From Our Heart

Moses: ¹⁶ “Today the LORD your God has commanded you to obey all these decrees and regulations. So be careful to obey (do and keep) them wholeheartedly (all your heart and mind). ¹⁷ You have declared (openly) today that the LORD is your God. And you have promised (pledged) to walk in His ways, and to obey (keep) His decrees, commands, and regulations, and to do everything He tells you (listen to His voice). ¹⁸ The LORD has declared today that you are His people, His own special treasure, just as He promised, and that you must obey (keep) all His commands. ¹⁹ And if you do, He will set you high above all the other nations He has made. Then you will receive praise, honor, and renown. You will be a nation that is holy to the LORD your God, just as He promised.” Deuteronomy 26:16-19 (NLT)

The Law of God from the Old Testament has many rules and regulations, and the book of Deuteronomy summarizes these many rules and regulations. Thus, Biblical scholars often call the book of Deuteronomy the “second law.” In Deuteronomy, Moses summarizes God’s teaching and events from Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. Moreover, Deuteronomy repeated verbatim the Ten Commandments and other laws given at Mount Sinai as recorded at Exodus chapters 20 through 24 (e.g., see Deuteronomy 4:44 – 5:33).

The first generation of Israelites leaving Egypt and many other Israelite generations thereafter were often unfaithful and disobedient to the living God and His moral commands (e.g., see Exodus 32:1-35; Deuteronomy 32:8-14; 2 Kings 17:7-23; 2 Kings 18:9-12; 2 Kings 21:2-16; 2 Kings 23:26-28; 2 Kings 24:3; 2 Kings 25:1-22; 2 Chronicles 33:1-9). Often, the ancient Israelites did not have faith (trust and belief) that the living God would care and provide for them and they looked to other gods (e.g., see Deuteronomy 9:23-24; Deuteronomy 31:27; Psalm 106:24-25)! The living God is faithful and loving (e.g., see Deuteronomy 7:9; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 John 1:9), and He wanted to be Israel’s protector and provider (e.g., see Exodus 23:25; Deuteronomy 7:9, 12-15; Ezra 8:22; Psalm 7:10; Psalm 119:64). Sadly, lacking faith and obedience to the living God brings His displeasure and grievance.

Deuteronomy makes clear; however, that the Law of God was meant to penetrate a person’s heart, soul, and mind (Deuteronomy 26:16; see also Deuteronomy 6:6; Deuteronomy 32:46; Isaiah 51:7; Jeremiah 31:33). Because of God’s gracious love and compassion for all people (e.g., see Psalm 103:8-10; John 3:16), Moses’ primary concern was that Israel responds with wholehearted love and obedience to God (e.g., see Deuteronomy 4:37; Deuteronomy 7:7-8; Deuteronomy 10:15; Deuteronomy 23:5). From the very beginning, the living God was not impressed with our outward rules, regulations, and rituals, but our inner attitudes and motives of the heart were important to God (e.g., see Leviticus 26:41-43; 1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 51:17; Isaiah 1:10-20; Isaiah 66:3; Jeremiah 4:4; Jeremiah 6:20; Jeremiah 7:22-23; Jeremiah 22:3, 16; Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21; Micah 6:6-8; Romans 2:28-29). Repeatedly, the living God commanded Israel to follow His commandments, trust Him with all their heart and all their soul, and walk in all His ways (Deuteronomy 26:17-18; e.g., see also Deuteronomy 4:29; Deuteronomy 5:29; Deuteronomy 6:5; Deuteronomy 10:12; Deuteronomy 11:13; Deuteronomy 12:12-13; Proverbs 3:5-6). Unless the Law of God becomes part of a person’s inner attitudes, it will probably make no difference. God has always wanted our wholehearted love, faithfulness, and obedience towards Him (Deuteronomy 6:4-6; see also Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). In other words, God wants our total devotion to Him from our hearts and not our lip service (see Matthew 6:33). Even from the book of Genesis, the living God created the world and people (humans), so they would have a faithful relationship and union with Him and become His holy people like Him (e.g., see Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 6:9-10; Genesis 15:6; Exodus 19:5-8; Leviticus 11:44-45; Habakkuk 2:2-4; Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6-9; James 2:23-24).

