John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 28:9

"Jehovah will establish thee for a holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee; if thou shalt keep the commandments of Jehovah thy God, and walk in his ways." — Deuteronomy 28:9 (ASV)

The Lord shall establish thee a holy people unto himself. This indeed refers to earthly blessings, as if Moses said that God’s love towards His chosen people would be manifested through them. Still, it rises higher, so that the Israelites, gradually led, would learn to embrace God alone and to trust in Him according to the covenant which He had made with Abraham, I am thy exceeding great reward (Genesis 15:1).

For the children of Abraham were set apart and chosen to be a holy people, not only so that, being well-fed and with a full belly, they would aspire to nothing but earthly things, but also that they might be confidently assured that they would be blessed in death as well as in life.

Although their adoption was gratuitous, still, since they were called to purity, it is not without reason that God promises that what He had spoken would be sure, provided that the Israelites themselves, by keeping the Law, continued in the covenant. This means that their sanctification²¹⁵ would be firm and perpetual if they walked in the commandments of the Law.

When He adds that it would be manifest to²¹⁶ all people of the earth that the name of God was called upon them, this is equivalent to saying that it would be known that they were under God’s defense and patronage, and that, as a result, they would always be safe and secure in His protection.

²¹⁵ “Leur election.” — Fr..

²¹⁶ “And all the people of the earth shall see that those are called by the name of the Lord.” — A..V. “And all peoples of the earth shall see that the name of Jehovah is called upon thee,” . “And all peoples of the earth shall see that the name of Jehovah is called upon thee,” i..e., “thou art called by his name.” — Ainsworth.., “thou art called by his name.” — Ainsworth.