John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 32:39

"See now that I, even I, am he, And there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; And there is none that can deliver out of my hand." — Deuteronomy 32:39 (ASV)

See now that I, even I, am he (Deuteronomy 32:39). Those who attribute the preceding verses to the unbelievers now introduce God speaking, so to speak, abruptly, and asserting His glory in rebuke of their blasphemies.

But it is rather a confirmation of that holy boasting which He has just dictated to the believers. God not only commands His people to lift up their voices against the idols, but He Himself comes forward to condemn the senselessness of the Gentiles. The context, however, clearly shows that He addresses Himself to the faithful.

Therefore, after He has exhorted His people to despise the idols, He now adds that He supplies them with ample grounds for confidence in Himself. For when He tells them to look, He indicates that no obscure manifestation of His power is before their eyes, if they will only pay attention to it.

The repetition of the pronoun "I" is emphatic, both to arouse the people from their sluggishness and to keep their minds steadfast, so that they do not waver as if in doubt. For we know that human minds can hardly be drawn to the true knowledge of God, because they take winding routes and do not direct themselves straight to Him.

And again, when they do grasp God, we are aware how easily they are drawn away from Him, since the changes and uncertainties of life confuse them, so that they wander aimlessly in uncertainty. For this reason, when God has overthrown all false gods, He declares that He always remains the same, whether He kills or makes alive, so that in the thick darkness of affliction believers may not cease to look to Him.

Let us learn from this passage that God is denied His rightful place unless He alone is preeminent, with all idols being reduced to nothing. Let us also learn that our faith is then truly fixed in Him and has firm roots if, amid life's various changes, it does not stagger or waver but surmounts such obstacles, so as not to cease to hope in Him even when He seems to slay us, as Job says (Job 13:15).

And surely, nothing is more unreasonable than for our faith to look around at all events and depend on them, since God desires His promises to give us life even in death itself. The end of the verse may appropriately be referred to their enemies, since God declares that none can deliver them out of His hand.