In addition, God wants our unfailing love, mercy, truth, kindness, compassion, patience, forgiveness and faithfulness towards others (Luke 10:25-37; see also Leviticus 19:18; Micah 6:6-8; John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:19-21). The living God gave the people His commandments and statutes so they that they will love their neighbors and do them good and not evil (e.g., see Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 22:1-4; Romans 13:10). These good fruits (works) reflect God’s very character and nature (Exodus 34:6-7; see also Galatians 5:22-23; Colossians 3:12-15).

At least 15 times in Deuteronomy, Moses repeatedly tells Israel to wholeheartedly love and obey God. Through our wholehearted love, trust, and obedience to the living God and His righteous commandments, we would be His holy people and receive God’s life, favor (grace), and blessings (Deuteronomy 26:18-19; e.g., see also Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 4:40; Deuteronomy 6:24-25; Deuteronomy 11:9; Deuteronomy 12:28; Deuteronomy 28:1, 9; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 2:9-10). Life itself depended on keeping and obeying God’s righteous commandments and ordinances from our whole hearts (e.g., see Deuteronomy 4:1; Deuteronomy 5:32-33; Deuteronomy 8:1; Deuteronomy 16:20). Obedience to God’s laws leads to life and possession of God’s good promises (e.g., see Deuteronomy 6:24-25; Joshua 1:7-9).  Even more through our trust and obedience to the living God, He promised to be with and live with us – His Presence (e.g., see Leviticus 26:9-12). God is more concerned about hearts (Matthew 15:16-20), and only He sees our hearts – the way we are deep down (1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Matthew 21:27; 1 Corinthians 13:12).

The Law of God is embodied most famously in the Ten Commandments (see Deuteronomy 5:6-21), and most concisely in the Shema (see Deuteronomy 6:4-9). All other laws of God (approximately 613) and the Old Testament Prophets are interpretations and applications of God’s Ten Commandments and the Shema (see Matthew 22:34-40). In Deuteronomy chapters 12:1 through 26:15, the living God through His servant Moses gave Israel specific applications to the Ten Commandments. In these chapters, the living God gave Israel guidelines and applications of the Ten Commandments in everyday life such as appointing leaders, prophecy, generosity, handling civil disputes, military matters, parenting, sexual purity, divorce, and many other regulations.

The essences of the entire Law and the Prophets are to love, obey and worship exclusively the LORD God FIRST and to love one another (Deuteronomy 4:3; see also Leviticus 19:18; Exodus 20:4-6; Deuteronomy 5:7; Matthew 7:12; Matthew 22:34-40; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:13-14). Loving God and loving others reflect the very nature of God’s Son, Jesus (e.g., see Philippians 2:1-11). Thus, God’s laws are just as applicable today as first given to Israel at Mount Sinai, repeated by Moses in Deuteronomy, and reaffirmed in the New Testament (see Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21; Matthew 19:16-19; Matthew 22:34-40; Romans 12:9-21; Romans 13:8-10). Jesus Christ extended this all-important law to the church – love His Father, the LORD God (see Matthew 22:37). Israel was never to worship other gods or idols but to seek and worship wholeheartedly the living God (Deuteronomy 4:3-4; see also Amos 5:4-6; Micah 6:6-8; Zechariah 1:3-4). God’s Son Jesus is our primary example to follow because He alone perfectly obeyed all God’s laws and modeled the laws true spiritual intent.

After Moses gave Israel specific applications to the Ten Commandment, Moses and the leaders (priests and elders) of Israel instructed the people to wholeheartedly obey all the commands of the living God when they crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land of the LORD God (see Deuteronomy 27:1-3, 9-10). Once in the Promised Land, Moses instructed Israel to set up some large stones and coat these large stones with plaster and then write this whole body of instruction on the large stones -the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 27:3-4, 8; see also Joshua 8:30-32). Then in the Promised Land, Israel is to build an altar to the LORD God and then set up these stones at Mount Ebal with joyful feasting, offerings, and celebration (see Deuteronomy 27:4-7).

