Today we continue reading the words that Moses spoke to Israel when they were camped on the east bank of the Jordan River, right before they crossed the river into the Promised Land. Moses made a statement that declared God’s highest priority. It was what God most wanted from Israel. Moses’ statement is similar to teachings made in the New Testament, which means his statement helps us understand our top priorities as Christians.
When we stopped reading yesterday, Moses had just told the story of how God wrote the Ten Commandments on stone tablets and then Moses placed those tablets in the ark which Israel had made.
Deut. 10:10 ¶ “I, moreover, stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights like the first time, and Yahweh listened to me that time also; Yahweh was not willing to destroy you.
This forty-day sojourn on the mountain happened after the golden calf incident (see Exodus 34:28). The golden calf incident is why Yahweh considered destroying Israel.
Deut. 10:11 Then Yahweh said to me, ‘Arise, go on your journey ahead of the people, that they may go in and possess the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.’
The intent was that after receiving the law at Mount Sinai, Israel would enter the Promised Land.
The verses leading up to and including verse 11 are Moses’ recitation of Israel’s history. Starting at verse 12, Moses gave fresh instructions about what Israel’s priorities should be.
Deut. 10:12 ¶ “So now, Israel, what does Yahweh your God ask from you, but to fear Yahweh your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
Ponder the phrase “what does Yahweh your God ask”. This phrase indicates that Moses wanted Israel to step back and take a broad look at life and consider God’s highest priorities.
The first priority was to fear Yahweh. The top priorities included walking in God’s ways, loving God, and serving God.
Deut. 10:13 and to keep the commandments of Yahweh and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?
Another top priority of God was that Israel obey His commandments.
These priorities are echoed in the New Testament. Jesus said, “fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). He declared that loving God is the greatest commandment (see Matthew 22:37). He defined love of God as obeying God (see John 14:15).
Deut. 10:14 Behold, to Yahweh your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it.
Deut. 10:15 Yet on your fathers did Yahweh set His affection to love them, and He chose their seed after them, even you above all peoples, as it is this day.
Notice the word “yet”. Yahweh owns the universe, and yet He chose Israel to be His people. The fact that Yahweh owns the universe tells us how inconsequential humans are compared to Yahweh. And yet, Yahweh cares about humans. He chose Israel, a group of humans, to be His chosen people.
Deut. 10:16 So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer.
Notice the word “so”. Since Yahweh chose Israel, their response should have been to submit to Yahweh.
Deut. 10:17 For Yahweh your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the fearsome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.
Deut. 10:18 He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows love for the sojourner by giving him food and clothing.
Deut. 10:19 So show love for the sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
Don’t miss the mentality behind this verse. Israel was mistreated in Egypt, but they were not to mistreat sojourners. Instead, they were to love sojourners. This is similar to the statement of Jesus in which He said, “And treat others the same way you want them to treat you” (Luke 6:31).
Deut. 10:20 Yahweh your God you shall fear; Him you shall serve, and to Him you shall cling, and by His name you shall swear.
Deut. 10:21 He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done these great and fearsome things for you which your eyes have seen.
Deut. 10:22 Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons in all, and now Yahweh your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.
Deut. 11:1 ¶ “You shall therefore love Yahweh your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments all your days.
Look at the word “therefore”. Because of the facts stated in chapter 10 verse 22, Israel was to love Yahweh and obey Him.
Deut. 11:2 So know this day that I am not speaking with your sons who have not known and who have not seen the discipline of Yahweh your God—His greatness, His strong hand and His outstretched arm,
Moses was saying this after Israel had wandered in the wilderness for forty years. During those years, all the men who had been twenty years old or older at Mount Sinai died. The young men who had been under the age of twenty at Mount Sinai were still alive. They were the ones to whom Moses was speaking. Their sons were born during the wilderness wanderings.
Deut. 11:3 and His signs and His works which He did in the midst of Egypt to Pharaoh the king of Egypt and to all his land;
Deut. 11:4 and what He did to Egypt’s army, to its horses and its chariots, when He made the water of the Red Sea to engulf them while they were pursuing you, and Yahweh made them perish utterly;
Deut. 11:5 and what He did to you in the wilderness until you came to this place;
Deut. 11:6 and what He did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben, when the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them, among all Israel—
Deut. 11:7 but your own eyes have seen all the great work of Yahweh which He did.
Many of the men listening to Moses had seen the miracles that Yahweh performed in Egypt and in the wilderness.
Many Christians think our most important priority is to engage in an activity which they call worship, but which doesn’t meet the Biblical definition of worship. Their concept of worship is to have an emotional experience by singing or playing Christian music.
The Bible does not teach that we should have an emotional religious experience. Nor does it place a high priority on singing and playing Christian music. Instead, the Bible teaches that our highest priority is to fear and obey God.
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”