in the invasion of Canaan.
K&D, “Gad. - “Blessed be He that enlargeth Gad: like a lioness he lieth down, and teareth the arm,

yea, the crown of the head. And he chose his first-fruit territory, for there was the leader's portion
kept; and he came to the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the Lord, and his rights with
Israel.” Just as in the blessing of Noah (Gen_9:26) the God of Shem is praised, to point out the
salvation appointed by God for Shem, so here Moses praises the Lord, who enlarged Gad, i.e.,
who not only gave him a broad territory in the conquered kingdom of Sihon, but furnished
generally an unlimited space for his development (vid., Gen_26:22), so that he might unfold his
lion-like nature in conflict with his foes. On the figure of a lioness, see Gen_49:9; and on the
warlike character of the Gadites, the remarks on the blessing of Jacob upon Gad (Gen_49:19).
The second part of the blessing treats of the inheritance which Gad obtained from Moses at his
own request beyond Jordan. , with an accusative and , signifies to look out something for
oneself (Gen_22:8; 1Sa_16:17). The “first-fruit” refers here to the first portion of the land which
Israel received for a possession; this is evident from the reason assigned,

, whilst the
statement that Gad chose the hereditary possession is in harmony with Num_32:2, Num_32:6,
Num_32:25., where the children of Gad are described as being at the head of the tribes, who
came before Moses to ask for the conquered land as their possession. The meaning of the next
clause, of which very different explanations have been given, can only be, that Gad chose such a
territory for its inheritance as became a leader of the tribes. ֹ , he who determines,
commands, organizes; hence both a commander and also a leader in war. It is in the latter sense
that it occurs both here and in Jdg_5:14.
ֹ , the field, or territory of the leader, may
either be the territory appointed or assigned by the lawgiver, or the territory falling to the lot of
the leader. According to the former view, Moses would be the mechokek. But the thought, that
Moses appointed or assigned him his inheritance, could be no reason why Gad should choose it
for himself. Consequently
ֹ can only mean the possession which the mechokek chose for
himself, as befitting him, or specially adapted for him. Consequently the mechokek was not
Moses, but the tribe of Gad, which was so called because it unfolded such activity and bravery at
the head of the tribes in connection with the conquest of the land, that it could be regarded as
their leaders. This peculiar prominence on the part of the Gadites may be inferred from the fact,
that they distinguished themselves above the Reubenites in the fortification of the conquered land
(Num_32:34.). , from , to cover, hide, preserve, is a predicate, and construed as a noun, “a
thing preserved.” - On the other hand, the opinion has been very widely spread, from the time of
Onkelos down to Baumgarten and Ewald, that this hemistich refers to Moses: “there is the
portion of the lawgiver hidden,” or “the field of the hidden leader,” and that it contains an
allusion to the fact that the grave of Moses was hidden in the inheritance of Gad. But this is not
only at variance with the circumstance, that a prophetic allusion to the grave of Moses such as
Baumgarten assumes is apparently inconceivable, from the simple fact that we cannot imagine
the Gadites to have foreseen the situation of Moses' grave at the time when they selected their
territory, but also with the fact that, according to Jos_13:20, the spot where this grave was
situated (Deu_34:5) was not allotted to the tribe of Gad, but to that of Reuben; and lastly, with
the use of the word chelkah, which does not signify a burial-ground or grave. - But although Gad
chose out an inheritance for himself, he still went before his brethren, i.e., along with the rest of
the tribes, into Canaan, to perform in connection with them, what the Lord demanded of His
people as a right. This is the meaning of the second half of the verse. The clause, “he came to the
heads of the people,” does not refer to the fact that the Gadites came to Moses and the heads of
the congregation, to ask for the conquered land as a possession (Num_32:2), but expressed the
thought that Gad joined the heads of the people to go at the head of the tribes of Israel (comp.
Jos_1:14; Jos_4:12, with Num_32:17, Num_32:21, Num_32:32), to conquer Canaan with the
whole nation, and root out the Canaanites. The Gadites had promised this to Moses and the
heads of the people; and this promise Moses regarded as an accomplished act, and praised in
these words with prophetic foresight as having been already performed, and that not merely as

one single manifestation of their obedience towards the word of the Lord, but rather as a pledge
that Gad would always manifest the same disposition. “To do the righteousness of Jehovah,” i.e.,
to do what Jehovah requires of His people as righteousness - namely, to fulfil the commandments
of God, in which the righteousness of Israel was to consist (Deu_6:25). א, imperfect Kal for
א

or
א
; see Ges. §76, 2, c., and Ewald, §142, c. “With Israel:” in fellowship with (the rest of)
Israel.
HENRY LAW, “Of Gad he said, Blessed be he, that enlarges Gad--he dwells, as a lion. And of
Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp. Deut. 33:20, 22.
Moses said this about the tribe of Gad: Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad's territory! Gad is
poised there like a lion to tear off an arm or a head.
Moses said this about the tribe of Dan: Dan is a lion's cub, leaping out from Bashan. Deut.
33:20, 22
Our God omits no mode to impress holy lessons on His children's hearts. At one time simple
precepts manifest His will--and plain injunctions guide to duty's path. Now, nature's volume
lendssimilitudes. We learn to avoid evil--to seek ornaments of grace--from objects open to our
sense.
There is much wisdom in this figurative teaching. It speaks a language known in every climate. It
introduces thoughts alike familiar in the scholar's hall, and in the poor man's cottage. It strikes a
note, which every class, and state, and grade have ears to hear.
Examples throng the Bible-page. Thus lambs, which innocently sport, are chosen, as fit emblems
of meek humility and gentle patience. The serpent's subtlety supplies the pattern of
intelligence--Be wise, as serpents. The dove adjoins the model of sweet inoffensiveness--And
harmless, as doves. The eagle's lofty flight teaches, how faith should soar on high--Those who
wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength--they shall mount up with wings, as eagles. Is.
40:31. To inculcate courage, and a noble front, the Lion shows its form. And that the lesson
should take deeper root, two Tribes illustrate it. Gad dwells, as a Lion. Dan is a Lion's cub.
Believer, this picture has a voice--at all times needed--and not least so in our compromising day.
Hear it. And may the mighty Spirit help you, while you listen, to put on strength, as a belt, and
courage, as a heroic panoply! The Lion is the forest's KING. He moves pre-eminent above all
beasts. He is as monarch among lower tribes. Superiority is his conceded right.
Such is the Christian's stand among earth's sons. It is a mighty word--He has made us kings and
priests unto God and His Father. Rev. 1:6. It is a glorious title--You are a chosen generation--a
royal priesthood. 1 Pet. 2:9.
The mass of human race reach not this rank. They raise not this elevated brow. They show not
this princely demeanor. Their tastes are groveling and vile. They only care to sip the vulgar cup
of time and sense. Their sin-soiled garments and polluted feet prove, that they wallow in defiling
mire. Even liberty is unknown. The clash of heavy chains attests their bondage. Satan drags
them--and they must obey. The world gives laws--they tremblingly submit. They crouch the
slaves of many an insulting tyrant.
Believer, you only are the freedman of the Lord. You have found liberty in Christ. If the Son
shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36. You serve a Prince, who calls His
subjects to be kings. You are a royal citizen of heaven. Then live as heir of glory. Walk Lion-like
in holy majesty of grace.
We thus are led to mark the glory of this kingly animal. It is his strength and courage.

1. Strength. His sinews are as iron. His limbs are braced with might. All, who resist him, fall an
easy prey. To him to fight is victory. Assailed, he vanquishes. Assailing, he subdues. Throughout
the plain--the forest--and the hill, there is no power, which can match with his.
Here, again, is the believer's image. He is endued with inward prowess. But this is not poor
nature's gift. All enter life alike--feeble in heart, in spirit, in resolve. All are the victims of an
enervating sickness--sin. This plague weakens, as a palsy. It undermines the total fabric. The
inner man, under its touch, is worthless, as a tottering reed--a broken bow--a quivering leaf--the
empty chaff--the bubble's froth.
What has sin done? Ruin follows in its rear. Through it, the vessel, once so noble, crumbles as a
wreck--the tree, once so stately, lies low--the fortress, once so strong, is robbed of gates--spoilers
may enter--none drives them back.
Believer, I appeal to you. You alone are able to reply. Are these dark colors darker than the
truth? Look back. Let unregenerate days tell their sad tale. What was your unconverted state?
Had you ability to vanquish evil? Did you present indomitable front against the enemy's attacks?
Did you stand firm, as adamantine rock, against the lashing surges of iniquity? Conscious
memory and downcast shame confess, no strength was in you.
This is the common case throughout our race, until help comes from heaven. How easy is the
proof! How sad! Take any worldling. A temptation meets him. A gilded bait allures. A sweet
indulgence opens its inviting arms. What follows? The silly moth is caught. Pleasure whispers,
'Come and partake'. Desire acquiesces. Nature surrenders. No godly principle forbids.
Conscience is mute. Thus yielding frailty proves, how frail is man. Thus Satan leads his crowds
down misery's downward slope. Quickly--easily--they glide along. The rolling pebble has no
power to stop. The sinking vessel has no buoyancy to rise. The downhill torrent is incapable of
turning.
Here is the one reply to the inquiry--'Why is this world such a wide sea of evil? Why do earth's
multitudes roll so easily to hell?' Satan assails and wins. The weak heart weakly yields. The mind--
the passions--lack firmness to resist. Thus the strong foe takes strengthless man a captive at his
will.
Believer, I look again to you. Is such your present case? I mark the grateful adoration of your
soul. I hear your praises swelling to the skies. I see your eye sparkling with thanksgiving love.
You testify, Once I was feeble, as feebleness can be. Weakness is a weak description of my
nothingness of power. But now I am made strong, and all my strength is in my Savior's arms, and
by my Savior's side, and through my Savior's help, and from my Savior's Spirit. He now works
with me--in me--for me. And so I work and prosper. He is my battle-axe--my bow--my spear--my
sword. He nerves my muscles. He fortifies my breast. He frames my armor, and He girds me with
it. He bids me to go forward, and He Himself precedes. Thus my poor worm-like heart becomes
in Christ a Lion. If I sink not--if I prevail--if I subdue--the power is His--the grace is His--to Him
I give the praise, and on His brow I place my victory's crown.
But you deny not, that the fight continues to be very fierce. Temptations have not ceased to
tempt. The world remains the world. Flesh still is flesh. Traitors still dwell within. Satan still
hates. His wrath increases. With craftier stratagem he marks his opportunities, and lays his
snares. There is no day, when allurement spreads not some net. Woe would be yours, if Jesus
were not ever near. But He is near, ministering real strength. Thus you hold on. Thus you hold
out.

