John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 4:6

"Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, that shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." — Deuteronomy 4:6 (ASV)

Keep therefore, and do them. So that they might more cheerfully commit to keeping the Law and proceed more steadily in this effort, he reminds them that nothing is better or more desirable for them. For God is not properly honored, except with ready minds and voluntary obedience, to which we are attracted more by pleasure than forced by rigor and violence. Now, since all desire to excel, he says that this is the chief excellence of Israel: that they have God for their Lawgiver and Master.

If anyone objects that what he says can be refuted by two arguments—first, because the Law of God was unknown to Gentile nations, and second, because the form of God’s worship prescribed in it, and the whole Jewish religion, were not only despised but also hated by them—I reply that other nations are not presented here as absolute judges or arbitrators. Instead, the words must be understood to mean that no nation, if it were to achieve a right understanding, would dare to compare itself, much less prefer itself, to you. For by that very comparison, it would acknowledge the great dignity to which God has raised you.

Therefore, although the doctrine of the Law might remain neglected, indeed, even detested, by almost the entire world, Moses still truthfully declares that since God has seen fit to give the Jews a rule of life, a stage was erected before other nations, on which the nobility of that one people would be conspicuous. For it was unreasonable that God’s glory should be tarnished or extinguished by the ignorance of the blind.

But we gather from this passage that we are truly wise when we depend on God’s words and submit our own understanding to His revelations.

Where I have translated the words, “Surely (certo) this people,” the Hebrew particle, רק,²²⁶ rak, is used. This particle is often used in an exclusive sense, so that it would appropriately carry this meaning: “Only this people,” etc. Unquestionably, this refers to the eminent condition of the people on account of their gracious privileges.

²²⁶ Only; at least; surely. — Nold. Concord. partic. —— W.