Deut. 5:1 And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.
This chapter begins with the people gathered to hear Moses as he reinforces their understanding of all that God had commanded them. Moses calls for them to “Hear,” to listen carefully with the intent to obey (from the Hebrew). That truth is affirmed as he instructs them to—learn them, keep them, and do them. I thought part of Webster’s definition for learn gave the best emphasis, “to fix in the mind.” The Hebrew for keep includes, “to guard, attend to, preserve.” This seems to be a reference to not only the importance of these instructions to the individual, but also the need to train your children and each succeeding generation accordingly. Of course, no matter how well you know or have understanding of the instruction, it does you absolutely no good unless you put that knowledge into action.
Deut. 5:2 The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.
Deut. 5:3 The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.
Moses goes on to remind the people that YHWH, the self-existent eternal God, the God of Israel, made a covenant with the people at Sinai. This covenant was an agreement between God and the people of Israel. Webster’s definition is again very clear:
“The promises of God as revealed in the Scriptures, conditioned on certain terms on the part of man, as obedience, repentance, faith, etc.”
It is interesting to me that Moses emphasizes that this covenant was not with their fathers, but with those to whom he was speaking, those who would enter the Promised Land. One reason for that emphasis was probably to encourage each person to recognize their responsibility in maintaining their part of that agreement and ensuring blessing for the nation.
Deut. 5:4 The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire,
Deut. 5:5 (I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to shew you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying,
As in the previous chapter, Moses again points out the privilege these people had been given of talking “face to face” with God at the burning mountain. I think this phrase was used in reference to the truth that they had communicated directly with YHWH in His very presence. The people trembled at the sound of God’s voice coming from the midst of the fiery mountain, so He called Moses up the mountain to receive His instruction with the mandate to go back and instruct the people accordingly. The fear of the people at the awesome display of His presence was meant to affirm Moses as God’s representative.
Exodus 19:9 “And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever.”
The following verses are basically a repeat of Exodus 20, and I am going to copy from that journal (done a few years ago) and add any additional thoughts I may have at this time.
Deut. 5:6 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
Deut. 5:7 Thou shalt have none other gods before me.
The first command is the foundation of all the other commands. If the people do not accept God as their LORD and Deliverer, there is really no motivation for obedience. He is the one and only GOD. We are to have no other gods before Him. He is to have the most important position, be the highest priority, and be the point of reference upon which every area of life is focused and guided. If we truly recognize God as LORD, the one and only, the other commands will become much easier to obey. The problem is that we all have a problem with giving anyone the position of Lord in our lives above self. I've often heard reference made to other things that we make gods in our lives, but I think the key truth is that we constantly struggle with dethroning self. Your “Lord” determines your actions. More often than not, even the "best" Christians struggle with taking self off the throne.
It also means that we are not to have any other gods in the face of His presence—and He is everywhere present.
Psalms 139:7–12 “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”
This again emphasizes that He is the one and only true God. We may choose to follow the leading of false gods, but there is no other true God.
Of note is the fact that God prefaces His commands with a reminder that He is The LORD, your God. There is only one LORD, and He is connected in a special relationship to the descendants of Abraham through Isaac through Jacob. It is The LORD, YHWH, who delivered them from their bondage in Egypt to give them freedom and establish them in a land of their own.
It also stands out to me that one can only submit to one “Lord,” one supreme authority in one’s life.
Deut. 5:8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:
Deut. 5:9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,
Deut. 5:10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
The next command is not to make any graven/carved image/idol of anything in heaven above, or earth below, or in the waters under the earth. Our propensity is to want to be able to visualize, to see to believe. Then, once we have a focal point, the obvious next step would be to show honor and respect—bow down. God knows us inside out. Even if they were to try to justify an image as representative of God, the act of bowing/worshiping/reverencing that object demeans God as a divine being/power totally outside our comprehension and understanding. If we can fit Him into our frame of total understanding, then He is no longer God!
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
"I the LORD thy God am a jealous God." More often than not we think of jealousy with a negative connotation. I think of this as another statement of God's great love for us. He is jealous for the love and obedience of His people because He loves them.