It is a miracle of grace, when thus the little flock gains trophies, strong in the Lord, and in the
power of His might. It is divine empowerment, when thus experience shouts, I can do all things
through Christ, who strengthens me. Aid from heaven is supplied, and then the old serpent
flees. Victory comes, because the Lion of the tribe of Judah helps. Wonder of wonders! In Jesus'
might, the weakest heart--the feeblest will--with Lion's strength, beats back all hell.
Believer, ever remember, then, where your true power lies. Take not one step, approach no work,
except armored in a Savior's grace. Appalling instances record, how saints have stumbled, when
they have ventured forth alone. Abraham flinched. Noah sinned foully. Jacob stooped to fraud.
David tumbled into filthiest mire. Peter acted a coward's part.
Seek not excuse for such vile falls in nature's frailty, or in evil's power. Nature is frail. Evil is
mighty. But here is the fault--Faith did not grasp the ready sword. Prayer did not ask the ready
aid. Learn from these instances to meet Goliath in the name of God. And then fear not. You will
stand Lion-like in strength.
Does any poor sinner, pierced by many a wound--bemired by many a fall--tottering at each step
beside a precipice's edge--read these lines? Sir, turn not from the encouragement of this Gospel-truth.
You yet may obtain strength to trample down your perils and your foes. You live. Your
many wounds have not brought death. In these present words another warning meets you. Is not
this the Savior's call? Come, then, and join yourself to Him, and all His might is yours--and you
will triumph with those, who, through His blood, have overcome. Cease to grovel a crushed worm.
Become a Christian Lion.
2. Courage. Lions to their strength add courage. They never know timidity. Valiantly they face
all danger. Fearlessly they rush to the attack. No multitude of beasts or men alarm them. As
power is in their limbs, so bravery fills their hearts.
This quality again portrays the child of God. When heavenly commands are clear, unflinchingly
he obeys. He confers not with flesh and blood. Despite all threats, he steadfastly advances. His
only fear is, lest he should fear. He only trembles, lest he should tremble.
See the three captive youths. The tyrant menaced. They stood alone against an empire. What!
shall they yield? No, rather, welcome the furnace--the agony--the flame. They failed not God.
God failed not them. He made them bold as Lions. And their fame lives among faith's heroes.
See Daniel. Command is urgent. Shall his knees leave their beloved employ! Shall he address a
worm, though king, in prayer! The thought is keener torture, than the Lion's teeth. With open
window bravely he worships. His courage conquers. The lions' mouths are closed. The tyrant's
heart is turned.
See, too, the Baptist. He fears not Herod's might. Fearlessly he drags to light the darling sin. He
chooses truth and prison, and death; rather than unfaithfulness and ease. Where he sees error,
there his mouth is open to reprove.
Believer, let it be so with you. What though falsehood's guise be specious--and high authority
endorse it--and brilliant gifts commend it--and pliant worldlings fondle it--and gilded honors
follow in its rear--if the cup holds one poison drop--if statements swerve one hair-breadth from
Gospel-truth, then, with Lion valor let your voice scare the traitor. Thus Paul resisted Peter to
the face.
So, too, courageously confess Christ. This often needs a martyr's spirit. When friends desert--and
the world sneers--and blight descends on prospects--and Gospel-truth seems linked with trouble--
it needs a Lion's heart to testify, 'None but Jesus--none but Jesus!' But thus the Apostles,

menaced with near death, preached Christ more fully and more clearly. Their hearts were faith.
Their faith was courage. Their courage was success.
A noble army of confessing saints beckon us onward in this path. Ignatius moved with a Lion's
heart to meet his grave in lions' jaws. May his bold words be cherished, while the world endures!
Now do I begin to be a disciple of my Master Christ. Luther stands with Lion's courage re-echoing
Paul's resolve. None of these things move me. In this grand spirit he exclaimed,
Though there were devils many as the tiles on the roofs of Worms, I shall go forward.
Come, then, believer, be you, too, as a Lion for your Lord. Boldly devise great plans. Heroically
act them out. Let neither earth nor hell intimidate. Your cause is good. Your call is from God's
throne. Your help is sure. What promises encourage! What triumphs are at hand! Only be very
courageous. Be not a coward in the camp of Christ--for Judah's Lion expects Lion-followers.
Gad dwells as a Lion. Dan is a Lion's cub. Will you be less?
21 He chose the best land for himself;
the leader’s portion was kept for him.
When the heads of the people assembled,
he carried out the Lord’s righteous will,
and his judgments concerning Israel.”
BARNES, “The first fruits of the conquest made by Israel were assigned to Gad and Reuben by
Moses, at their own request.
Because ... seated - Render, because there was the leader’s portion reserved, i. e., there was
reserved the fitting portion for Gad as a leader in war.
And he came ... - i. e., he joined the other leaders to fulfill the commands of God respecting the
conquest of Canaan (compare Num_32:17, Num_32:21, Num_32:32; Jos_1:14). Moses regards
the promise of the Gadites to do this as already redeemed.
CLARKE, “
GILL, “
He provided the first part - That is, he chose for himself a very excellent portion, viz., the land of
Sihon and Og, in which this tribe had requested to be settled by the lawgiver, viz., Moses, from
whom they requested this portion, Num_32:1-5.
He came with the heads of the people - Notwithstanding this portion fell unto them on the east
side of Jordan, yet they proceeded with the heads of the people, the chiefs of the other tribes.
To execute the justice of the Lord - To extirpate the old inhabitants of the country, according
to the decree and purpose of the Lord. See on Numbers 32 (note).
HENRY, “

JAMISON, “
KD, “
22 About Dan he said:
“Dan is a lion’s cub,
springing out of Bashan.”
BARNES, “Dan shall be like a lion which leaps forth from his covert in Bashan. Compare
Son_4:8.
CLARKE, “Dan is a lion’s whelp: he shall leap from Bashan - The Jewish interpreters observe
that Bashan was a place much frequented by lions, who issued thence into all parts to look for
prey. By this probably Moses intended to point out the strength and prowess of this tribe, that it
should extend its territories, and live a sort of predatory life. It appears from Jos_19:47, that the
portion originally assigned to this tribe was not sufficient for them; hence we find them going out
to war against Leshem and taking it, adding it to their territories, and calling it by the name of
the tribe. Jacob, in his prophetic blessing of this tribe, represents it under the notion of a serpent
in the path, Gen_49:17. The character there, and that given here, constitute the complete
warrior-stratagem and courage. See the note on Gen_49:17.
GILL, “And of Dan he said,.... Of the tribe of Dan, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem:
Dan is a lion's whelp; or like one for boldness, strength, and courage; and was verified in
Samson, who was of this tribe; who, when a young lion roared against him, the Spirit of the Lord
came on him, and he tore it to pieces, Jdg_14:5,
he shall leap from Bashan; not Dan, for he was seated far from that country; but the sense is, he
was like to a young lion for its strength, when it leaps from Bashan, as Aben Ezra rightly explains
it. Bashan was a mountain in which lions haunted, and from whence they might be said to leap,
as they do when they seize on their prey: it may have some respect to the leap of the Danites from
the northwest part of the land of Israel, where they were settled, but was not sufficient for them,
to the northeast of it, when they went against Leshem, and took it, and called it Dan; see
Jos_19:47.
HENRY, “Deuteronomy 33:22-25
Here is, I. The blessing of Dan, Deu_33:22. Jacob in his blessing had compared him to a serpent
for subtlety; Moses compares him to a lion for courage and resolution: and what could stand
before those that had the head of a serpent and the heart of a lion? He is compared to the lions

