Deuteronomy Chpt. 4

Moses is reminding the Israelites that God wants them to follow the words that have been spoken through him to them so that they will be allowed to go into the Promised Land. He tells them that they are not to remove or add to any of the words which have been spoken to them. They are to take them just as they are and obey them. Moses also reminds them that those that turned from the Lord and followed after Baalpeor were destroyed from among them but those that stayed faithful and true to God were spared.

Moses says in verse 6, "Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." If the Israelites would only keep to the words of the Lord and obey them it would be within that obedience that they would be found wise in the Lord. What it really would have been is God blessing them and making them great because of their obedience.

This should be a reminder to all Christians that if we just do what is written in His word, if we just obey His voice God would give us the wisdom that we need to do what is required or desired of us.

Moses goes on to ask them who else has a God so close and ready when His people call on Him and what other people have a God whose statutes are so right and just? Our God is the only God who is quick to listen when we call.

The Lord understands His creation and their fallen nature however so He has Moses remind His children with the following important words, "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons' and thy sons' sons." vs. 9

Oh that this would be the desire and goal of every parent and grandparent, aunt and uncle, brother and sister who believes in God. First that we would be careful about our own personal walk with God that we would guard our own hearts and spend time with Him alone to keep our spirits right, diligently, which means that it will  take work!! But then so that we would not forget about all of the great things that God has done through us and for us we should begin to teach them to our children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews, younger brothers and sisters. How important we are as individuals to this legacy for Christ!!

Moses then goes on to remind the children of Israel what happened at the base of Mt. Horeb when the Lord appeared to them in a fire and they were given the 10 commandments. Moses carefully and wisely tells them that it was not some spirit that they witnessed there but the one true God, the Almighty. He does this so that they would be warned to not go and serve after idols whether they be idols of spirits or idols of the earth. He warns them in later verses that if they go on in future years to create idols and follow after other gods that they would be utterly destroyed and perish from the land of Jordan. They would be separated and left in small numbers to suffer under the hands of men.

But as always there is a promise. Moses tells them that if they would stay faithful or even return to the Lord their God even in the day of their tribulation He would hear them for He is a merciful God and He would hearken unto them.

How wonderful a God we have that constantly pours out His mercy toward sinners such as us!

In the final verses Moses' message to God's chosen people is this:

³⁹ Know therefore this day, and consider [it] in thine heart, that the LORD he [is] God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: [there is] none else.

⁴⁰ Thou shalt keep therefore 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 upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.

What a message and reminder that is for the people of God today! Our Lord, HE IS GOD!!

Lovin' Learnin'