Hearing God’s Word: Deuteronomy 3, 4 (3)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 19.12-14
Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19.12-14
(St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
Who, Lord, can know his errors? O keep sin far from me!
Let evil rule not in my soul that I may blameless be.
O let my thoughts, let all my words, before Your glorious sight
be pleasing to You, gracious Lord, acceptable and right!

Today’s Text: Deuteronomy 4.1-14

Preparation
1. What did God expect of His people concerning His Law?

2. What did God promise if Israel would keep and obey His Law?

Meditation
Having brought the people up to speed on the events of their recent history, Moses turned to prepare for the second giving of God’s Law (deutero, second; nomos, law). He began by reminding the people that God had previously declared this law to their forebears, when He spoke to them out of the fire and gave them the Ten Commandments (vv. 11-13). God commanded their obedience at that time (v. 14), and Moses commanded it again.

Apparently obeying God’s Word is one of those things that identifies us as the people of God (vv. 6, 7).

Through Moses, God promised that if Israel would listen to and obey His commandments, they would enjoy full and abundant life in the land of promise (v. 1). They must neither add to these commandments nor take away from them anything that God revealed (v. 2). Moses reminded the people how God destroyed those who tried to hold onto pagan deities, while, by His grace, He kept alive all those who clung to Him (v. 4).

Obedience to God’s Laws would make His people wise and prosperous, so much so that the surrounding nations would marvel (vv. 5, 6). And why not? No other nation or people has a God like the God of Israel, Who abides with His people and cares for them as His flock (v. 7). And no other nation has such a wise, just, and comprehensive Law as that which God gave to Israel (v. 8). So the people should “take heed” and “diligently keep” themselves within the parameters and between the guardrails of that Law. They should not depart from it all their days, and they should teach it to their children and grandchildren (v. 9). They should remember that this is only what God commanded them to do when He first gave them His holy and righteous and good Law (v. 10).

And do we suppose that God has changed His mind about this? Are we really that foolish?

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Ps. 14.1). So we believe God exists, but do we really believe what He says? And if we don’t believe and act on what He says, doesn’t that make us foolish? Well, yes it does. And if we don’t obey Him, then where is our wisdom and understanding? And without these, where is our testimony? And are we proud of the statutes, righteous judgments, and laws that God has given us to perform? And if we are not performing them, should we be surprised that the world doesn’t stand amazed at the Church today and proclaim, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people”? Jesus saw the city of Jerusalem and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace!” (Lk. 19.41, 42) We know. We believe. But we must obey, because God has not changed His mind. “So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments…” (Deut. 4.13).

Reflection
1. What did God promise His people if they would trust Him and perform His commandments?

2. How do we “add to” the commandments of God? How do we “take from” them?

3. How can believers help one another to gain the promise of God’s Law, and of all His Word?

…not without cause would the Jews be celebrated in the whole world, because it would actually appear that none were equal to them. He mentions two points, first, because God would be ready to afford them help, as often as they call upon Him; secondly, because He had instructed them in perfect righteousness, beyond which nothing could be desired… John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Deuteronomy 4.6

Guide my steps in the path of Your Law today, Lord, as I…

Closing Prayer: Psalm 19.1-11
Give thanks to God, Who reveals Himself to us in His Word and His world. Pray that His Word might do in you all that these verses promise.

Psalm 19.1-11.
(St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
The heav’ns declare God’s glory, the skies His work proclaim!
From day to day and night by night they shout His glorious Name!
No speech, no words, no voice is heard, yet all across the earth
the lines of His all-present Word make known His holy worth.

Behold, the sun arises, a bridegroom strong and bright,
rejoicing as he runs his course from morning unto night.
From east to west across the skies his circuit he completes,
And none can hide his sinful eyes or shelter from his heat.

The Law of God is perfect, His testimony sure;
the simple man God’s wisdom learns, the soul receives its cure.
God’s Word is right, and His command is pure, and truth imparts;
He makes our eyes to understand; with joy He fills our hearts.

The fear of God is cleansing, forever shall it last.
His judgments all are true and just, by righteousness held fast.
O seek them more than gold most fine, than honey find them sweet;
be warned by every word and line; be blessed with joy complete.

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy: Ancient Christian Commentary Series III, Joseph T. Lienhard, S. J. ed. in collaboration with Ronnie J. Rombs, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001). All quotations from John Calvin from John Calvin, Commentaries on The Four Last Books of Moses Arranged in the Order of A Harmony, Rev. Charles William Bingham M. A., tr. and ed. (Edinburgh: The Calvin Translation Society, 1863. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).