that leaped from Bashan, a mountain noted for fierce lions, whence they came down to leap upon
their prey in the plains. This may refer either, 1. To the particular victories obtained by Samson
(who was of this tribe) over the Philistines. The Spirit of the Lord began to move him in the camp
of Dan when he was very young, as a lion's whelp, so that in his attacks upon the Philistines he
surprised them, and overpowered them by main strength, as a lion does his prey; and one of his
first exploits was the rending of a lion. Or, 2. To a more general achievement of that tribe, when a
party of them, upon information brought them of the security of Laish, which lay in the furthest
part of the land of Canaan from them, surprised it, and soon made themselves masters of it. See
Jdg_18:27. And, the mountains of Bashan lying not far from that city, probably thence they
made their descent upon it; and therefore are here said to leap from Bashan.
II. The blessing of Naphtali, Deu_33:23. He looks upon this tribe with wonder, and applauds it:
“O Naphtali, thou art happy, thou shalt be so, mayest thou be ever so!” Three things make up the
happiness of this tribe: - 1. Be thou satisfied with favour. Some understand it of the favour of men,
their good-will and good word. Jacob had described this tribe to be, generally, courteous obliging
people, giving goodly words, as the loving hind, Gen_49:21. Now what should they get by being
so? Moses here tells them they should have an interest in the affections of their neighbours, and
be satisfied with favour. Those that are loving shall be beloved. But others understand it of the
favour of God, and with good reason; for that only is the favour that is satisfying to the soul and
puts true gladness into the heart. Those are happy indeed that have the favour of God; and those
shall have it that place their satisfaction in it, and reckon that, in having that, they have enough
and desire no more. 2. Be thou full with the blessing of the Lord, that is, not only with those good
things that are the fruits of the blessing (corn, and wine, and oil), but with the blessing itself; that
is, the grace of God, according to his promise and covenant. Those who have that blessing may
well reckon themselves full: they need nothing else to make them happy. “The portion of the tribe
of Naphtali” (the Jews say) “was so fruitful, and the productions so forward, though it lay north,
that those of that tribe were generally the first that brought their first-fruits to the temple; and so
they had first the blessing from the priest, which was the blessing of the Lord.” Capernaum, in
which Christ chiefly resided, lay in this tribe. 3. Be thou in possession of the sea and the south; so
it may be read, that is, of that sea which shall lie south of thy lot, that was the sea of Galilee,
which we so often read of in the gospels, directly north of which the lot of this tribe lay, and
which was of great advantage to this tribe, witness the wealth of Capernaum and Bethsaida,
which lay within this tribe, and upon the shore of that sea. See how Moses was guided by a spirit
of prophesy in these blessings; for before the lot was cast into the lap he foresaw and foretold
how the disposal of it would be.
III. The blessing of Asher, Deu_33:24, Deu_33:25. Four things he prays for and prophecies
concerning this tribe, which carries blessedness in its name; for Leah called the father of it Asher,
saying Happy am I, Gen_30:13. 1. The increase of their numbers. They were now a numerous
tribe, Num_26:47. “Let it be more so: Let Asher be blessed with children.” Note, Children,
especially children of the covenant, are blessings, not burdens. 2. Their interest in their
neighbours: Let him be acceptable to his brethren. Note, It is a very desirable thing to have the
love and good-will of those we live among: it is what we should pray to God for, who has all
hearts in his hand; and what we should endeavour to gain by meekness and humility, and a
readiness, as we have ability and opportunity, to do good to all men. 3. The richness of their land.
(1.) Above ground: Let him dip his foot in oil, that is, “Let him have such plenty of it in his lot that
he may not only anoint his head with it, but, if he please, wash his feet in it,” which was not
commonly done; yet we find our blessed Saviour so acceptable to his brethren that his feet were
anointed with the most precious ointment, Luk_7:46. (2.) Under ground: Thy shoes shall be iron
and brass, that is, “Thou shalt have great plenty of these metals (mines of them) in thy own

ground, which by an uncommon blessing shall have both its surface and its bowels rich:” or, if
they had them not as the productions of their own country, they should have them imported from
abroad; for the lot of this tribe lay on the sea-coast. The Chaldee paraphrasts understand this
figuratively: “Thou shalt be strong and bright, as iron and brass.” 4. The continuance of their
strength and vigour: As thy days, so shall thy strength be. Many paraphrase it thus, “The strength
of thy old age shall be like that of thy youth; thou shalt not feel a decay, nor be the worse for the
wearing, but shalt renew thy youth; as if not thy shoes only, but thy bones, were iron and brass.”
The day is often in scripture put for the events of the day; and, taking it so here, it is a promise
that God would graciously support them under their trials and troubles, whatever they were.
And so it is a promise sure to all the spiritual seed of Abraham, that God will wisely proportion
their graces and comforts to the services and sufferings he calls them out to. Have they work
appointed them? They shall have strength to do it. Have they burdens appointed them? They
shall have strength to bear them; and never be tempted above that they are able. Faithful is he that
has thus promised, and hath caused us to hope in this promise.
JAMISON, “Dan is a lion’s whelp — His proper settlement in the south of Canaan being too
small, he by a sudden and successful irruption, established a colony in the northern extremity of
the land. This might well be described as the leap of a young lion from the hills of Bashan.
KD, “Dan is “a young lion which springs out of Bashan.” Whilst Jacob compared him to a
serpent by the way, which suddenly bites a horse's feet, so that its rider falls backward, Moses
gives greater prominence to the strength which Dan would display in conflict with foes, by calling
him a young lion which suddenly springs out of its ambush. The reference to Bashan has nothing
to do with the expedition of the Danites against Laish, in the valley of Rehoboth (Jdg_18:28), as
this valley did not belong to Bashan. It is to be explained from the simple fact, that in the regions
of eastern Bashan, which abound with caves, and more especially in the woody western slopes of
Jebel Hauran, many lions harboured, which rushed forth from the thicket, and were very
dangerous enemies to the herds of Bashan. Even if no other express testimonies to this fact are to
be found it may be inferred from the description given of the eastern spurs of Antilibanus in the
Song of Sol. (Son_4:8), as the abodes of lions and leopards. The meaning leap forth, spring out, is
confirmed by both the context and dialects, though the word only occurs here.
23 About Naphtali he said:
“Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the Lord
and is full of his blessing;
he will inherit southward to the lake.”
BARNES, “Satisfied with favor - Compare Gen_49:21 and note.
The west and the south - i. e., taking the words as referring not to geographical position but to
natural characteristics, “the sea and the sunny district.” The possession of Naphtali included
nearly the whole west coast of the Sea of Galilee, the Lake of Merom, the modern Bahr el Hulch,
and the well watered district near the springs of Jordan. It contained some of the grandest

scenery and some of the most fertile land in Palestine. Josephus speaks of the shore of Gennesaret
as “an earthly paradise;” and Porter describes it as “the garden of Palestine.” The modern name
for this district, “land of good tidings,” is significant.
CLARKE, “O Naphtali, satisfied with favor - Though this may refer to the very great fertility of
the country that fell to this tribe, yet certainly something more is intended. Scarcely any of the
tribes was more particularly favored by the wondrous mercy and kindness of God, than this and
the tribe of Zebulun. The light of the glorious Gospel of Christ shone brightly here, Mat_4:13,
Mat_4:15, Mat_4:16. Christ’s chief residence was at Capernaum in this tribe, Mat_9:1; Mar_2:1;
and this city, through Christ’s constant residence, and the mighty miracles he wrought in it, is
represented as being exalted unto heaven, Mat_11:23. And it is generally allowed that the
apostles were principally of the tribe of Naphtali, who were to possess the west and the south - to
dispense the Gospel through all the other tribes. The word

yam, which we here translate west,
literally signifies the sea, and probably refers to the sea of Gennesareth, which was in this tribe.
GILL, “And of Naphtali he said,.... The tribe of Naphtali, as the Targums of Jonathan and
Jerusalem:
O Naphtali, satisfied with favour; with the favour of men, which to have is a great blessing; and
as he gave goodly words to others, he had the good word of others, Gen_49:21; and with the
favour of God, as the next clause shows; which is the greatest blessing of all, and is special and
peculiar, free and sovereign, and the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; and to be full
of this, and satisfied of an interest in it, is the highest of enjoyments; and nothing is of a more
satisfying nature, it is a feast of itself; see Psa_63:3,
and full with the blessing of the Lord; as such must needs be who are full of and satisfied with the
your, good will, and love of God; for they are filled with all spiritual blessings, with all the
blessings of grace, which spring from his free favour, as pardon of sin, a justifying righteousness,
adoption, sanctifying grace, a right and title to eternal life. This may have respect to the temporal
happiness of this tribe, which had a remarkable share in the favour and good will of God, and in
the blessings of his goodness. Strabo (a), an Heathen writer, speaking of this part of the land of
Judea, says it was a happy and fruitful country, bearing all manner of fruit; in this tribe was the
fruitful country of Gennesaret, full of delightful gardens and fields, which lay along by a lake of
that name, frequently mentioned in the New Testament; which country, Josephus says (b), one
may call the ambition of nature; and the Targum of Jonathan has it,ye shall be full of the fruits
of the valley of Gennesaret;''and particularly this country was favoured with the presence of our
Lord Jesus Christ; see Mat_4:13,
possess thou the west and the south; not the west and south of the land of Israel; for, according to
Josephus (c), this tribe lay to the east and north of it, just the reverse; and it is plain from
Jos_19:34; that it had Asher on the west, and Zebulun on the south; wherefore some understand
this of the commodities this tribe was supplied with, as through the tribe of Asher on the west, on
which those trading cities Tyre and Sidon bordered; and through Zebulun on the south, which
was near the sea, and was given to navigation and trade: though it should be observed that the

