We now come to the portion of Deuteronomy where we find exposition of the second commandment, which is of course the prohibition of graven images. But as we shall see, more is involved in this commandment than a simple prohibition of what we might call gross idolatry. “These are the statutes and judgments, which ye …
A Heart That Turns to the Right
To repeat the same things over again is a protection. Those who struggle against sin must be reminded again and again. If we start to chafe at the warnings, it simply shows how much we need them. “Therefore thou shalt love the Lord they God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, …
You Are Chosen. So Choose.
This small portion of Deuteronomy is a wonderful summary of the whole—a mini-symphony in the midst of a much greater work. “And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee . . .” (Deuteronomy 10:12-22). What does God expect from you? The question is reminiscent of Micah 6:8. He wants Israel to …
Deep Lessons for a Shallow People
Israel has already been warned against chauvinism because of their election by God (7:6-10), and against economic smugness because of their coming prosperity (8:17ff). And here they are warned against the moral self-righteousness that afflicts those who are granted military superiority. “Hear, O Israel: Thou are to pass over Jordan this day . . .” …
Obedience or Death
Recall that chapter eight of Deuteronomy is structured chiastically. We will now consider the second half of this chiasm. “Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day” (Deuteronomy 8:11-20). Remember the central point of this chapter is …
Do Not Forget the Lord
Chapter eight of Deuteronomy (like chapter seven) is structured chiastically. But because of the richness of this material, we will take two sessions to cover the one chiasm. “All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land …
Constant, Total War
The subject before us now is that of holy war and its relation to the First Commandment. In a pluralistic society, faithfulness to the First Commandment is necessarily a declaration of war. And this in turn leads to a certain lack of popularity. “When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither …
Three Temptations
We come now to a passage of Scripture which was well-known to our Lord Jesus—He used it in His victory over the devil in the wilderness. “And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers . . .” (Deuteronomy 6:10-25). It ought …
Inscribed on the Gates
The first commandment has been given in the context of the others. Now Moses begins a detailed exposition of this foundational commandment in chapters 6 through 11. “Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither …
The Ten Words
So we now come to the Ten Commandments. As with everything, context should govern all our understanding, but this is especially important when we are considering the question of law. “And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel . . .” (Dt. 4:44-5:33). We have to understand the grace of …