It should be noted that in context, the subject is the worship of God. It is not a command that forbids artistic expression of the beauty of God’s creation. It forbids the making of anything that is the physical focal point of our worship.
He wants what is best for us and wants us to recognize that. When we look to anyone or anything else for answers, we are going to be disappointed to say the least. He doesn't want us to put ourselves in a position to receive less than all that can be ours through accepting Him as LORD. When we choose to follow other gods (really self), then we build our lives on a lie which will in turn impact the lives of our children, then our grandchildren, etc. It's interesting that the LORD used the designation of the 3rd & 4th generations. I just realized that at that time, those would be the normal generations of a man's lifespan upon whom he would have direct impact.
When God said He would “visit” the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, He was saying that He would “oversee” or ”look at” (from the Hebrew) that iniquity and its effect upon their children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In other words, it was to be expected based on the example and teaching of the fathers.
On the other hand, those who love Him and keep His commandments can expect God's love to be evident to their children for generations. The more submissive and obedient we are, the stronger the foundation for our progeny. God shows over and over again in the scripture how He is willing to be merciful and temper judgment in response to the desires of those who love and obey Him.
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Deut. 5:11 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
The next commandment forbids misusing or "taking in vain" the name of the LORD. This again relates to the core truth of the first command. The LORD God is the One and Only, including all the attributes that accompany His name/title—holy, loving, righteous, faithful, protector, provider, judge, etc. One who is willing to "make light" in using God's name is reflecting the attitude of his heart—his unbelief and unwillingness to give God the position of LORD in his/her life. One who uses God's name as a curse word is again declaring that he is lord of his own life and could care less what is important to God—i.e., that His name be reverenced, respected, honored, feared, etc. He warns that the misuse of His name will not be overlooked; He does not consider this a minor infraction.
Today’s culture is saturated with the irreverent use of God’s name. The name of God is used in so many ways that aren’t actually cursing, but yet don’t reverence Him or even acknowledge Him as God. The phrase “O my god” is carelessly used by many professing believers. It is definitely using His name in vain (for evil, falsely, empty of meaning; worthless).
I was listening to Chuck Missler recently, and following is my paraphrase of his idea: Taking God’s name in vain is more than just verbal expression. If we claim relationship to Him, our actions should show Him honor and obedience or we are taking His name in vain. I had never made that kind of connection to this specific commandment before, but I agree with the application.
Deut. 5:12 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee.
Deut. 5:13 Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work:
Deut. 5:14 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.
Deut. 5:15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.
The next command is to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. The key word here is remember. This would seem to refer to Genesis 2:3: “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”
This principle is not new. The Sabbath was set apart by God long before He gave the Ten Commandments to Moses. Making observance of the Sabbath a command for His people is what is new.
I think verse 11 (Exodus 20:11 “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”) is also a strong affirmation that creation occurred in six literal days. God is saying that He worked for six days in the creation process and rested on the 7th day. After six days of work each week, His people were to rest (they and their animals and servants and any foreigners in their midst) in remembrance of God's week of creation. It was important that they not forget the reason for their existence and take time to rest and meditate on just who the LORD their God is and on all He had done for them. This is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day as holy; it was to be set apart and devoted to Him, the truest expression of holiness.
I know we are no longer under the law, but I think we have truly harmed ourselves by not heeding this commandment. We have allowed our "holy days" to become full of so many distractions that we never have a whole day to truly focus on the LORD. This in turn directly impacts our spiritual growth and effectiveness in His service. This is especially true of those in the “ministry” or employ of the church. Every child of God would benefit greatly by establishing a day that is totally devoted to the LORD.
It’s interesting to note that this is the one command that is not repeated in the New Testatment. It is also the one command that Jesus was continually accused of breaking during His ministry. By the time of His ministry, the people had turned the focus of this command into carefully adhering to a list of don’ts and devising ways to get around its limitations. This was not the intended focus of this command. It was intended to provide time for men to worship and praise the Creator for His many blessings as they also allowed time for the physical renewal of their bodies. Paul wrote specifically that we are not to judge one another regarding the keeping of Sabbath days.
Colossians 2:16 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days….”