word for west signifies the sea (d); and intends not the Mediterranean sea, which this tribe
did not reach; but the sea of Tiberias and Gennesaret, as all the Targums explain it; and Bochart
(e) observes, that the portion of Naphtali reached from the south of the city of Dan to the sea of
Tiberias; so that the south is observed with respect to Dan last mentioned, and the west or sea to
the sea of Tiberias.
HENRY, “
JAMISON, “of Naphtali he said — The pleasant and fertile territory of this tribe lay to “the
west,” on the borders of lakes Merom and Chinnereth, and to “the south” of the northern
Danites.
KD, “Naphtali. - “O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full of the blessing of Jehovah; of sea
and south shall he take possession.” If the gracefulness of Naphtali is set forth in the blessing of
Jacob, by comparing it to a gazelle, here Moses assures the same tribe of satisfaction with the
favour and blessing of God, and promises it the possession of the sea and of the south, i.e., an
inheritance which should combine the advantages of the sea - a healthy sea-breeze - with the
grateful warmth of the south. This blessing is expressed in far too general terms for it to be
possible to interpret it historically, as relating to the natural characteristics of the inheritance of
the Naphtalites in Canaan, or to regard it as based upon them, apart altogether from the fact,
that the territory of Naphtali was situated in the north-east of Canaan, and reached as far as the
sea of Galilee, and that it was for the most part mountainous, though it was a very fertile hill-country
(Jos_19:32-39).
is a very unique form of the imperative, though this does not
warrant an alteration of the text.
HENRY LAW, “
Of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full with the
blessing of the Lord, possess the west and the south. And of Asher he said,
Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren; and
let him dip his foot in oil. Your shoes shall be iron and brass; and as your
days, so shall your strength be. Deut. 33:23-25.
Naphtali and Asher now appear. They are the last in order--not the least in
favor. Their blessing proves again the truth often stated, that the treasury
of God is a vast mine. It bestows much--but much ever remains. The sun
has poured down floods of rays on a long train of generations, but the
streams cease not--the fountain is not impoverished. The elders of faith's
house have been most plenteously enriched, but we may still as plenteously
obtain. Store upon store--wealth upon wealth--grace upon grace--still fill
the heavenly coffers. There is no end, no limit. Full hands are ever open to
dispense. Abundant gifts in ages past still leave abundant gifts for present
and for future days.
My soul, if you are poor, it is not because God's blessings fail. Let faith not

cease to bring its empty vessels, they will not cease to be supplied. He
gives more grace. Jam. 4:6.
Mark, how Naphtali's rich portion confirms this. This tribe is satisfied
with favor, and full with the blessing of the Lord. Possession of the west
and south is also granted. Their lot is fixed in fertile and healthful spots.
The goodly fruits, which crowned their baskets--the choice position of their
lands--their sheltered valleys--their inland sea, fulfilled this promise.
Nurtured, in nature's richest lap, they reveled in favor and in blessings.
But the possession thus granted seems to hint at nobler gain. When Jesus
put on our flesh, and trod our earth, this tribe was chosen as His
frequented home. Here stood Capernaum--the scene of His most mighty
works. Here He displayed the brightness of those glorious deeds, which
testified divine commission. Here the God-man moved--healing disease--
allaying pain--soothing deep misery--reviving drooping hearts--uttering
pure wisdom--fulfilling the long line of prophecy--lifting high the Gospel
beacon. This was surpassing honor. This was privilege exalting to the very
heavens. O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full with the blessing of the
Lord, your eyes were privileged to see incarnate Deity.
Believer, come now and trace in NAPHTALI'S distinguished lot, the
features of your happy case. Is not this picture drawn, that you may realize
your plenteous treasures? You, too, are satisfied with favor. You, too,
are full with the blessing of the Lord.
Satisfied with favor. You once were dead in trespasses and sins. You
moved a living carcase with a lifeless soul. Your every step was hellward.
Your every moment hurried you towards endless woe. Your life was
ignorance--rebellion--slavery--disgrace. But now the darkness is dispersed,
and true light shines. You see the cross. You use the blood. You stand in a
new world of spiritual delight. You are a new creation of thought--
affection--hope--desire. You live for God--to God--with God--in God.
But whence the change? Did it result from nature and your own resolve?
Did rolling years beget this wisdom? Oh! no. You owe the whole to
sovereign grace. God, of His own free will, looked down with favor on your
ruined soul. His favor gave you, as a jewel, to His Son--and gave His Son to
be your uttermost salvation. His favor sent the Spirit to make you one, by
faith, with Christ. Thus all things are yours. Child of grace, do you not
rapturously sing, I am indeed a Naphtali, Satisfied with favor!
Full, too, with the blessing of the Lord. Happy state! The Father ever
lives to bless. Jesus ever reigns to bless. The Spirit ever works to bless. The
morning dawns, that blessings may descend. The day goes on, that
blessings may proceed. The clouds, which seem to portend storms, bring
showers of blessing. Life is a blessing, while it lasts. Death is a blessing,
when it comes. Trials--afflictions--losses--temptations--are blessings,
because they wean from earth. When time is left behind, and eternity

reviews life's journey; then will the truth stand prominently out, that each
saint's cup was full with the blessing of the Lord.
But Naphtali's distinction was, that Jesus chose it as His earthly
dwelling. Believer, have not you similar delight? Your soul is Jesus' home.
He, whom no heavens can hold--He, to whom infinity is a mere speck--
scorns not to abide within you. I am come into my garden, my sister, my
spouse. You may always realize His present smile. You may always hold
sweet communion. You may ever whisper to His ready ear, and catch the
joy of His replying voice. You may always lean upon His arm, and rest
upon His breast. Christ dwells in your heart by faith.
Moses looks on from Naphtali to ASHER. His is the final blessing. It is
largely bounteous. It seals again the truth, that God delights to scatter
favors with unsparing hand. It has a voice still calling believers to a
treasure-house, where they may ask with open mouth, and take with open
hand.
Let Asher be blessed with children--let him be acceptable to his
brethren--and let him dip his foot in oil. Your shoes shall be iron and
brass--and as your days, so shall your strength be. Deut. 33:25.
Out of this crowded diadem only the last sparkling gem can be examined.
But is it not a jewel far exceeding this world's boasted wealth! As your
days, so shall your strength be. This promise intimates the fact, that days
will vary. As in nature, clouds screen the sun--and storms descend--and
tempests rage--and hurricanes sweep fearfully--and rapid changes come--
so is it in the life of grace. The morning brightness often gives way to mid-day
gloom. The mid-day gloom brings in evening wildness. The skies are
now serene--we look above on one expanse of clearest blue--now the scene
varies, and thick darkness frowns, or forked lightning darts its angry
shafts. Faith has no lofty seat, which trials cannot reach--and no seclusion,
which distress cannot invade. But it has a rock, from which no foes can
shake--the rock is Asher's blessing, As your days, so shall your strength
be.
Strong in this pledge--bold in this might--safe in this safety--confident in
this security--impregnable within this fort--happy in this happiness, faith
feels, I shall not be injured, or destroyed. Days may be dark and sad; I
may be sorely buffeted; but strength shall be enough. All earthly props
may fall, but I shall stand. All human friends may flee, but I shall not be
left alone. All trials may in turn assail, but they shall not prevail. Satan
may hurl each dart, but a strong shield shall ward them off. All snares may
be most craftily laid, but they shall not destructively entangle. The world
may use its every enticing art, but I shall be enabled to escape. It may
mutter its threats, but I have a sufficient refuge. I may be tempted--
persecuted--wronged--but not cast down. I often may fear. I often may see
a yawning precipice before my feet. The ground may tremble. But I am

safe. I hold a saving promise--As your days, so shall your strength be.
Faith can fly back, and commune with the elder saints. It hears from all
the self-same story. We had a course through stormy seas, where billows
tossed, and rocks were sharp, and quicksands opened their engulfing jaws.
But our barks rode triumphant to the haven. As our days, so was our
strength.
Jacob speaks of an outcast life--and many enemies--and overwhelming
griefs--and lonely tremblings--and inward fears--but still strength was
built up. He held on to the end. He testifies, The Angel redeemed me from
all evil. David presents a painful chart. What cruel hate of men! what
thirstings for his blood! what foul assaults of Satan! what stumbles! ah!
what falls! His soul-life often seemed trodden in the dust. But he revives.
Oil of grace supplies the flickering lamp. The heaven-lit flame never
expires. Others are bound, and dragged to torturing flames; but they
survive. The menace cannot overcome. The fire cannot consume. Their day
is very terrible, but strength endures. Others are cast a prey to angry
beasts, but their peace is as a placid lake. The outward scene is wild
affright, but their souls never quake. The Lord is with them, and their
strength abides.
View Paul and Silas in the inmost cell. Their wounds are smarting--the
dungeon is deep--the chains clash heavily. But inward comfort flows in full
tide. Thanksgivings swell. They loudly sing, and bless a loving God.
Mark the heroic calmness of the early preachers of the faith. Threats and
imprisonment are their lot. They feel, as men; but they rejoice, as saints.
They neither faint nor fail. They sit unmoved amid an earthquake of
alarms. As their days, so is their strength. It is Paul's glad
acknowledgment--but not Paul's sole experience--Sorrowful, yet always
rejoicing. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
Martyrs and confessors press forward to give like witness. They joy in
anguish--they embrace the stake--they hug encircling flames. They find,
that days are often terrible, but never without needful strength. Was
Stephen left without support, when, with angelic look, he kneeled down,
and, praying for his murderers, amid a shower of stones, fell tranquilly
asleep?
The whole bright throng around the throne attest the same. They passed
through many perils--sorrows--fights--but heavenly strength braced their
loins--sustained their hearts--fanned their desponding spirits--and made
them more than conquerors. From every lip one testimony sounds. The
word is true, As your days, so shall your strength be.
Believer, tremble not. Take courage. Go forward. You may be young, and
a long course may open to your view. Foes must infest it. You have no
promise, that trials will not come. Satan spares none. He grants no Sabbath
of repose. But face the worst, bold and serene in Christ. Hold fast the staff

