“Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and you understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” Deuteronomy 4.6

By a “great name” it seems God intended that His people should have influence for good over the nations around them. This would have been consistent with God’s original “good” plan for all the creation, and for His people as keepers and nurturers thereof (Gen. 1.26-28). The greatness of Israel’s name would be associated with their renown for wisdom and understanding, and this would be the result of their living according to the Law God had given them.

There would be no avoiding the nations around Israel, just as there is, for believers today, no avoiding frequent contact of various sorts with unbelievers. God knew that those contacts would either bring Israel – and us – down to the level of our unredeemed contemporaries, or they would provide an opportunity for elevating the way of life of those beyond the pale of faith, and even for leading some to unite with the community of believers.

Because God’s purpose for His people is that they should further His goodness, He has given us His Law. By living in obedience to God’s Law we may exert the kind of influence on outsiders which causes them to look favorably upon us, to conform their own conduct to that which honors God, even though they neither know nor love Him (Ps. 66.3; Ps. 81.15), and even to seek greater understanding of God’s ways for themselves (Mic. 4.1-5).

By keeping the Law Israel would show wisdom, understanding, justice, goodness, and love to the surrounding nations. These are powerful means of influence, and God has promised them to His people as part of His redemptive plan and purpose for our lives.

For a more complete exposition of the promises of God, order a copy of T. M.’s book, I Will Be Your God, from our online store.