Man is no longer held accountable to a system of works in maintaining fellowship with God. When we accept Jesus’ sacrifice for our sin and trust Him as Lord and Savior, God is satisfied. Jesus’ work on the cross was sufficient, and there is nothing further we can do to earn our salvation. Jesus is our Sabbath rest. Our salvation is by grace through faith.
Hebrews 4:9-10 “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.”
Deut. 5:16 Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
The next command is to honor your father and mother. God is the Master Creator, though He accomplishes the creation of each person through an act of love between two people, a man and a woman. God intended that this be the fruit of a couple joined in marriage. Parents should provide the love, protection, guidance, etc. necessary for our well being as we grow from child to adult. They should invest of themselves unselfishly and sacrificially for our benefit. They are our earthly guardians as designated by God and deserve our respect as such. When you obey and honor your parents, you should be practicing lifestyles that are conducive to a long and healthy life.
These commands are being given with an expectation that one’s parents will obey God's commands and decrees, which will in turn result in long, healthy lives because they are rooted in God's love. The command ends with a reminder that the land they would inherit would be a gift from God, and their continued possession of it was directly related to their obedience to this command.
The question arises—What if your parent(s) are bad parents that do not honor God? Though hard, it should be more important to us to obey God’s command. As a child under their authority, this means that you should honor them with respect and obedience unless they tell you to go against God’s word. I am convinced that this is only possible through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to enable one to rise above the natural response of the flesh.
Acts 5:29 “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
Sometimes this command calls for you to endure “unfair” treatment. Never, however, would God expect you to endure physical abuse that would threaten your physical well-being. God is sovereign, and He will bless you for submitting to His command. We are all sinners in need of forgiveness. We are all in need of God’s grace and mercy. Pray for such parents. It could be that the LORD will give you the privilege of leading them to saving faith.
Our obedience to this command does not end when we become adults. Many cultures throughout the world instill a great respect for one’s parents. I’m afraid, however, that America is leading the way in showing lack of respect for our parents. More often than not, as parents get older and need the care of their children, they are resented and/or even ignored. Visit any nursing home, and you will find ample proof of this truth. They are often considered a burden rather than cared for and honored with love and gratitude. Sadly, there are far too many instances of parent abuse reported in the news. I can’t help but make a connection to how scripture declared things would be in the last days.
Matthew 24:12 “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
2 Timothy 3:1–3 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves…unthankful, unholy, without natural affection….”
Deut. 5:17 Thou shalt not kill.
The next command forbids murder, the taking of life with deliberate intent. God is the giver of life and the only One with the authority to end a life. God breathed life into Adam and Eve. Each breath we take should remind us of our Creator. Only He has the authority to remove the breath of life. If we choose to disobey, again we are rejecting God's authority. By the way, you can be a murderer without being the actual perpetrator of the act—e.g., David and Uriah (2Samuel 11).
Deut. 5:18 Neither shalt thou commit adultery.
You shall not commit adultery is the next command. God's perfect plan is one man for one woman. Adultery is having intimate relations with one who is not your husband/wife. I guess the idea of having more than one wife was a way of justifying one's self in the light of this command. But then we have Solomon and all his concubines, etc. It's obvious all through the Old Testament scriptures that the consequences are serious and unavoidable each time man goes outside God's plan. But that doesn't seem to stop "godly" men from yielding to their lust rather than obeying God.
The word adulterate means “to make inferior or impure by adding a harmful or prohibited substance.” That is just what adultery does to a marriage—it infects a relationship and begins to destroy it. Frankly, that's exactly what happens in our spiritual relationship to the Father when we choose to add things that are harmful and forbidden to our lives. Again, the core truth of the command is focused on our relationship to God. We will either accept His authority because of who He is, knowing that He will only command us in light of His attributes for our own benefit; OR we will reject that authority and disobey. Again, it's a matter of the heart.
Deut. 5:19 Neither shalt thou steal.
Do not steal is the next command. The Hebrew includes the idea of taking what is not yours through the use of deceit (e.g., Jacob). God, who numbers the hairs on our head, is our provider. He will give us ALL that we need (and much of what we want) if we will simply "trust and obey." When we steal, we are making the statement that God is not sufficient or able. Again, it goes back to the attitude of our heart concerning our relationship with the Father--the root of every command given so far in my opinion.