of grace. Trust and fear not. Trust and pray always. Trust and plead this
word. It is not Asher's only. It is your portion. You will surely find, As
your days, so shall your strength be.
You may be worn with malady, and tottering down the valley of years. You
may dread Jordan's waves, and the cold touch of death. But clasp the
promise. The greater need brings the more large support. How many
tremblers have gone triumphantly to rest! Christ's love exceeds all
hopes. His merciful fulfillments surpass each pledge. He cannot fail. He
cannot disappoint. Come what may--this will be true, As your days, so
shall your strength be.
But faithfulness must add, that these rich mercies are Israel's portion only!
They, who are Christ's, possess, and claim, and use, and joy in them. They,
who reject Him, see but a casket, which they open not. Their days have
trouble without strength. Their future will have misery without end. Let
not such turn from Naphtali and Asher until they share what Naphtali and
Asher gained from God. The blessings of these tribes may yet, through
grace, be sought and found.
Eternal Spirit, mighty source of light and inward life, give Your help!
Open each eye to see the beauty, riches, blessedness, and glory of God's
heritage. Stir up each heart to wrestle, until the word is heard--Great is
your faith, be it done unto you, even as you will.
24 About Asher he said:
“Most blessed of sons is Asher;
let him be favored by his brothers,
and let him bathe his feet in oil.
BARNES, “Rather, “Blessed above the sons” (i. e. of Jacob-most blessed among the sons of
Jacob) “be Asher; let him he the favored one of his brethren,” i. e., the one favored of God. The
plenty with which this tribe should be blessed is described under the figure of dipping the foot in
oil (compare the marginal reference).
CLARKE, “Let Asher be blessed with children - Let him have a numerous posterity, continually
increasing.
Let him be acceptable to his brethren - May he be in perfect union and harmony with the other

tribes.
Let him dip his foot in oil - Let him have a fertile soil, and an abundance of all the conveniences
and comforts of life.
GILL, “And of Asher he said,.... The tribe of Asher, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem:
let Asher be blessed with children; with large numbers, as it appears this tribe was, having in it
53,400 men of war, Num_26:47. It was esteemed a great blessing to have many children,
Psa_128:3; or above the children; above or more than the rest of the children of Jacob; see
Luk_2:36; Jarchi observes, that he had seen, in a book called Siphri, that there was none in all
the tribes blessed with children as Asher, but not known how:
let him be acceptable to his brethren; either for his excellent bread, and royal dainties,
Gen_49:20; or for the goodness of his olives and oil, and for the brass and iron found in this tribe,
as follows; or, as some say, because of his children, his daughters being very beautiful:
and let him dip his foot in oil; have such plenty of it, that if he would he might dip or wash his
feet in it; and it was usual not only to anoint the head, but the feet (f) also, with oil, Luk_7:46.
DR. W. A. CRISWELL, “
I FEEL NO SECURITY, WHAT SHALL I DO?
Dr. W. A. Criswell
Deuteronomy 33:24-29
04-18-82 7:30 p.m.
God bless you choir and orchestra, and God bless you orchestra and
choir. And God bless you, David. The Lord be good to all of you who are
listening on radio. We are happy to welcome you. This is the First
Baptist Church in Dallas, and this is the pastor bringing the message. It is one in
the series on Sunday nights: “What shall I do?” And the message tonight: I Feel
No Security, I am Afraid, What Shall I Do?
We are going to turn in our Bibles to the next to the last chapter of
Deuteronomy; Deuteronomy, one of the books of Moses—Deuteronomy. The
thirty-fourth chapter of Deuteronomy describes the death of Moses. And this
passage tonight, which is one of the most beautiful and meaningful in the word
of God, is taken out of the blessing of Moses just before he died. We’re going to
start at verse 24. This is the blessing on Asher, and we’ll read to the end of the
chapter—Deuteronomy, [chapter] 33. Deuteronomy—Deuteronomy chapter 33,
beginning at verse 24. Now, let’s all read out loud together:
And of Asher, he said, “Let Asher be blessed with children. Let
him be acceptable to his brethren; let him dip his foot in oil.
Thy shoes shall be iron and brass and as thy days, so shall thy
strength be.
There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the

heaven in thy help, and in His excellency on the sky.
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting
arms: and He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and
shall say, destroy them.
Israel then, shall dwell in the safety alone: the fountain of Jacob
shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also His heavens shall drop
down dew.
Happy art thou, O Israel; Who is like unto thee, a people saved by
the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy
excellency? And thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee. And
thou shalt tread upon their high places.”
[Deuteronomy 33:24-29]
That word “Jeshurun” [verse 26], is a pet name of God for Israel. Like
you might call someone you love “baby doll.” In German, they would call them
a “sweet cabbage head.” Here in Hebrew, “Jeshurun.” It’s a pet name; a love
name for Israel. And of Asher, he said, “Thy shoes shall be iron and brass. And
as thy days, shall thy strength be. The eternal God is thy refuge, and
underneath, are the everlasting arms” [Deuteronomy 33:25-27].
The message tonight, which will be an exposition of that text, is an
assurance from God that He cares for us; and I don’t need to be alarmed or
afraid; to be afraid of the unknown. To face, with trepidation, the future is a
common weakness of all humanity. We are not so much afraid of what we know,
or what we see, or of the present moment, but we tremble for the future, for the
unknown, for what we don’t see.
There are many of us who have a trouble factory in our heads and in our
hearts and in our homes. If trouble doesn’t come along, we manufacture it. We
give ourselves to trepidation, to alarm, to terrors, to fears. And that’s not just
the weak among us; that’s the strong among us, also. There are no great strong
men or women who do not have manifest weaknesses and moments of extreme
feebleness.
Thetis took Achilles and dipped in the river Styx, that he might be
invulnerable, but where she held him by his heels, there in the Trojan War,
Paris took a poison arrow and shot him and he died. All of us have those
weaknesses however strong we may be. And that also pertains with the children
of God. We are not unlike our brethren who are unsaved and out in the world.
We also have our terrors and our fears and our alarms.
Do you remember in the fourteenth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew?
In the dead of the night, in the storm on the sea, they saw the Lord Jesus
thinking He was a spirit, walking on the water, and they were filled with fear,
and cried out, being afraid. Well, because of that, and the Lord knowing that,
there is so much of the Bible addressed toward our strengthening and our
comfort, in the gracious presence and goodness and remembrance of the Lord.
It isn’t just an isolated passage or an isolated text. It is a refrain that is
repeated constantly throughout the Scriptures. “Fear not, I the Lord thy God
am with thee.” It’s like a text in Psalm 56:3: “What time I am afraid, I will
trust in the Lord.” Now, I am going to take just a leaf in the Bible, and I want
you to see, as I read it, how many times and how very much of the Scripture is

dedicated to that purpose, that we might not be afraid; never—not in the present
day, not in tomorrow’s day, not in the last day, not in the time of our death, not
at the judgment bar of Almighty God, not in heaven, not in forever. Always,
we’re to be strong in the Lord.
Now, you look. I am going to turn here, in the Bible, to the fortieth
chapter of Isaiah; Isaiah, chapter 40. Now, I’m going to start at verse 28 in the
fortieth chapter: “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard that the
everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not,
neither is weary? He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might,
He increaseth strength” [Isaiah 40:28, 29].
Now, look at chapter 41, here on the same page in my Bible, in the same
leaf; 41, verse 10: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee. Be not dismayed; for I am
thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with
the right hand of My righteousness.” Verse 13: “For I, the Lord thy God, will
hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, `Fear not; I will help thee.’ Fear not,”—
then He addresses Jacob—“thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help
thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel’ [Isaiah 41:10-
14].”
Now, let’s turn the page to chapter 43. We begin at verse 1:
But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he
that formed thee, O Israel, fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I
have called thee by thy name: thou art mine.
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and
through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. When thou
walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall
the flamekindle upon thee.
For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior: . .
.”
[Isaiah 43:1-3].
Verse 5: “Fear not, for I am with thee; I will bring thy seed from the east,
and gather thee from the west”[Isaiah 43:5]. Let’s turn the page to chapter 44.
Just turn the page. Begin at verse 1:
Hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen;
Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the
womb, which will help thee. Fear not, O Jacob, My servant; and
thou Jeshurun, my little one, My precious one whom I have chosen
[Isaiah 44:1, 2].
Look at verse 8: “Fear not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from
that time, and have declared it? Ye are even My witnesses. Is there a God
beside Me? Yea, there is no God. I know not any. Don’t be afraid”[Isaiah
44:8]. Verse 21: “Thou shalt not be forgotten” [Isaiah 44:21]. Now, all of that
I’ve read, turning a leaf. The Bible is just filled, page after page, with those
beautiful and heavenly assurances. God is for us. God is with us. And we need
never be alarmed or afraid.
Now, I’m going to turn back to this text. When the Lord Jesus ascended
into heaven, He blessed the apostles. He arose in a cloud. The shekinah glory of

