CHAPTER 4. MOSES URGES THEM TO RESPOND FULLY TO YAHWEH'S COVENANT AND REMEMBER WITH WHAT GLORY AND POWER IT CAME. Having established the certainty of their successful entry into the land Moses now follows this up with a charge to fulfil all God's requirements. And he does it in the light of what God... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ARE FORTUNATE AMONG THE NATIONS BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED (DEUTERONOMY 4:6). This may be analysed as follows: a They are to keep (shamar) Yahweh's statutes and judgments and do them for in doing so the nations will recognise that they are wise and understanding (Deuteronomy 4:6). b... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ARE EVER TO REMEMBER THE GREAT AND WONDROUS EXPERIENCE OF HOREB (SINAI) AND TAKE NOTE OF HIS STATUTES AND JUDGMENTS (DEUTERONOMY 4:10). Moses now stressed the importance of the Sinai/Horeb experience which they must ever stir to remembrance and keep before their eyes, so that they would rememb... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ARE TO REMEMBER THAT YAHWEH IS WITHOUT FORM, AND IS A CONSUMING FIRE, AND MUST THEREFORE AVOID MAKING ANY GRAVEN IMAGE FOR WORSHIP PURPOSES FOR THAT WOULD BE TO ADULTERATE AND MISREPRESENT YAHWEH (DEUTERONOMY 4:15). a Take therefore good heed to yourselves; for you saw no manner of form on the... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT THEIR FATE WILL BE IF THEY TURN AWAY FROM HIM TO GRAVEN IMAGES (DEUTERONOMY 4:25). This fate had already been portrayed by what had happened to their fathers who were driven from the land (Deuteronomy 1:44). It was being portrayed by what would happen to Moses who was to be excluded from the la... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR RETURN IS CERTAIN BECAUSE OF THE GRACIOUSNESS AND UNIQUENESS OF YAHWEH (DEUTERONOMY 4:30). When they find themselves in tribulation and these things come on them in the latter days, they will return to Yahweh their God and listen to His voice. Here Yahweh's sovereign purpose for Israel comes... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST CITIES OF REFUGE (DEUTERONOMY 4:41). The establishing of these cities of refuge was a deliberate act which was a declaration of Moses' certainty that they were now here in this land to stay. Their purpose was permanent and an official seal that they were in the land pe... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER DEUTERONOMY 4:45 TO DEUTERONOMY 5:33 THE MAJOR COVENANT REQUIREMENTS AND THE GIVING OF THE COVENANT. After a brief introduction in which they are reminded of how Yahweh has delivered them from Egypt and given them victory over the Amorites (Deuteronomy 4:45), Moses calls on Israel to ensure... [ Continue Reading ]