Deuteronomy 33 chapters 19 through 21

The next chapters - 19 through 21 of An Exposition of Deuteronomy 33 are:

Sermon 19: “Zebulun and Issachar Continued,” pages 594-626;

Sermon 20: “The Blessing of Gad,” pages 627-659;

Sermon 21: “The Blessing of Dan,” pages 660-680.

Parkinson continues his discourse on Zebulun and Issachar in chapter 19, where, as related in the previous chapter, he sees these two tribes as symbolizing the two branches of spiritual Israel: the elect Jews and the elect Gentiles, “chosen and blessed together in CHRIST; and who, as called and brought to believe in Him, become united under Him, in the same church-state on earth, and whom He will ultimately settle together in the heavenly inheritance, as Joshua settled these two tribes together in the earthly Canaan.”

Gad, in his descent and his name, was a type of Christ. “Of Gad,” writes Parkinson, “Moses prophetically said, he dwelleth as a lion—he is always fearless, and, while unmolested, nobly generous and inoffensive; yet, when insulted and provoked beyond forbearance, he riseth in terrific majesty….And that Gad, as occasion required, fully exemplified this lion-like character, we know from inspired testimony; for the Gadites were men of might, and men of war, fit for 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. 1 Chron. 12:8. This prophecy, however, though it was thus evidently verified in Gad, remained to have its ultimate and most eminent fulfilment in CHRIST [the Lion of the tribe of Judah], and especially in the destruction of the enemies of God’s elect. Those enemies may be divided into spiritual and temporal.”

In the blessing of Dan, he too is portrayed in the figure of a lion—a young lion. “And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion’s whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.” Deut. 33:22. In this chapter Parkinson sets forth the ways in which the tribe of Dan typifies Christ in his mediatorial work, “for in this, He would resemble a young lion—a lion in its greatest vigor and activity.” As the name of Dan signifies “a Judge,” so Christ exercises His kingly authority as the Judge of His people and of all mankind.