God received Him. The garments of God covered Him as He ascended into
heaven. And as He did so, His hands were outstretched in blessing. In the same
way, did Moses climb Mount Pisgah. And as he went up the mountain, he
turned to bless Israel, and this is a part of that heavenly blessing. It is a cluster
of incomparable promises inspired by the Holy Spirit of God.
So he says to Asher, “Thy shoes shall be iron.” Now, Asher was given the
rocky coast and the rocky inland of the north, and he needed iron shoes for
travel and for advancement. He faced rough places and difficulties, so God gave
him iron shoes. God does that for us. In the face of difficulty or trial, God gives
us shoes to walk on, to travel on, made out of iron.
David walked with iron shoes when he said, “Yea, though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.” The
tokens of Thy presence—“Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me” [Psalm 23:4]
—walking with iron shoes. Steven walked with iron shoes from the deacons’
meeting to his martyrdom when his face shined like that of an angel. Paul and
Silas walked with iron shoes as they journeyedthrough the Roman colony of
Philippi, and at midnight, sang praises to God, walking with iron shoes into the
prison. John walked with iron shoes on the lonely isle of Patmos, to which he
had been exiled to die of exposure and starvation, and saw there the glorious
apocalypses, the unveiling, the consummation, when Jesus will be King over all
the earth. And Antipus (I wonder who he is) of Pergamos, in the second chapter
of the Revelation: “Antipus,” Jesus says, “My faithful martyr” [Revelation 2:13]
—walking with iron shoes into the very presence of the kingdom of God and the
loving arms of Jesus.
“Thou shalt have shoes made out of iron”; God promises it—walking
through any difficulty or any trial. Look again. Not only shoes of iron, but the
eternal God shall be thy refuge. The everlasting arms are underneath, and as
thy days, so shall thy strength be. What a—what a promise: “As thy days, so
shall thy strength be”[Deuteronomy 33:25]. Not as thy weeks, not as thy
months, and not as thy years. We always have a propensity and affinity for
looking at long stretches of time, but God says it’s a day at a time. We live a day
at a time. And as our days are, so shall our strength be. That includes all of our
days. That includes Job’s “Black Friday.”
That’s what Jesus meant when He closed the sixth chapter of His Sermon
on the Mount. “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” [Matthew 6:34];
therefore, take no thought for the morrow. As thy days, so shall thy strength be.
That includes days of trial and testing. Paul says. “I besot the Lord concerning
this thorn in the flesh”[2 Corinthians 12:8]. Paul is at his best, down on his
knees. We are, too. You think man, man, how I can soar and how I can rise.
Actually, we are better crushed to the earth, on our faces before God. Down on
his knees, it was the Lord, then, who said, “My grace and My strength is
sufficient for thee” [2 Corinthians 12:9]. “As thy days, so shall thy strength be;”
days of trial and testing, days of anxiety.
Lord, Lord, there are robbers to devour me. How shall I escape? There
are rivers to cross. How shall I swim them? There are fires to go through. How
shall I not be burned? There are arrows shot at me. Lord, who can shield me?
Lord, there is pestilence to stalk me. Who can preserve me and deliver me?
There are empty vessels to fill. Lord, who can help me? Do you know what God

says? Let me read it. Let me say it:
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide
under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge, and my fortress, my God;
in Him will I trust.
Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler and from
the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt
thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow
that flieth by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the
destruction that wasteth at noonday…
Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the
Most High, thy habitation.
There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh
thy dwelling.”
[Psalm 91:1-10]
Days of anxiety; I don’t need to worry about them. It’s a weakness in me
if I am anxious or fearful, or if I worry. Dear Lord, I think we have misplaced
our trust. We look to ourselves, or we look to man to deliver us, when we ought
to look to God. O Lord, how many times, do we count the barley loaves and the
fishes, when we ought to be looking at Him, who can quadruple and multiply
them, world without end?
“As thy days, so shall thy strength be,” days of suffering. You know, it’s
easy to talk about it; it’s another thing to be in it. It’s easy for a soldier to brag
and to talk big, but when he’s on the field of battle, it’s something else. And in
our suffering, God will stand by us. Our days of duty, Lord, Lord, how do I
have strength to do what God has called me to do? “My grace is sufficient for
thee.” [2 Corinthians 12:9] “God is my strength and my refuge. He will help
me.” [Psalm 46:1] “I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.”
[Philippians 4:13]
Days of trepidation and fear…this text is the favorite text of the great
Baptist preacher, Alexander McClaren, of Manchester, England, of the last
century. He, one time, said that as a teenage boy, he was working—had to work
—in Glasgow, and their home was six miles away. And between where he
worked in the city, and their home, was a dark, foreboding ravine. And he said
on a Saturday, he had to work until late at night. And when he walked home
through that dark ravine, he was paralyzed with fear. He said even unbidden
tears came to his eyes. And as he walked through that dark ravine, he saw the
head of somebody, and then the shoulders of somebody, and it terrified him.
And he said, “When the form and the shadow was closer, it was his father who
had come to meet the boy, and to escort him home.”
How many times are we like that. What we fear is the goodness and the
grace of God, and we didn’t know it. The Lord permitted it for our blessing and
for our growth in faith and in grace. I think, to the Christian, every providence
that happens to him, whatever is God’s goodness to bless him with heavenly

remembrances, that otherwise he would never know. God’s strength is made
perfect in our weakness. He says so. And as thy strength so—as thy days, so
shall thy strength be. That would include our last earthly days.
I don’t have dying grace now. I am honest to confess to you, that if I
faced death of any kind I would be terrified. If I saw an automobile coming
toward me and I couldn’t get out of its path, I would be afraid. I don’t have
dying grace now. I’ll have that when that day comes. I don’t have...I don’t have
Monday’s grace for today. This is—this is Sunday. And I won’t have Tuesday’s
grace for tomorrow. That’s Monday. I’ll have Monday’s grace for Monday and
Tuesday’s grace for Tuesdays. And I’ll have dying grace when that time comes.
“As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” And the eternal God is thy refuge.
Dear me. To what strength do we repair in any providence that faces us
in life? I was following something that George White McDaniel—who was an
illustrious minister of the gospel, pastor of the First Baptist Church of
Richmond, Virginia, and president of the Southern Baptist Convention—I was
following something in his life. He was a Texan, and he loved to come to Texas.
Even though he lived all of his life, and preached, in Virginia, he always came to
Texas with a shout. In those days they rode a train and when the train would
come to Texarkana and enter Texas, he went up and down the aisles shouting.
Everybody thought he was crazy. He just loved Texas. Well, I understand that.
You understand that. There’s something wrong with a guy who doesn’t like
Texas—and especially, West Texas where I grew up.
Well, he was out there in West Texas and he was a big, robust man, and
loved to fox hunt. So they were out there—way out there in the West, and he
was on a horse with a companion, and the foxes—hound—fox hounds and the
people that were chasing the fox were way over yonder, and he and the
companion were here, and they stopped in front of a tall rock cliff. And they
heard the baying of those hounds—fox hounds, way in the distance, and they
were just there waiting for the group to come up—catch up with them. And
while they were there on their horses waiting, the preacher said that they saw
that big red fox trot up and to a ledge and up into the cliff. And then, before a
cave, a den, he stopped and turned around, and he listened to the baying of those
fox hounds. Then nonchalantly, he sat down, and he smoothed his fur and he
licked his paws. And every once in a while, he’d raise his head and listen to the
barking of those hounds as they would come closer. Then he’d relax. And then
finally, when those hounds drew real close, he stood up and trotted nonchalantly
and indifferently into the den, into that solid cliff of solid rock and sat down in
perfect peace and safety.
When I read that I thought, when the hounds of hell chase us down, we
don’t need to be afraid. Let’s just smooth our fur and lick our paws and trot
into our den and sit down in perfect quiet. God is our eternal refuge.
Remember that verse in the third chapter of Proverbs, the conies are a feeble
folk, but they make their home in the rocks—a little bitty thing like a chipmunk,
and they live in the cliffs of the solid rock.
One time I saw a picture. You never saw such a storm in your life, as
they painted in that picture. Against a high rock cliff, the ocean was beating
furiously and the wind, and the lightening, and the storm. It was some
terrorizing picture. And it was labeled “Peace,” dear me, “Peace”?!—and that

