Deut. 9:1 Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven,
Deut. 9:2 A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the children of Anak!
“Presently” instead of “this day” would have been a better choice from the Hebrew. Moses pulls no punches concerning the might of the nations they will have to conquer to gain possession of the land. He is basically saying that yes they are greater and mightier than you, and their cities are protected by high walls. In fact, it seemed that there was no other nation who could defeat the Anakims. The Anakims were a race of giants that were descendants of the Nephilim, the offspring of the fallen angels and women on earth. (See journal on Genesis 6 for further explanation.)
Genesis 6:4 “There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.”
Numbers 13:33 “And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”
Deut. 9:3 Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.
The children of Israel have nothing to fear from any army they face as they march forth in faith as God leads them. YHWH declares that He will be a “consuming fire” to destroy their enemies and drive them out before His people. God always speaks truth and there is no power in creation that can stand against Him. The safest place to be is in the center of His will.
Deut. 9:4 Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.
Deut. 9:5 Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
In these verses Moses is basically warning the people not to get the big head. It is not because they are so righteous that God is going to destroy their enemies; it is because the enemy is so wicked. The people of Israel are not being given the land because they deserve it, but because the enemy is so wicked that God must judge them. God knew when the time of judgment could no longer be delayed and made the promise of the land to their forefathers accordingly. God even told Abraham exactly when his descendants would be allowed to take possession of the land according to that foreknowledge.
Genesis 15:13-16 “And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.”
Deut. 9:6 Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.
Deut. 9:7 Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD.
Moses continues to drive home the truth that the people of Israel are not deserving of this land because of their righteousness. In fact, they are a stiffnecked people, stubborn and willfully disobedient. He reminds them how they had provoked God’s anger from the very first day that they left Egypt. In spite of all the ways God had proven Himself as their protector and provider, they had been rebellious even until the current time.
Deut. 9:8 Also in Horeb ye provoked the LORD to wrath, so that the LORD was angry with you to have destroyed you.
Deut. 9:9 When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water:
Deut. 9:10 And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.
Deut. 9:11 And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the LORD gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant.
I’m sure it wasn’t necessary to reiterate their many offenses against the LORD, but Moses points out one of the most obvious ones--when they were camped at Horeb (Sinai) and Moses went up the mountain for 40 days and nights to receive the stone tablets that contained the Ten Commandments. It was a time when God had clearly declared His presence by speaking to them out of the midst of the fire. You would have thought that would have served to keep them in check for at least that long.
Deut. 9:12 And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image.
Deut. 9:13 Furthermore the LORD spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
Deut. 9:14 Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.
But no………….The LORD sent Moses back down the mountain declaring His intent to destroy the whole lot of them and start over with descendants of Moses. Why? They had already gotten tired of waiting and assumed that a few weeks of quiet indicated God was not interested in what they were doing. So what do they do? They decide to make themselves an idol and act just like the heathen Egyptians. They were acting in direct disobedience to God’s command.
Deut. 9:15 So I turned and came down from the mount, and the mount burned with fire: and the two tables of the covenant were in my two hands.
Deut. 9:16 And I looked, and, behold, ye had sinned against the LORD your God, and had made you a molten calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the LORD had commanded you.
Deut. 9:17 And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes.
Moses reiterates how he came down the mountain burned with the fire of God’s presence, carrying the two stone tables that detailed the covenant to which they had agreed. He describes how he saw the golden calf and angrily threw the two stone tablets down and broke them to pieces in front of the people. He couldn’t believe how quickly they had broken their covenant with the Lord.
Deut. 9:18 And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
Deut. 9:19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also.
Moses had completely invested himself as God’s chosen leader of the people and did not want to see God destroy them. Again, he entered God’s presence for 40 days and nights and fasted as he interceded with God to show mercy in spite of their sins. He admits that he was afraid because God was so angry. He had spent an extended period of time in the presence of Most Holy God, and the sin of the people was all more hideous in his sight because of it. He knew that God’s righteousness would demand judgment, and he was terrified that God would destroy the people in spite of his pleas.
He reminded them that God granted his request and they were not destroyed.
Again, we are reminded of the truth declared by James.
James 5:16 “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
And as the last sentence of verse 19 indicates, this wasn’t the first time Moses had successfully interceded on their behalf.
Deut. 9:20 And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.
Deut. 9:21 And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, and ground it very small, even until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.
