Deuteronomy 10: A Call to Wholehearted Devotion
At that time the Lord said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood.
And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.
And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in mine hand.
And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the Lord spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the Lord gave them unto me.
And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the Lord commanded me.
And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Mosera: there Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest’s office in his stead.
From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbath, a land of rivers of waters.
At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.
Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, according as the Lord thy God promised him.
And I stayed in the mount, according to the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the Lord hearkened unto me at that time also, and the Lord would not destroy thee.
And the Lord said unto me, Arise, take thy journey before the people, that they may go in and possess the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give unto them.
And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.
Only the Lord had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.
Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.
He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.
Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the Lord thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.
Deuteronomy 10 stands as a powerful reminder of God's grace, faithfulness, and the reciprocal devotion He desires from His people. Moses, continuing his recounting of Israel's journey, emphasizes the importance of remembering God's actions and responding with wholehearted obedience. This chapter serves as both a historical reflection and a timeless call to fear the Lord, walk in His ways, and love Him with all our being.
Reinstatement and Remembrance (Deuteronomy 10:1-5)
Moses revisits the pivotal events at Sinai, specifically God's command to replace the broken tablets of the law. This act of restoration underscores God's unwavering commitment to His covenant, even in the face of Israel's disobedience. The creation of the ark to house these tablets symbolizes the sacredness of God's law and the need to preserve it. Moses's obedience in meticulously following God's instructions highlights the importance of honoring God's word in every detail.
The Levites: Set Apart for Service (Deuteronomy 10:6-9)
This section touches upon the lineage and role of the Levites, a tribe specifically chosen for service in the tabernacle. It mentions Aaron’s death and Eleazar’s succession, further grounding the narrative in historical reality. More importantly, it emphasizes the Levites’ unique responsibility to assist the priests and carry the ark of the covenant. Their separation from other tribes underscores the importance of dedicated service to God and the honor associated with upholding His covenant.
A Second Chance and a Clear Choice (Deuteronomy 10:10-13)
Moses recounts his second forty-day sojourn on Mount Sinai, a period marked by intercession and divine grace. God, in response to Moses's prayer, relented from destroying Israel, showcasing His mercy and willingness to forgive. This act of divine compassion paved the way for Israel to continue their journey towards the Promised Land. However, inheriting and thriving in Canaan was contingent upon their obedience. Moses presents a clear choice: fearing the Lord, walking in His ways, loving Him, and serving Him with all their heart and soul. This fear is not one of terror, but of deep reverence and respect that motivates obedience. Such obedience, Moses emphasizes, is ultimately for their own good, leading to prosperity and blessing.
The Lord's Sovereignty and Israel's Response (Deuteronomy 10:14-22)
Moses powerfully proclaims God's absolute sovereignty and unparalleled greatness. As the Lord of creation, everything belongs to Him. Yet, from all the nations, He chose to set His love upon Israel's ancestors. This divine election, rooted in God's sovereign love, calls for a profound response from the people. Moses urges them to "circumcise their hearts," a metaphor for removing spiritual stubbornness and embracing a spirit of humility and submission to God's will. He reminds them that the God of Israel is the "God of gods and Lord of lords," a just, loving, and merciful God who expects His people to reflect these same qualities. They are called to extend justice and compassion, especially to the vulnerable, remembering their own experience as strangers in Egypt. The chapter concludes with a renewed call to fear and worship God, not only for who He is but also for all He has done for them, increasing their numbers and delivering them from oppression. This remembrance should inspire a life of gratitude and obedience, continually prompting them to acknowledge God's faithfulness.
Deuteronomy 10 serves as a powerful reminder that true faith is not merely intellectual assent but a wholehearted commitment to God that manifests in obedience, love, and service. It calls us to reflect on God's grace in our own lives and to respond with a renewed dedication to walking in His ways.
At that time the Lord said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood.
And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.
And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in mine hand.
And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the Lord spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the Lord gave them unto me.
And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the Lord commanded me.
And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Mosera: there Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest’s office in his stead.
From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbath, a land of rivers of waters.
At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.
Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, according as the Lord thy God promised him.
And I stayed in the mount, according to the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the Lord hearkened unto me at that time also, and the Lord would not destroy thee.
And the Lord said unto me, Arise, take thy journey before the people, that they may go in and possess the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give unto them.
And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.
Only the Lord had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.
Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.
He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.
Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the Lord thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.
Deuteronomy 10 stands as a powerful reminder of God's grace, faithfulness, and the reciprocal devotion He desires from His people. Moses, continuing his recounting of Israel's journey, emphasizes the importance of remembering God's actions and responding with wholehearted obedience. This chapter serves as both a historical reflection and a timeless call to fear the Lord, walk in His ways, and love Him with all our being.
Reinstatement and Remembrance (Deuteronomy 10:1-5)
Moses revisits the pivotal events at Sinai, specifically God's command to replace the broken tablets of the law. This act of restoration underscores God's unwavering commitment to His covenant, even in the face of Israel's disobedience. The creation of the ark to house these tablets symbolizes the sacredness of God's law and the need to preserve it. Moses's obedience in meticulously following God's instructions highlights the importance of honoring God's word in every detail.
The Levites: Set Apart for Service (Deuteronomy 10:6-9)
This section touches upon the lineage and role of the Levites, a tribe specifically chosen for service in the tabernacle. It mentions Aaron’s death and Eleazar’s succession, further grounding the narrative in historical reality. More importantly, it emphasizes the Levites’ unique responsibility to assist the priests and carry the ark of the covenant. Their separation from other tribes underscores the importance of dedicated service to God and the honor associated with upholding His covenant.
A Second Chance and a Clear Choice (Deuteronomy 10:10-13)
Moses recounts his second forty-day sojourn on Mount Sinai, a period marked by intercession and divine grace. God, in response to Moses's prayer, relented from destroying Israel, showcasing His mercy and willingness to forgive. This act of divine compassion paved the way for Israel to continue their journey towards the Promised Land. However, inheriting and thriving in Canaan was contingent upon their obedience. Moses presents a clear choice: fearing the Lord, walking in His ways, loving Him, and serving Him with all their heart and soul. This fear is not one of terror, but of deep reverence and respect that motivates obedience. Such obedience, Moses emphasizes, is ultimately for their own good, leading to prosperity and blessing.
The Lord's Sovereignty and Israel's Response (Deuteronomy 10:14-22)
Moses powerfully proclaims God's absolute sovereignty and unparalleled greatness. As the Lord of creation, everything belongs to Him. Yet, from all the nations, He chose to set His love upon Israel's ancestors. This divine election, rooted in God's sovereign love, calls for a profound response from the people. Moses urges them to "circumcise their hearts," a metaphor for removing spiritual stubbornness and embracing a spirit of humility and submission to God's will. He reminds them that the God of Israel is the "God of gods and Lord of lords," a just, loving, and merciful God who expects His people to reflect these same qualities. They are called to extend justice and compassion, especially to the vulnerable, remembering their own experience as strangers in Egypt. The chapter concludes with a renewed call to fear and worship God, not only for who He is but also for all He has done for them, increasing their numbers and delivering them from oppression. This remembrance should inspire a life of gratitude and obedience, continually prompting them to acknowledge God's faithfulness.
Deuteronomy 10 serves as a powerful reminder that true faith is not merely intellectual assent but a wholehearted commitment to God that manifests in obedience, love, and service. It calls us to reflect on God's grace in our own lives and to respond with a renewed dedication to walking in His ways.