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

Opening Prayer: Psalm 105.1-5
Oh, give thanks to the LORD!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!
Seek the LORD and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth…

Psalm 105.1-5
(Warrington: Give to Our God Immortal Praise)
Give thanks unto the Lord Most High;
call on His Name, before Him cry!
Make known His deeds in every land;
sing praise for all the works of His hand.

Glory in God, rejoice in heart,
all you who seek His holy part.
Him and His strength and Presence seek;
His works proclaim, His judgments speak.

Today’s Text: Deuteronomy 6.24, 25

Preparation
1. What did God command His people?

2. To what would their obedience lead?

Meditation
By grace, God brought Israel out of Egypt, and set them on a course to inherit the land promised to their forebears. By grace, He gave them His Law, to mark out the path for their maximum wellbeing in loving Him and one another. By grace, He sustained them in the wilderness, until all that unbelieving generation died. By grace, He gave them victory against Sihon and Og, who sought to destroy them on the way to the land of Canaan. And by grace, through Moses, He once again gave them His Law. It’s all of grace.

But that doesn’t mean it didn’t require something of the people of Israel. God called them to “do” all that His Law requires (NKJV: “observe”), and to fear Him for their own good (v. 24). Doing so would keep them in the place where God could reach, bless, and preserve them (v. 24). By obeying Him they would fulfill their calling to be a holy people (v. 25), and thus be a witness to the nations of the wisdom, goodness, and loving kindness of the Lord.

But they must “be careful” to do all the commandments of His Law. The addition of “be careful” in verse 25 adds another dimension to obedience. The word is literally, “guard.” All those who are saved by grace and have by grace been given the Word and promises of God are on constant guard duty, making sure that in soul and strength, they are always ready to do what the Lord commands. Then we realize the fullness of life as God intends it, for our good always, and in righteousness all our days.

Israel could not do this. Neither can we. But Jesus has fulfilled all the Law and righteousness of God for us. Having Him, we have not only His Presence with us, but His example before us, of how we must walk if we would know fullness of life with the Lord (1 Jn. 2.1-6).

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Observe. Guard. Be careful to do. Fear God. All these commands are for our good. And the good of others. God trusted us with His Word and with the work of the Kingdom. We must prepare and dress for the doing. “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil…take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and have done all, to stand” (Eph. 6.11, 13). “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Rom. 13.14). God wants us to obey and be successful in our obedience: “…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus…” (Heb. 12.1, 2). We can do this following His example and by His Holy Spirit power, because He says to us, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12.9). Our weakness. His strength. Our doing. His grace.

Reflection
1. How do you know the grace of God, active in your life?

2. What could Israel do to ensure that they would always be within the reach of God’s grace? How does that apply to you?

3. How would you explain the relationship between grace, the Law, and the promises of God to a new believer?

Moses did not offer the people a works righteousness by keeping the law. Righteousness is a right relationship with God. God initiates this relationship, and His children respond to it as an expression of love. Earl Radmacher (1931-2014), NKJV Study Bible on Deuteronomy 6.25

Thank You, Jesus, for fulfilling all the law and all righteousness for me! In gratitude and for Your glory I will…

Closing Prayer: Psalm 105.26-45
Use this time of prayer to recall all the ways God has shown His grace to you. Then commit the day ahead to living gratefully before Him.

Psalm 105.26-45
(Warrington: Give to Our God Immortal Praise)
He brought His people from Egypt alive,
and made their joy and song revive.
He made the nations’ land their own,
and all the wealth that they had known.

To them He granted the promised land,
the portion of His gracious hand.
Though they were few, and wandered far,
He kept them close within His heart.

So let us all in our Savior confide,
and in His holy Law abide.
Let us observe His glorious Word,
and praise our sovereign, faithful Lord!

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.

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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).