Deuteronomy 4:32-40

3. THE GLORY AND GREATNESS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (Deuteronomy 4:32-40)

32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and from the one end of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? 33 Did ever a people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live? 34 Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that Jehovah your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that Jehovah he is God; there is none else beside him. 36 Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he made thee to see his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire. 37 And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out with his presence, with his great power, out of Egypt; 38 to drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as at this day. 39 Know therefore this day, and lay it to thy heart, that Jehovah he is God in heaven above and upon the earth beneath; there is none else, 40 And thou shalt keep his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days in the land, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, for ever.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 4:32-40

87.

Why ask now for the days that are past?

88.

What was peculiarly unique about God's dealings with Israel? Name three.

89.

What several purposes were accomplished in delivering Israel from Egypt?

90.

The giving of the law on mount Sinai is very graphically described here, please note Deuteronomy 4:36.

91.

Please review your own past life and review three incidents that encourage you to trust God for the future.

92.

What benefits occur to the faithful? Read Deuteronomy 4:40 for an answer.

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 4:32-40

32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and from the one end of the heavens to the other, whether any such a great thing as this has ever occurred or been heard of anywhere?
33 Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you heard, and live?
34 Or has God ever tried to go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand, by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, as the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
35 To you it was shown, that you might realize and have personal knowledge that the Lord is God; there is no other besides Him.
36 Out of Heaven He made you hear His voice, that He might correct, discipline and admonish you; and on earth He made you see His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire.
37 And because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants after them, and brought you out with His own presence, by His mighty power from Egypt,
38 Driving out nations from before you, greater and mightier than yourselves, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as this day;
39 Know, recognize and understand therefore this day, and turn your [mind and] heart to it, that the Lord is God in the heavens above, and upon the earth beneath; there is no other.
40 Therefore you shall keep His statutes and His commandments, which I command you this day, that it may go well with you and your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord your God gives you for ever.

COMMENT 4:32-40

God's glory and greatness are revealed here in several ways:

a.

His dealings with Israel are unique (Deuteronomy 4:32-34; Deuteronomy 4:36)

b.

He is the only true and living God (Deuteronomy 4:35; Deuteronomy 4:39)

c.

He has loved and chosen Israel (Deuteronomy 4:37)

d.

He has preserved them (Deuteronomy 4:38)

e.

He offers a blessed future (Deuteronomy 4:40)

All of these truths argued for Israel's faithfulness! No other nation had such advantages and blessings as they. With every blessing and advantage God gives us, a divine responsibility is in our hands to use such to his glory. It was so then, it is so now.

ASK NOW OF THE DAYS THAT ARE PAST (Deuteronomy 4:32)Cf. Deuteronomy 32:7. Look back into your own history, yea, go back even to the creation of man, and see how he has dealt with his own people. It will do you good. It will edify your soul. You will see that God's own people have always been the object of special privileges, mercies, and blessings.

Such meditation and reflection is also profitable for every Christian. Ask now of the days that are pastlook back into the pages of scripture, and then down through history, and even into your own past, and see if it is not true that you have not been blessed abundantly by the hand of God.

DID EVER A PEOPLE HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD SPEAKING. AND LIVE? (Deuteronomy 4:33)It seems to have been a general belief that if God appeared to men, it was for the purpose of destroying them; and indeed most of the extraordinary manifestations of God were in the way of judgment; but here it was different; God did appear in a sovereign and extra-ordinary manner; but it was for the deliverance and support of the people. 1. They heard his voice speaking with them in a distinct, articulate manner. 2. They saw the fire, the symbol of his presence, the appearances of which demonstrated it to be supernatural. 3. Notwithstanding God appeared so terrible, yet no person was destroyed, for he came, not to destroy, but to save. (Clarke)

UNTO THEE IT WAS SHOWED, THAT THOU MIGHTEST KNOW THAT JEHOVAH HE IS GOD: THERE IS NONE ELSE (Deuteronomy 4:35)Note also Deuteronomy 4:39. This conclusion should have been obvious from all the many wonderful and mighty works God had performed in their presence, from the time of their deliverance from Egypt to the present hour. Both the Egyptians and Israel should have seen the uniqueness and power of the one true God when Israel was delivered from bondage (Exodus 8:10; Exodus 9:14). And when one thinks of the constant and continual display of miracles from God Israel viewed in the wilderness, we stand amazed that they would no sooner cross the Jordan than be engrossed in the basest idolatry. But has it changed much today? How often and how quickly have those who have received the greatest blessings gone back to the pit from which they were digged and the rock from whence they were hewn!

THAT THOU MAYEST PROLONG THY DAYS IN THE LAND (Deuteronomy 4:40)That is, that they as a nation would not be conquered or exterminated by a foreign power. See Deuteronomy 5:33. Moses has primary reference here to a long national life, rather than a long individual life. But, (as in Deuteronomy 4:1, Deuteronomy 5:16; Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:3) the concept of a long individual life may also be implied. The whole idea of the above verses is that if Israel would be obedient, there would be peace, prosperity, and health for God's people. This thought is expressed often in Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 8:1, Deuteronomy 16:20, etc.)