ocean roaring and beating against the cliff, and the thunder and the lightening
and the rain and the hurricane. “Peace.” Well, I looked closer, and the artist
had drawn a bird up there in a cleft in the rock with his head under his wing,
sound asleep. Isn’t that all right? That’s God! The eternal God is thy refuge.
And we dwell in a cleft in the rock where God covers us with His hand.
Last. And the arms of God are underneath. “Underneath are the
everlasting arms” [Deuteronomy 33:27]. He had just said a beautiful thing
here. “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth
abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them up on her wings, so the Lord will
bear us up” [Deuteronomy 32:11]. That’s just a magnificent picture that Moses
has drawn here of what God does for us. This eagle, with that nest high up on a
rocky crag, when the eaglet is grown enough to be taught to fly, the eagle tears
up the nest and pushes that eaglet out into the blue space of nothingness. And
the eagle, underneath, catches the eaglet on her broad wings, and soars up and
up and up and up to the sun. And then the eagle tilts her wings and the little
thing slides off, and it flutters and it tries and it falls and it falls. And down and
down and down it falls, but before it reaches the sharp rocks and the crags, the
great eagle glides underneath and bears the eaglet up on her wings. And she
does that again and again until the eagle learns to fly.
And Moses says that’s what God does with us; underneath are the
everlasting arms. And He’s just teaching us how to trust in His grace and in His
infinite goodness. Like the eighth chapter of Genesis when Noah sent out a dove
and it found no rest for the soul of her foot, when she came back to the ark and
Noah opened the window and took his hand the Bible says, and tucked her
unless she drop into the watery deep, God does that for us. Underneath are the
everlasting arms and oh, what arms they are. My brother, those are the arms of
God and the hands of God that flung those stars into space. Those are the hands
that guide the orbit of this world. Those are the hands that feed the fuel of the
sun. Those are the hands that cover the firmament of the sky with light from
His glorious creation. Those are the mighty arms and hands that divided the
Red Sea; that lead Israel through the wilderness; that gave us Jesus; that
promises strength as our days shall be; don’t be afraid.
May I make my appeal? I listened one time to a man describing an
experience he had in the Alps. They were way up, he and that alpine guide on
the side of one of those tall, rocky peaks. And as they approached the top, the
guide threw a rope around a crag and then pulled himself around that corner.
And when he was around the corner, he turned and offered his hand and said to
him, “Step, step on my hand.” He said, “I looked down! There were three
thousand feet beneath me and just that hand to step on; to swing around the
curve.” The man, he said as I listened, “I hesitated.” And the guide replied,
“Sir, this hand has never lost a man. Step.” And he said, “I stepped and he
pulled me around the crag.” That is God and that is we and that is the faith.
Underneath are the everlasting hands; the arms of God and I commit my life
and my soul to those able and powerful hands; those keeping hands of God.
That is what it is to be a Christian. That is what it is to trust in God. That is
what it is to live each day. That is what it is to die. That is what it is to face
eternity in the keeping, saving hands of our Lord. May we stand?
Dear wonderful Savior, give us a double portion of Thy presence and Thy

spirit. Oh what a strength and a comfort to know that God is with us. He even
knows the number of hairs in our heads. There is no sparrow that falls to the
ground without His watching and knowing. There are no providences of life
that overtake us, but that God means to fit for us some more gracious, blessed
thing. And our Lord, in this moment, may we all recommit our lives to Jesus.
May we love Thee more, lean on Thee the more heavily.
And in this moment that we pray and wait, a family, you, a couple, a one
somebody, you, “Pastor, tonight I am answering the call of God in my life and I
am coming. I want to accept Jesus as my Savior and I invite Him into my heart
and into my home and into my house and into my life and I am coming.” Or,
“We are a family and we are putting our lives in this dear church.” As God
shall press the appeal to your heart, come. Find strength and rest and peace and
refuge in the blessed Jesus and welcome. And our Lord, thank Thee for those
who will be answering God’s invitation tonight in Thy saving, keeping name,
amen. While we sing our song, welcome.
JAMISON, “of Asher he said — The condition of this tribe is described as combining all the
elements of earthly felicity.
dip his foot in oil — These words allude either to the process of extracting the oil by foot
presses, or to his district as particularly fertile and adapted to the culture of the olive.
KD, “Asher. - “Blessed before the sons be Asher; let him be the favoured among his brethren, and
dipping his foot in oil. Iron and brass be thy castle; and as the days of thy life let thy rest continue.”
Asher, the prosperous (see at Gen_30:15), was justly to bear the name. He was to be a child of
prosperity; blessed with earthly good, he was to enjoy rest all his life long in strong fortresses. It
is evident enough that this blessing is simply an exposition of the name Asher, and that Moses
here promises the tribe a verification of the omen contained in its name.

does not mean
“blessed with children,” or “praised because of his children,” in which case we should have ו ;
but “blessed before the sons” (cf. Jdg_5:24), i.e., blessed before the sons of Jacob, who were
peculiarly blessed, equivalent to the most blessed of all the sons of Israel. וא
does not mean
the beloved among his brethren, acceptable to his brethren, but the one who enjoyed the favour
of the Lord, i.e., the one peculiarly favoured by the Lord. Dipping the foot in oil points to a land
flowing with oil (Job_29:6), i.e., fat or fertile throughout, which Jacob had already promised to
Asher (see Gen_49:20). To complete the prosperity, however, security and rest were required for
the enjoyment of the blessings bestowed by God; and these are promised in Deu_33:25. (!.
#$%.) does not mean a shoe, but is derived from , to bolt (Jdg_3:23), and signifies either a bolt,
or that which is shut fast; a poetical expression for a castle or fortress. Asher's dwellings were to
be castles, fortresses of iron and brass; i.e., as strong and impregnable as if they were built of
iron and brass. The pursuit of mining is not to be thought of as referred to here, even though the
territory of Asher, which reached to Lebanon, may have contained brass and iron (see at
Deu_8:9). Luther follows the lxx and Vulgate, and renders this clause, “iron and brass be upon
his shoes;” but this is undoubtedly wrong, as the custom of fastening the shoes or sandals with

brass or iron was quite unknown to the Israelites; and even Goliath, who was clothed in brass
from head to foot, and wore iron greaves, had no iron sandals, though the military shoes of the
ancient Romans had nails in the soles. Moreover, the context contains no reference to war, so as
to suggest the idea that the treading down and cursing of the foe are intended. “As thy days,” i.e.,
as long as the days of thy life last, let thy rest be (continue). Luther's rendering, “let thine old age
be as thy youth,” which follows the Vulgate, cannot be sustained; for although א
ֹ', derived from
( ד, to vanish away, certainly might signify old age, the expression “thy days” cannot possibly be
understood as signifying youth.
SPURGEON, “once heard an old minister say that he thought the blessing of Asher was
peculiarly the blessing of ministers; and his eyes twinkled as he added, At any rate, they are
usually blessed with children, and it is a great blessing for them if they are acceptable to their
brethren, and if they are so truly anointed that they even dip their foot in oil. Well, well, I pray
that all of us who preach the gospel may enjoy this triplet of blessings in the highest sense. If our
quiver is not full of children according to the flesh, yet may we have many born unto God
through our ministry. May we be blessed by being made spiritual fathers to very many, who shall
be brought by us to receive life, pardon, peace, and holiness, through our Lord Jesus. What is the
use of our life if it be not so? To what end have we preached unless we see souls born into the
family of grace? My inmost soul longs to see all my hearers born anew: this would be my greatest
joy, my highest blessedness. Ask for me the blessing of Asher—Let Asher be blessed with
children; and may the Lord make my spiritual offspring to be as the sands upon the sea-shore.
It is a great blessing from the Lord when our speech is sweet to the ears of saints—when we
have something to bring forth which our brethren in Christ can accept, and which comes to them
with a peculiar preciousness and power, so that they can receive it, and feel that it is thoroughly
acceptable to them. We do not wish to be acceptable to the worldly wise, nor to the error-hunters
of the day; but we are very anxious to be pleasant to the Lord's own children—our brethren in
Christ. They have a holy taste whereby they discern spiritual meats, and we would bring forth
for food that which they will account to be nourishing and savoury. Every minister prays to be
acceptable to his brethren.
And what could we do without the third blessing, namely that of unction? Let him dip his
foot in oil. Oh, for an anointing of the Holy Spirit, not only upon the head with which we think,
but upon the foot with which we move! We would have our daily walk and conversation gracious
and useful. We wish that, wherever we go, we may leave behind us the print of divine grace. I was
asking concerning a preacher what kind of man he was, and the simple, humble cottager,
answered me, Well, sir, he is this kind of man: if he comes to see you, you know that he has
been. We must not only have oil in the lamps of our public ministry, but oil in the vessels of our
private study. We need the holy oil everywhere, upon every garment, even down to our skirts. I
know that there are mockers who scoff at the very mention of unction; but I pray that to myself
and my brethren the promise may be fulfilled, He shall dip his foot in oil. Such a man,
anointed with fresh oil, holds an unquestioned office, enjoys an unfailing freshness, and exercises
an effectual influence. Wherever he goes you see his footprints, for his foot has been dipped in oil.
Well, now, if these three blessings be good for ministers, they are equally good for all sorts of
workers. You in the school, you who visit tract districts, you who manage mothers' meetings, and
you who in any shape or way endeavour to make Christ known, may you have the threefold
blessing! The Lord give you many spiritual children: may you be blessed with them, and never be
without additions to their number! The Lord make you acceptable to those among whom you
labour; and the Lord grant you always to go forth in his strength, anointed with his Spirit!
That is the first part of our text, and I am not going to say any more about it, as the second

