Deuteronomy 12:9

9 For hitherto ye have not arrived at the rest and the inheritance, which the Lord our God gives you.

Deuteronomy 12:9 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 12:9

For ye are not yet come to the rest
The land of Canaan, which was typical of the rest which remains for the people of God in heaven; for though they now enter into a spiritual rest in Christ, they are not yet come to their eternal rest; they are in a world of trouble, through sin, Satan, and wicked men; but they shall come to it, as Israel did to Canaan; for God has promised and prepared it, and it remains for them; Christ prayed for it, is also gone to prepare it, and the Spirit is the seal and earnest of it, and works up the saints, and makes them meet for it:

and to the inheritance which the Lord your God giveth you;
and the land of Canaan being an inheritance, and the gift of God, was also a type of the heavenly inheritance; which saints are now born unto, and have both a right unto, and meetness for, through the righteousness of Christ, and grace of God; but as yet are not entered on it, but that is reserved for them in heaven, and they are preserved and kept for that; and ere long shall inherit it, as the free gift of God their Father to them, and which is peculiar to them as children. Jarchi and Ben Melech by the "rest" understand Shiloh, and by the inheritance Jerusalem; so in the Misnah F6; see ( 1 Chronicles 23:25 ) the Targum of Jonathan is,

``ye are not come to the house of the sanctuary, which is the house of rest, and to the inheritance of the land.''


FOOTNOTES:

F6 Zebachim, c. 14. sect. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. & Bartenora in ib.

Deuteronomy 12:9 In-Context

7 And ye shall eat there before the Lord your God, and ye shall rejoice in all the things on which ye shall lay your hand, ye and your houses, as the Lord your God has blessed you.
8 Ye shall not do altogether as we do here to-day, every man that which is pleasing in his own sight.
9 For hitherto ye have not arrived at the rest and the inheritance, which the Lord our God gives you.
10 And ye shall go over Jordan, and shall dwell in the land, which the Lord our God takes as an inheritance for you; and he shall give you rest from all your enemies round about, and ye shall dwell safely.
11 And there shall be a place which the Lord thy God shall choose for his name to be called there, thither shall ye bring all things that I order you to-day; your whole-burnt-offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and the first-fruits of your hands, and every choice gift of yours, whatsoever ye shall vow to the Lord your God.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.