It is interesting to note that the Hebrew for the word “steal” also includes the idea of kidnapping. I had never thought of this commandment in that light before.
Deut. 5:20 Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
"You shall not bear false witness (give false testimony) against your neighbor." Why would someone lie about someone else? Because of selfishness, pride, resentment, fear or the opportunity for personal benefit—all of which reflect a heart attitude that rejects God's sovereignty or is not happy with how He has provided.
I think this commandment also applies to gossiping. Just because you heard whatever from someone “trustworthy” doesn’t make it true. I can think back over many instances in which I wish I had had the wisdom just to stop someone from sharing things with me that were hearsay or that I had no reason to know. Sadly, I know there were also times that I was “the gossip."
Satan understands that this is a very destructive sin among God’s people. One of his titles is the “father of lies.”
John 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
Deut. 5:21 Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
"You shall not covet....." To covet is to want for yourself something which belongs to someone else. The Hebrew indicates that we shouldn’t even desire or take pleasure in something that belongs to our neighbor. This again is a direct response to feeling that God hasn't provided for you sufficiently.
I think it all boils down to the fact that there is one root sin—PRIDE—rejecting God as LORD with all authority and sovereignty in our lives. If we are living in obedience to and trusting in Him, we will be happier and healthier. His guidelines are for our benefit and protection.
I think I need to make clarification regarding desiring or taking pleasure in something that your friend might have. I think the point of this command is that you should not desire to possess what is theirs. I think it’s ok to desire similar things according to God’s will and provision. It’s also ok to enjoy the hospitality of your neighbor.
As I come to the end of this famous list of commandments, I am reminded of my study of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus was very clear in teaching that obedience requires more than just keeping the letter of the law, it is rooted in the attitude and intents of the heart. (See topical study “Sermon on the Mount.”)
Deut. 5:22 These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.
Obviously, as one continues reading the book of Exodus, the LORD instructed Moses concerning many other things that pertain to making righteous judgments and preparing the tabernacle. I believe the point in this verse is that these are the ten commands singled out by God that summarize righteous living. The commands He gave then had not changed. God personally wrote these commandments on stone tablets and gave them to Moses. Because of the wording, I tend to think that this was the first order of business when Moses ascended the mountain to God’s presence. Evidently, as Moses continued with the LORD 40 days and nights as He instructed him in other matters, the people no longer heard the “voice” of God. The people quickly forgot their fear and persuaded Aaron to make them an idol to worship. It was then that Moses came down the mountain and broke the first set of tablets in anger.
Deut. 5:23 And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;
Deut. 5:24 And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.
Deut. 5:25 Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die.
Deut. 5:26 For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
Deut. 5:27 Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it.
Again, Moses makes a point of the fact that the people had been terrified when God’s voice spoke out of the midst of the burning mountain. They declared that this display convinced them of God’s glory and greatness and that He desired to have fellowship with them. Still, they were terrified, and the elders and heads of the tribes came and asked Moses to be their representative before the LORD and then come back to teach them accordingly. Even before hearing God’s message, they promised to listen carefully and obey Him.
Deut. 5:28 And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken.
Deut. 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
Moses tells them that God heard what they had said, and He liked what He heard. The wording of verse 29 expresses a desire to believe them but knowing that they would fail because He knows the end from the beginning. I can almost hear the sadness in His voice.
Still the truth declares that fear of and obedience to God will result in blessing……..if we would but listen!
Deut. 5:30 Go say to them, Get you into your tents again.
Deut. 5:31 But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.
Deut. 5:32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
Deut. 5:33 Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.
God heard the request of the people and instructed Moses to do as they said. He was personally instructed by God as to how to teach the people to live righteously before Him and sent back to teach the people accordingly. Moses then boldly commands the people to do as God has commanded them. They aren’t to compromise the least little bit. Again he emphasizes that obedience will result in blessing and longevity in the land.