part is that to which I shall call your especial attention. May the Holy Spirit make the promise
exceeding sweet to you, and grant you a full understanding of it.
Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
There are two things in the text—shoes and strength. We will talk about these two, hoping to
possess them both.
I. THY SHOES SHALL BE IRON AND BRASS. That is a very great promise, and I fear
that I shall not be able to bring out all its meaning in one discourse.
I find that the passage has several translations; and, though I think that which we have now
before us is by far the best, yet I cannot help mentioning the others, for I think they are
instructive. These interpretations may serve me as divisions in opening up the meaning. I take it
as a rule that the Lord's promises are true in every sense which they will fairly bear. A generous
man will allow the widest interpretation of his words, and so will the infinitely gracious God.
This promise meant that Asher should have treasures under his feet—that there should, in
fact, be mines of iron and copper within the boundaries of the tribe. Metals enrich nations, and
help their advancement in many ways. Tribes that possess minerals are thereby made rich, what
ever metals those may be; but such useful metals as iron and copper would prove of the utmost
service to the people of that time, if they knew how to use them. Is there any spiritual promise at
all in this! Asher is made rich and iron and copper lying beneath his feet. Are saints ever made
rich with treasures under their feet? Undoubtedly they are. The Word of God has mines in it.
Even the surface of it is rich, and it brings forth food for us; but it is with Scripture as Job saith it
is with the earth: As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were
fire. The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold. There are treasures
upon the surface of the Word which we may pick up very readily: even the casual reader will
find himself able to understand the simplicities and elements of the gospel of God; but the Word
of God yields most to the digger. He that can study hard, and press into the inner meaning—he is
the man that shall be enriched with riches current in heavenly places. Every Bible student here
will know that God has put under his feet great treasures of precious teaching, and he will by
meditation sink shafts into the deep places of revelation. I wish we gave more time to our Bibles.
We waste too much time upon the pretentious, poverty-stricken literature of the age; and some,
even Christian people, are more taken up with works of fiction than they are with this great Book
of everlasting fact. We should prosper much more in heavenly husbandry if we would dig deep
while sluggards sleep. Remember that God has given to us to have treasures under our feet; but
do not so despise his gifts as to leave the mines of revelation unexplored.
You will find these treasures, not only in the Word of God, but everywhere in the providence
of God, if you will consider the ways of the Lord, and believe that God is everywhere at work, He
that looks for a providence will not be long without seeing one. All events are full of teaching to
the man that has but grace and wit to interpret them. Whoso is wise, and will observe these
things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord. There shall be treasures
under your feet if your feet keep to the ways of truth. A rich land is the country along which
believers travel to their rest: its stones are iron, and out of its bowels thou mayest dig brass.
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the
ways of the Lord are right.
The Revised Version has it, Thy bars shall be iron and brass; and certainly the original text
bears that meaning. Thy bars shall be iron and brass: there shall be protection around
him. The city gates shall be kept fast against the enemy, so as to preserve the citizens. The
slaughtering foe shall not be able to intrude, because, instead of the common wooden bar, which
might be sufficient in more peaceful times, there shall be given bars of metal, not easily cut in
sunder or removed. Herein I see a spiritual blessing for us also. What a mercy it is, when God
strengthens our gates and secures the bars thereof, so that, when the enemy comes, he is not able

to enter or to molest us! Peace from all assaults, safety under all alarms, shutting in from all
attacks—this is a priceless boon. Happy people who have God for their protector! Blessed are
they who rest in the sure promises and faithfulness of God, for they may laugh their enemies to
scorn. O brethren, how safe are they whose trust is in the living God and in his covenant and
promise! Personally I know what this means. I have rested as calmly in the centre of the battle as
ever I have reposed in the deepest calm: with all against me I am as quiet in soul as when
everyone called himself my friend. It is true—Thy bars shall be iron and brass.
Still, I like the Old Version best, and the original certainly bears it, Thy shoes shall be iron
and brass. The Revised Version puts this in the margin He shall have protection for his feet. The
chief objection that has been raised to this is that it would be a very unusual thing for shoes to be
made of iron and brass. Such a thing is not heard of anywhere else in Scripture, neither is it
according to Oriental custom. For that reason I judge that the interpretation is the more likely to
be correct, since the protection which God gives to his people is unusual. No other feet shall wear
so singular a covering; but those who are made strong in the Lord shall be able to wear shoes of
iron, and the Lord shall give them sandals of brass. As Og, the King of Bashan, was of the race of
the giants, and his bedstead was a bedstead of iron, so shall the Lord's champions wear shoes
of iron. Theirs are no common equipments, for they are no common people. God's people are a
peculiar people, and everything about them is peculiar. Even if the poetry of the passage would
not bear to run upon all fours, there is no reason why it should, since it only relates to shoes. We
may be quite content to take the notion of iron and brazen shoes with all its strangeness, and even
let the strangeness be a commendation of it. You have peculiar difficulties, you are a peculiar
people, you traverse a peculiar road, you have a peculiar God to trust in, and you may, therefore,
find peculiar consolation in a peculiar promise: Thy shoes shall be iron and brass.
With shoes of iron and of brass,
O'er burning marl thy feet shall pass,
Tread dragons down, from fear set free;
For as thy day thy strength shall be.
But what does this mean—thy shoes shall be iron and brass? Are there not several
meanings? Does it not mean that our feet, tender and unprotected by nature, shall receive
protection—protection from God? Our feebleness and necessity shall call upon God's grace and
skill,and he will provide for us, and give to us exactly what we, by reason of our feebleness, so
much need.
We want to have shoes of iron and brass, first, to travel with. We are pilgrims. We journey
along a road which has not been smoothed by a steam-roller, but remains rough and rugged as
the path to an Alpine summit. We push on through a wilderness where there is no way.
Sometimes we traverse a dreary road, comparable too a burning sand. At other times sharp trials
afflict us as if they cut our feet with flints. Our journey is a maze, a labyrinth: the Lord leads us
up and down in the wilderness, and sometimes we seem further from Canaan than ever. Seldom
does our march take us through gardens: often it leads us through deserts. We are always
travelling, never long in one stay. Sometimes the fiery cloudy pillar rests for a little, but it is only
for a little. Forward! is our watchword. We have no abiding city here. We pitch our tent by the
wells and palms of Elim, but we strike it in the morning, when the silver bugle sounds, Up, and
away! and so we march to Marah, or to the place of the fiery serpents. Ever onward; ever
forward; ever moving! This is our lot. Be it so. Our equipment betokens it: we have appropriate
shoes for this perpetual journey. We are not shod with the skins of beasts, but with metals which
will endure all wear and tear. Is it not written, Thy shoes shall be iron and brass? However
long the way, these shoes will last to the end.
Perhaps I address some friend whose way is especially rough. You seem to be more tried than

anybody else. You reckon yourself to be more familiar with sorrow than anyone you know:
affliction has marked you for its own. I pray you take home this promise to yourself by faith: the
Lord saith to thee, Thy shoes shall be iron and brass. This special route of yours, which is beset
with so many difficulties—your God has prepared you for it. You are shod as none but the
Lord's chosen are shod. If your way is singular, so are your shoes. You shall be able to traverse
this thorny road—to journey along it with profit to yourself,and with glory to God. For your
travelling days you are well fitted, for your shoes are iron and brass.
If the sorrows of thy case
Seem peculiar still to thee,
God has promised needful grace,
'As thy days, thy strength shall be.'
Shoes of iron remind us of military array—they are meant to fight with.Brethren, we are
soldiers as well as pilgrims. These shoes are meant for trampling upon enemies. All sorts of
deadly things lie in our way, and it is by the help of these shoes that the promise is made good.
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample
under feet. Are we not often too much like the young man Jether, who was bidden by his father
to slay Zebah and Zalmunna, but he was afraid. We tremble to put our foot upon the neck of the
enemy; we fancy that if we should attempt it, we should be guilty of presumption. Let us have
done with this false humility, for thus we dishonour the Lord's promise: Thy shoes shall be iron
and brass. Better far to say, Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name
will we tread them under that rise up against us. Thus we may say without fear, for assuredly
The Lord shall bruise Satan under our feet shortly.
O my soul, thou has trodden down strength, said the holy woman of old, when the
adversaries of Israel had been routed. Thus can our exultant spirits also take up the chant. I also
can say, O my soul, thou has trodden down strength. Yes, believer, with thy foot thou has
crushed thy foe, even as thy Lord, who came on purpose that he might break with his foot, even
with his bruised heel, the head of our serpent adversary. Be not afraid, therefore, in the day of
conflict, to push onward against the foe. Do not be afraid to seize the victory which Christ has
already secured for thee. Thy shoes shall be iron and brass thou shalt trample down thy foe,
and march unharmed to victory.
What a blessing it is when we get self under our feet! We shall have good use for iron shoes if
we keep him there. What a mercy it is when you get a sinful habit under your feet! You will need
have shoes of brass to keep it there. What a mercy it is when some temptation that you have long
struggled with at last falls to the ground, and you can set your foot upon it! You need to have
both of your shoes strengthened with iron, and hardened with brass, that you may bruise this
spiritual enemy, and crush out its life. Feet shod with sound metal of integrity and firmness will
be none too strong in this evil world, where so many, like serpents, are ready to bite at our heels.
Only so shod shall we win the victory.
See, the Lord promises that we shall have shoes suitable alike for travelling and for trampling
upon enemies!
Next, we have fit shoes for climbing. One interpreter thinks that the sole of the shoe was to be
studded with iron or copper nails. Certainly, those who climb would not like to go with the
smooth soles which suit us in our parlours and drawing-rooms. There are many instances where
a rough tip of iron, or a strong nail in the heel of the shoe, has checked the slipping mountaineer
when gliding over a shelving rock,and there he has stayed on the very brink of death. Our
spiritual life is an upward climb, with constant danger of a fall. It is a great mercy to have shoes
of iron and brass in our spiritual climbings, that should our feet be almost gone, we may find

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