Deuteronomy 10
Scripture:
Deuteronomy 10:12-15
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today.”
Observation-What does it say?
Here’s a quick overview of this chapter: Chapters 1-11 speak on “God's mercies to Israel after their rebellion.” Chapter 12-22 is “An exhortation to obedience.”
(Matthew Henry’s Bible commentary-concise on Christianity.com)
Exhortation means “an address or communication emphatically urging someone to do something.” (New Oxford American Dictionary)
Understanding-What does it mean?
Israel was loved and chosen by God and even with their rebellion, He still showed them mercy. As a result, there was a response required of them, which was “for your own good (verse 13).” This included:
Fear (or respect) Him.
Walk in obedience to Him or like Pastor says, “Give God the right to tell you what to do.”
Love Him with your whole heart and soul.
Serve Him with your whole heart and soul.
Life Application
Just as Israel was loved, chosen and forgiven by God, we are loved, chosen and forgiven by God too!
Out of His great love and mercy, He has saved us (Ephesians 2:4-5), just like He saved the people of Israel. He chose us before the beginning of time. As a result of faith, there is a response that is required of us and this is for our own good.
In Pastor’s sermon last Sunday about God being our protector (you can check it out at this link: (https://youtu.be/Dr2EmJusdDE), Pastor talks about God’s rod and staff acting as a comfort to us. Discipline is an act of love and comfort. The response that is required of us after salvation is not for Him. It is actually for us, for our own good. Therefore, if we are in Christ, the same 4 responses God required of Israel applies to us as well. Do our lives reflect these responses?
We fear (respect) Him.
We give Him the right to tell us what to do. (Walk in obedience to Him.)
We love Him with our whole heart and soul.
We serve Him with our whole heart and soul.
Dear Lord, thank You that all of your commands are because You love me and are always looking out for my best interests. I pray that I would stay within the boundaries and plans that You have called me to. Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi