DEUTERONOMY 3-4
“Deuteronomy” is derived from the Greek word deuteronomion, meaning “a second law.” This whole book is meant to be a second edition of God’s laws, compiled of commandments received at Mount Sinai as well as a few additional ones. The first four chapters of Deuteronomy set the stage for these laws by providing reminders of why the Israelites serve the God of Abraham, and the importance of keeping His statutes.
Moses begins this book emphasizing to his people the importance of remembering. He reminds them of the many instances in which God delivered them from their enemies and gave them new lands. As we read yesterday and continue to read today, chapters 1-3 serve as a brief overview of Israel’s recent happenings. In chapter 4, Moses switches gears and opens the book with a call to remembrance, and a command to obey. (Deut 4:1-5, 4:9-10, 4:14, 4:23, 4:30)
Only be careful for yourself and watch over your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons. – Deut 4:9
Moses is reiterating that the laws provided previously in Exodus weren’t just a temporary set of guidelines or a mere suggestion; they were meant to be kept. These laws are the foundation upon which God’s chosen people will be set apart, unique from the rest of the world. (Deuteronomy 4:5-8, 4:32-40)
So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the Lord our God whenever we call on Him? Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole Law which I am setting before you today? – Deut 4:6-8
Israel’s obedience and devotion to the statutes of the LORD serve a larger purpose. Not only will these laws keep Israel on the right track in terms of their own safety and wellbeing, but they will also distinguish God’s people from the rest of humanity as a righteous and wise nation. Ultimately, despite many roadblocks and failures, these laws will sustain Israel for 400 years, allowing them to become the nation from which the Messiah is born (as prophesied later in Deuteronomy 18:15-19).
Moses makes it abundantly clear to his people that God will not forget His covenant with them, therefore it is crucial that they do not forget either. He warns them that they will stray, but that they serve a merciful God, a loving Father who patiently waits for His children to return to Him. (Deut 4:25-31)
For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not abandon you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them. – Deut 4:31
Though Christ has since set a new system in place, consisting of new laws under the new covenant, the main ideas that Moses expressed in these scriptures remain true for us today. First, we must remember God’s promise to one day restore the earth (Gen 3:19), as well as the commands His Son gave generations later under the new covenant. Second, God’s commands are not meant to needlessly restrict us, but to guide us into a life of blessing and purpose. When we obey, we reflect His wisdom and goodness to the world around us. And lastly, that God knows we live in a broken world; He sees our darkest desires and our biggest downfalls. But even when we stray from His ways, He waits for us to return to Him, arms open and heart yearning to pull us into His loving embrace.
-Isabella Osborn
Reflection Questions:
- How can you actively remind yourself (and others) of God’s goodness, His commands, and His promises?
- Moses emphasized that God’s laws were meant to set Israel apart—how does living according to God’s principles set you apart in today’s world?
- How does knowing that God patiently waits for us to return to Him impact the way you approach repentance and restoration in your relationship with Him? How can this truth shape the way you view both your own failures and those of others?
Seek Grow Love 