Deuteronomy 10
After rehashing how God wrote on new stone the same words that He had previously inscribed on the first set of tablets, Moses moves into a time of exhortation, encouraging the people to obey the LORD their God as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. Specifically, Moses asks the Israelites to consider what God requires of them, to which he answers his own question with the following: “to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD…” (vv. 12-13).
Friends, this call from Moses to God’s people extends to us in the present, so let’s break down each segment of this appeal succinctly:
· When we reverentially fear and are in awe of God, we recognize who He is, how insignificant we are in comparison, what He has done for us, and desire to live in a manner that wants to please Him. (More on this tomorrow.) We are not afraid of Him, but we do acknowledge that one day all we have done will be assessed by Him, with rewards bestowed upon those who remained faithful.
· Walking in God’s ways is possible now that He has gifted us with His divine nature (2 Peter 1:3). So let us embrace this reality and recognize that it’s only by remaining on His narrow path that we experience abundant life now and for eternity.
· If we love God above all else, we won’t ever waver on whether to obey His commands. Jesus says as much in John 14:15. It’s only when we start harboring greater love for the things (and people) of this world that our faithfulness falters.
· Love for God naturally carries over to service to Him. This will look differently for each of us, as we have been entrusted with unique spiritual gifts and natural talents. What we must ask ourselves is whether we are using these resources to build up God’s kingdom or our own earthly ones.
· How will we know God’s commands if we aren’t familiar with and esteem His Word and His voice? Disciplining ourselves to pore over the Scriptures and listening for Him speaking during times of prayer are essential to posturing our hearts to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Keep in mind that these aren’t suggestions from God or nice things that He would like you to incorporate into your life. No, these are commands that He requires of His chosen people. But lest you think what is called for here comes from an unloving God, we are reminded in the latter part of verse 13 that all of this is for our good.
There are a couple of other truths I would love for you to consider before moving into a time of reflection:
· “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God…” (v. 17). God has no rival. He has no equal. He is Lord of all, including you and me. Revere and praise Him today!
· God “executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing” (v. 18). Do we share the same heart as God for these people groups?
· “You shall fear the LORD your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear” (v. 20; emphasis added). Yet another mention of fearing the LORD; why do we think this was just some Old Testament principle? Additionally, the Hebrew word for “hold fast” used here (and in Deuteronomy 4) is the same as that used in Genesis 2:24, when God told man to leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife. We continue to see this recurring theme in the Bible: our earthly marriages are connected to the relationship between God and His people.
· “He is your praise. He is your God…” (v. 21). Nothing else deserves our worship; only God is worthy of all our praise.
· “Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven” (v. 22). God proved Himself faithful to His original promises made to Abraham, even if the Israelites weren’t able to see how His word would come to pass. He’s the same God today as He was then, which means His faithfulness reaches to you and me.
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Journal responses to the following prompts:
· Which of the five commands listed in verses 12-13 brings about conviction as you read over and study them?
· What else in this world gets your heart’s attention, worship, and praise?