The Duty of Ministers
Deuteronomy 5:27
Go you near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak you to us all that the LORD our God shall speak to you…


I. It is his special business and privilege TO APPROACH WITH FREQUENCY INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD, AND TO KEEP UP AN INTIMATE AND FAMILIAR INTERCOURSE WITH HIM, that he may obtain enlarged disclosures of His will, and receive fuller manifestations of His character and excellence.

1. That one and the principal source of their information in reference to Divine things, is the inspired Word of God.

2. The Christian minister is to "go near, and hear what the Lord God says," by a close and enlightened attention to the dispensations of Providence.

3. The Christian minister is to "go near, and hear what the Lord God says," in the frequent and fervent exercise of secret prayer.

II. The other department of duty attached to the ministerial office, as suggested by the text, is THE DECLARATION OF THE MIND OF GOD TO THE PEOPLE.

1. He is to speak unto the people only what God speaks unto him.

2. He is to speak all that God speaks to him. He must away with that base, time-serving principle, that would smooth down, or expunge altogether, the holy truths of God, to meet the vitiated tastes of degenerate men.

(Alex. Fisher.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it.

WEB: Go near, and hear all that Yahweh our God shall say: and tell us all that Yahweh our God shall tell you; and we will hear it, and do it."




The Duty of Hearers
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