Deuteronomy 29:3 The great temptations which your eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: (Cf. Deuteronomy 4:34; Deuteronomy 7:19.) I. THE RELATION OF THE TERMS. "Temptations" is a wider category than "signs," and "signs" is a wider category than "miracles" or "wonders." All "wonders," however, in the kingdom of God have the moral significance of "signs;" and all "signs and wonders" are "trials" of the disposition. II. THE APPLICATION OF THE TERMS. 1. Wonders, meaning strictly, supernatural occurrences. 2. Signs. Anything is a "sign" which indicates God's presence (Luke 11:20), which discovers a law of his working, which is a pledge of his grace, which furnishes a symbol of a spiritual reality. Miracles were "signs." Nature is a "sign" in her order, regularity, and invariableness (Genesis 1:14; Genesis 8:22; Genesis 9:13; Psalm 119:89-92; Jeremiah 33:25; Acts 14:17; Romans 1:20). Every answer to prayer, every deliverance front trouble, every indication of the Divine will in providence, every specific warning and encouragement, is a "sign." 3. Temptations, i.e. tests or trials. "Trial" is a word of wide scope, for God tries us every moment, as well by things little as by things great. Every event in providence contributes to the formation, testing, and discipline of character. Naturally, however, we give the name "trials" to the harder and more severe experiences of life - those which most throw us back on our true selves, and reveal or determine character. - J.O. Parallel Verses KJV: The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles:WEB: the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders: |
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