As I look back over my own life, I believe Satan and the flesh have been very successful in deceiving me into justifying compromise. If we would but admit it, it is always a decision made against our better judgment and in direct disregard of the leading of the Spirit. It is always a decision that feeds the flesh in some way. When God instructs us not to turn aside to the right or the left, He is telling us that His way, the straight and narrow, is always the way of blessing even though it may not seem like it at the time. This brought to mind another verse—a very sobering verse.
Matthew 7:14 “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Deut. 6:1 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 ye go to possess it:
Deut. 6:2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
Deut. 6:3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
When you begin reading this chapter, you almost think you are listening to a broken record. Moses keeps driving home his message. Again, he identifies his message as commands from YHWH, the God of Israel. These aren’t just good suggestions; they are commandments. They are to be taught with the intent of producing obedience as they take possession of the Promised Land that God is giving them. Yes, they are going to be the human conquerors, but God is quite clear in stating that it will only go well with them if they obey Him. Not only are the people to learn these commands and live in obedience to them, they are to ensure that their children and grandchildren are taught to live in obedience to them as well. Again, obedience is directly related to length of life and the overall blessing of the nation. Already they know this to be a land flowing with milk and honey, so God’s blessing would result in increasing their wealth.
Deut. 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
In this statement Moses is declaring the uniqueness of YHWH as compared to the “gods” of heathen nations. “Our God” is again emphasizing the uniqueness of Israel’s relationship to YHWH. The Hebrew for the word “God” is the plural Hebrew word elohiym. This is the same word used in Genesis 1 record of the creation account. Some of the choices from the Hebrew for one included “united, first and alike.”
Listening to Chuck Smith one day, he pointed out that in Hebrew you have two words for “one.” One word is “yachid,” and it means absolute one or solitary oneness. The other is “echad,” and it references a compound unity. Yachid is never used in reference to God. Echad is the word used in this verse and in Genesis 2:24, and it supports the fact of the triune nature of God.
There is a great book by Nathan Wood, The Secret of the Universe, that details how the creation reflects the triunity of God. For example, space is a composite of length, width and height. Time consists of past, present and future. Matter is a combination of energy, motion and phenomena. And man is a physical being with a nature and personality.
YHWH is unique among all “gods.” He is the self-existent, eternal triune being. He is The One and Only and He is LORD. Others may continue to deny this truth, but the truth won’t change. I don’t understand it, but I believe it because God said it.
Isaiah 45:5, 18, 21-22 “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me….For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else….Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”
Isaiah 40:28 “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.”
Romans 11:33 “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”
Deut. 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Considering Who He Is and your unique relationship to Him, Moses commands the people to love YHWH with all their heart, soul and might. The first thing that stands out in this statement is that love is a choice. The heart is a reference to your thoughts and feelings, the soul to the very breath of your life, and might is a reference to passion and diligence in maintaining that relationship. The message is worded so as to convey the thought that YHWH should be the focal point of your life; He should be considered with every decision one makes, every action one takes, every word that is said, etc. This consideration should factor in whether or not that decision, action, word, etc. will honor God in obedience to His commands and instructions.
Deut. 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Deut. 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Deut. 6:8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
Deut. 6:9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
These verses are driving home the point that we should strive to make God’s words a part of our very being—a self-implanted influence on our thoughts and feelings. To be diligent in teaching them to our children, they need to see them exampled in our lives. There is great truth to the adage that actions speak louder than words. Example should be accompanied by making God’s word a part of our every day conversation. I would think that the instruction to “bind them for a sign” upon the hands and between the eyes was a word picture of that expectation, rather than the actual wearing of phylacteries that resulted from their interpretation of that instruction. God wants to be THE focal point of our lives. The same is probably also true of the instruction to write them upon the doorposts and gates that resulted in the use of mezuzahs.
Deut. 6:10 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,
Deut. 6:11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
Deut. 6:12 Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
The first thing I notice from this section of verses is that Moses is speaking of “when” not “if” the people take possession of the Promised Land. Again he emphasizes that it is God that is bringing them into the land by His power and authority. He also stresses the fact that this land is a gift to the children of Abraham through Isaac through Jacob. Moses points out that they will be blessed with an abundance of material wealth as they take the land—ready-made cities, furnished homes, functioning wells, producing vineyards and olive trees—all of which they will enjoy without constructing the first building, digging the first well, or planting the first seed.
