Deuteronomy 5
-Moses summoned all of the Israelites together to reiterate
the Ten Commandments that the LORD gave them, which they agreed to, on Mount
Sinai (or Horeb). It was here that God made a covenant with His people; not the
fathers, but the sons of Israel at that time. It was a current event, not an affair
from antiquity. The glory, fire, awesomeness, fury, and voice of the LORD God Almighty
appeared to them there and they survived. Nothing like this had ever happened;
it was totally unique (Deuteronomy 5:1-5, 22-26). He was sealing the fact that
He was their God and they were His people. He delivered them with a mighty Hand
and an outstretched Arm out of the land of Egypt. He was consecrating the fact
that He was their Savior and LORD (Deuteronomy 5:6, 15).
-The Ten Commandments were revisited commandment by
commandment with some explanation for the preservation of the people in the
land (Deuteronomy 5:7-21). The first four had to do with their vertical
relationship with their exclusive LORD, and the last six had to do with how to
treat their fellow man. Therefore, we can see Christ’s admonition to love God
and love people very much evident in these top ten commandments (Matthew 22:37-40,
Mark 12:30-31, Luke 10:27).
-Moses’ intercession for the people of God takes center
stage in the remaining verses of this chapter (Deuteronomy 5:22-33). He was the
one who could go near and hear all that the LORD said in intimacy and clarity
(Deuteronomy 5:27a). The people told him at that time that they would hear him
and do the things that God commanded him (Deuteronomy 5:27b). The LORD was
pleased with their response in all that they had sponken. His comment on the
situation is this, “Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear
Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with
their sons forever (Deuteronomy 5:28)!” God knew the future and saw their obstinate
rebellion from the beginning, yet He implored them to give Him their whole
heart for blessing and security. His greatest desire was that they walk in all
the way that they should go with their King for the prolonging of their days in
the land (Deuteronomy 5:33).
-*Application* We are under a jealous God who visits the
iniquity of the fathers on the children up to the third and fourth generations
to those who hate Him. But, think about the reverse side of things. He shows
lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Him and keep His ways
(Deuteronomy 5:9-10). Our unyielding and abiding love is all He really wants.
His desire is to bless us and wants no one to turn Him away. It breaks my heart
when I see people get angry with God and provoke Him to anger out their
ignorance and misunderstanding. These have totally missed the concept of God’s
grace, kindness, and mercy usually because of something that has happened as a
result of a marred world rather than His intended design. While God is
transcendent and has ultimate control, He gave mankind freedom to choose or
reject Him. And our rejection of Him has caused all of our pain and misery. His
desperate desire is to bring us back into right relationship with Him through
the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (John 3:16, 1 Timothy 2:3-5, 2 Peter 3:9).
Because of God’s justice, He has to punish all sin. But, because of His grace,
He takes pity on those who love Him and follow His ways, which are revealed
through Jesus Christ’s atonement on the cross. The choice is yours my friend.
Where is your heart today?
Verse to Memorize:
Deuteronomy 5:29
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