At that moment, Moses and the Levitical priests addressed all Israel and instructed Israel to proclaim blessings that followings obedience to God and curses that followings disobedience to the living God (see Deuteronomy 27:9-14). Moses and the leaders once again announced to Israel that the living God’s curses come upon those who:

1.   makes and worships an idol – handmade gods (Deuteronomy 27:15; see also Exodus 20:1-6, 23);

2.   dishonors and mistreats his father or mother (Deuteronomy 27:16; see also Exodus 20:12);

3.   steals property from a neighbor (Deuteronomy 27:17; see also Exodus 20:15; Deuteronomy 19:14);

4.   leads and takes advantage of a blind person or anyone with disabilities (Deuteronomy 27:18; see also Leviticus 19:14);

5.   denies justice and fairness to foreigners, orphans, or widows (Deuteronomy 27:19; see also Exodus 22:21-24; Deuteronomy 14:28-29; Deuteronomy 24:17-18; Luke 18:1-8); 

6.   violates sexual purity and have sexual intercourse (adultery) with one of his father’s wives, an animal, his sister, or his mother-in-law (Deuteronomy 27:20-23; see also Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:6-23; Leviticus 20:10-21; Deuteronomy 22:30);

7.   who attacks a neighbor in secret (Deuteronomy 27:24; see also Exodus 20:13; Exodus 21:12);

8.   accepts payment (bribe) to kill or harm an innocent person (Deuteronomy 27:25; see also Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19-20).   

Then, Moses gave Israel the final curse (see Deuteronomy 27:26). Everyone is cursed who does not obey and listen to the words of this Law (voice of God) by doing and practicing them (Deuteronomy 27:26; see also Leviticus 26:14-39; Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Psalm 119:21). The Apostle Paul in the New Testament used the last and final course from Deuteronomy 27:26 to show that no one could be justified, saved, and win God’s favor (grace) by obeying the Law (see Galatians 3:10-11). From the very beginning, the living God declared the only way we can be right in His sight is by faith, which means trusting wholeheartedly in the living God (e.g., see Genesis 15:6; Habakkuk 2:2-4; Romans 1:15-16; Galatians 2:16). The Good News is that the Lord Jesus Christ has redeemed us from the curses of the Law by taking the curse for our wrongdoing upon Himself (see Galatians 3:13). To say that we have kept some of the Law of God does not excuse us, for to break one is to break them all (see James 2:10-11). 

Amazingly through our faith in the living God’s Son the Lord Jesus Christ, we received the Holy Spirit of God within our hearts and the living God writes His Law on our hearts which empowers and strengthens us to obey the Law (Galatians 3:14; e.g., see also Jeremiah 31:31-34; Jeremiah 32:37-41; Ezekiel 11:19-21; Ezekiel 36:24-27; 2 Corinthians 3:3-4). The Holy Spirit works inside believers to activate our consciences, influence our motives and desires, and make us want to obey God (see Romans 8:2, 5). Now doing God’s will is something believers genuinely desire with all our heart and mind (see 2 Corinthians 4:4-6).

In summary, we must continually stand firm by trusting and obeying the living LORD God and His ways with all our hearts (e.g., see Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Peter 5:8-9) and fleeing evil ways (e.g., see Galatians 5:19-21). Even during times of difficulty and hardship, God’s people must continually have faith and obedience in the living God and His righteous ways. The Lord Jesus Christ continually taught God’s people they may suffer losses and persecution in this world, but they must continually be of good cheer and peace because He has overcome and conquered the world (John 16:33; see also Matthew 10:22-23; Matthew 24:12-14; Mark 4:17; Mark 13:13).

References

Amplified Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1987).

New Student Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary – Old Testament (Victor Books, 1989).