Human tendency is to take our blessings for granted—especially the things we don’t have to work for. Ask any parent for confirmation of this truth. I remember scolding my children with that very teaching when they lost or broke something out of carelessness. Moses warns the people to always remember that their blessings are a gift of God, the mighty God of miracles that delivered them from Egypt and that He can just as easily take them away again.
Deut. 6:13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
The first half of this verse is clear and follows directly in context with the thoughts of the previous verses. Such an Almighty God is to be feared, reverenced and served in obedience.
The last part of the verse is confusing in light of other scriptures.
Matthew 5:34 “But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne….”
James 5:12 “But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.”
Frankly, when I was searching for the above verses, I observed that the command not to swear didn’t appear until the New Testament. I think the key is found when considering the use of swearing in context with the following scripture.
Leviticus 19:12 “And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.”
Swearing is an act of affirming a promise or the fact that you are speaking truth. To swear by God’s name is meant to declare by the highest authority that your promise is good and your word is true. The danger of swearing in God’s name is that we humans are prone to sin. If for any reason we fail to keep our promise after swearing in God’s name, we multiply the sin by profaning God’s name.
Deuteronomy 23:21-22 When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee”
Because God’s honor is at stake when you invoke His name, He will “require it of thee” in some way. The New Testament teaching to avoid vows/swearing and just let your word suffice finds root in the following verse of Deuteronomy 23 I believe.
Deuteronomy 23:22 “But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.”
Deut. 6:14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;
Deut. 6:15 (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
Again, Moses warns the people against going after the false gods of their heathen neighbors. I think God’s jealousy is two-pronged—jealousy of His honor and for His people. As LORD He deserves complete submission and obedience from His people. As YHWH, He wants to bless His people; but His righteousness demands that He judge sin. If they choose to reject Him as LORD and practice the idolatrous ways of the heathen, they will invoke His righteous anger and judgment.
I think the reference to “destroying them from off the face of the earth” is an expression of what their deserved judgment would be. We know, however, that He is a God of mercy and One who keeps covenant. His covenant with Abraham was unconditional and, therefore, requires that He preserve a remnant through whom all His promises will be fulfilled.
Deut. 6:16 Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
The event to which Moses is making reference is recorded in Exodus 17 and describes the time when the people were in need of water. Moses was instructed to strike the rock, and the Lord would provide water. How did they tempt God?
Exodus 17:7 “And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?”
They questioned His presence and His faithfulness based on the circumstances. Instead of approaching the LORD in humility and trusting Him to provide, they questioned His character, an act of disrespect.
As I read through that incident in Exodus 17 again, I was reminded of how it pictures Christ, our solid rock of salvation that was beaten with rods in the sacrificial act of giving His life to provide us with living water.
Deut. 6:17 Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.
Deut. 6:18 And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,
Deut. 6:19 To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the LORD hath spoken.
Again, Moses drives home the truth that the people are to take great care to obey God’s word. They are the commands of the LORD—not suggestions from one of many “gods.” Obviously, in context, to do right and good in the sight of the LORD is to obey His word. There is no leeway for a difference of opinion. Again, obedience is directly connected to blessing and possession of the Promised Land.
Deut. 6:20 And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you?
Deut. 6:21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:
Deut. 6:22 And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes:
Deut. 6:23 And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.
Deut. 6:24 And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.
Deut. 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.
The key verse in this section is verse 24. Moses is instructing the people to be prepared for the questions of the coming generations. They will naturally wonder why they have to keep the commands of the LORD, especially since the heathen nations live so differently and worship different gods. The things of the flesh that are incorporated into the worship of false gods are often tempting. Things forbidden always seem to appeal to the desires of the flesh. In response, they are to be prepared to declare the greatness of the LORD and tell of His wondrous miracles in delivering them from slavery in Egypt. They are to explain that the land they live in is a gift from God according to His promise to the founding fathers of the nation—Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They are to be clear that their blessing and continued privilege of living in such a wonderful land is conditional upon their obedience to God’s commands.