The Meaning of God’s Law: Deuteronomy 6 (1)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 119.145-148
I cry out with my whole heart;
Hear me, O LORD!
I will keep Your statutes.
I cry out to You;
Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies.
I rise before the dawning of the morning,
And cry for help;
I hope in Your word.
My eyes are awake through the night watches,
That I may meditate on Your word.

Psalm 119.145-148
(Finlandia: Be Still My Soul)
With my whole heart, I cry to You, O Lord!
Lord, answer me!  Your statutes I will keep.
I call to You; save me!  I love Your Word.
I cry to You, arising from my sleep.
My hope is in Your holy Word, O Lord;
I meditate upon Your promise sweet.

Today’s Text: Deuteronomy 6.1-3

Preparation
1. What did God command Moses to do with His Law?

2. What was the purpose of this activity?

Meditation
Having declared the Ten Commandments, Moses now begins to teach them to the people. He will do so by further clarifying instructions and examples, and by giving additional “statutes and judgments” (v. 1). All that follows in the book of Deuteronomy is not in addition to the Ten Commandments, but to teach and explain their application in particular situations.

And this teaching is not meant to be exhaustive but illustrative. Moses is teaching the Law to the people of God so that they will know and fear God, Who gives and enforces His Law, and will keep His Law at all times and in all situations (v. 2). He wants to shape the way they think about their lives, the things they love and desire, and the values and priorities they will embed in their souls. As the mind, heart, and conscience of God’s people becomes immersed in, saturated with, and shaped by the Law, they will do that which conduces to true and lasting life.

But a good teacher can only do so much. For true learning to occur, the learners must do their part. They must regard the ultimate Source of their instruction – the Lord our God (v. 2) – so that they fear Him. And they must “keep” or “observe” (the Hebrew word is the same) the Law; indeed, they must “be careful” to do so – the phrase in verse 3 is literally, observe to do, that is, see it through in detail. We’ll see a bit further on what it means to “keep” or “observe to do” the Word of God.

True learning issues in faithful doing, and when such learning and doing is grounded in God’s Law, life flourishes.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Because we love our children and are responsible for their wellbeing, we teach them to observe God’s Law, and other laws, for their good and safety. Like the law of gravity: “If you jump off this bunk bed, you will plummet to the ground, and there will be pain.” Physics: “If you put your hand forcefully on this glass door as it swings toward you, it will break. And there will be pain.” In the very same way, because God loves His people so much, He tells us what to do, so that it will be well with us. He wants us to avoid, at all costs, the eternal pain of separation from Him. And He wants to give us peace, and a Helper – the Holy Spirit. “He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you” (Jn. 14.26, 27). This is what we need to learn and do: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word…” (Jn. 14.23) Some laws never change.

Reflection
1. How do we know when we have truly learned something?

2. What do we mean by saying that the Law of God is not exhaustive but illustrative?

3. What is our responsibility in learning the Law of God?

The fear of the Lord includes awe for His greatness and holiness, love for Him, and submission to His will. Initially, the fear of God may involve fright. Yet it leads to a sense of wonder, a commitment to worship, and delight in knowing God. Earl Radmacher (1931-2014) NKJV Study Bible Notes on Deuteronomy 6.2

Let Your Word dwell in me richly today, Lord, so that I…

Closing Prayer: Psalm 119.12-17.
Meditate on the day ahead. What opportunities for obeying the Law of God will you have? How can you prepare for these even now, in prayer?

Psalm 119.12-17
(Passion Chorale: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded)
Be blessed, O God our Savior, teach us Your holy Word!
Our lips proclaim with favor the statutes of the Lord.
How great our joy, dear Jesus,  to follow in Your ways.
What more than this could please us, or brighten all our days?

We contemplate Your precepts and cherish all Your ways,
delighting in Your statutes, rememb’ring all our days.
With wondrous bounty bless us, Your humble servants, Lord,
that we may live with Jesus and keep His holy Word.

T. M. and Susie Moore

Listen to our summary of last week’s study in Deuteronomy by clicking here. You can download all the studies in the series by clicking here.

Our book, The Law of God, brings together the statutes, precepts, judgments, and testimonies of all the Law of God under their appropriate number of the Ten Commandments. It’s a great resource for daily meditation, to help you let the Word of God dwell in you richly. Order your copy by clicking here.

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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).