Moses makes a point that the LORD wanted to destroy Aaron for his lack of courage in leadership. Moses interceded specifically for Aaron as he interceded for the people.
I thought it was interesting that Moses described the calf as “the sin” of the people. It was the symbol of their sin and that is why he destroyed it so publicly and so thoroughly before the people. Exodus adds another interesting bit of information.
Exodus 32:20 “And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.”
I believe he was driving home the point that each person was accountable for their participation. Drinking the bitter water would have pictured their acknowledgement of personal guilt.
Deut. 9:22 And at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibrothhattaavah, ye provoked the LORD to wrath.
Taberah is mentioned in Numbers 10-11 as one of the places the people complained about having to follow the leadership of the cloud of God’s presence.
Numbers 11:1-3 “And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched. And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.”
The event at Massah was identified in chapter 6 as the place where the people questioned God’s character and ability to provide water for them, and Moses was instructed to strike the rock to make provision for water.
Kibrothhattaavah was the name given to the place where the people complained about the lack of meat in their diet, and the LORD rained down quail upon them and struck them with a plague.
The point is being made that they are a stiffnecked people. No matter how many times the LORD intervened miraculously on their behalf, it was never enough to satisfy them that He could and would supply their needs. I can’t help but ask—How often am I guilty of the same attitude?
Deut. 9:23 Likewise when the LORD sent you from Kadeshbarnea, saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you; then ye rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God, and ye believed him not, nor hearkened to his voice.
The final bit of proof concerning the character of the people—Their decision not to trust Him and take possession of the land after the report of the spies at Kadeshbarnea. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back so to speak for that generation (20 years and older). The LORD declared that none of them would enter the Promised Land except Caleb and Joshua.
Deut. 9:24 Ye have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you.
Deut. 9:25 Thus I fell down before the LORD forty days and forty nights, as I fell down at the first; because the LORD had said he would destroy you.
Deut. 9:26 I prayed therefore unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, destroy not thy people and thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed through thy greatness, which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
I don’t remember noticing this before, but it sounds like Moses again interceded (with fasting as well?) for 40 days and nights as he did when he went to receive the law for the second time. Again, his request was for God’s mercy to spare the people. It’s interesting to note that he did not hesitate to “remind” God that it was His mighty hand that had delivered the people that He had chosen as His special inheritance among mankind.
Deut. 9:27 Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin:
Deut. 9:28 Lest the land whence thou broughtest us out say, Because the LORD was not able to bring them into the land which he promised them, and because he hated them, he hath brought them out to slay them in the wilderness.
Deut. 9:29 Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm.
Moses has learned well. He encourages God to “remember,” in the same way that God has encouraged the people to remember. Just as we are to look to Jesus and not hypocritical “Christians,” Moses reminds God to remember Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and not look at the sin of their stubborn, wicked descendants. He reminds God that the honor of His name is at stake. The people of Egypt could accuse Him of not having the ability to bring His people into the land He had promised them. They would assume that He never loved them to begin with. In verse 29 Moses is basically saying, “But we know that you do love them and you are able to act in accordance to your word and will.”
I couldn’t help but be reminded that scripture describes Moses as God’s friend.
Exodus 33:9-11 “And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door. And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.”
To speak with someone as a friend is to dialogue with someone from the heart. At first read it sounds pretty presumptuous for Moses to speak with God in such a way. As we listen to the heart behind the words, however, we hear the heart of a man that loves his LORD and his people—a man that remembers his own sin and how God showed him grace and mercy. Moses was truly concerned about God’s honor and glory before the heathen nations. Moses knew he was praying according to God’s will. This reminds me of the words of another friend of the Savior’s.
1John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
Deut. 10:1 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.
Deut. 10:2 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.
Deut. 10:3 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.
Deut. 10:4 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.
Deut. 10:5 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.
As Moses continues to instruct the people, I get the impression he is caught up in his memories in the process. It’s like he’s on track, his mind takes a side road, and then he gets himself back on track and ends up repeating some things. In this instance he goes back to something he’s already talked about but adds a bit more information.
I can really relate. I often find myself talking to the LORD in the early morning hours and find that after praying for something or someone, my mind will get off track and start composing a letter or thinking of a new project, etc. I end up apologizing to the LORD and trying to get focused again on intercessory prayer. It’s a real struggle for me.
Moses takes the people back once again to the point when he had to return up the mountain to get the second set of commandments. He tells us that before returning up the mountain, he was instructed to have the ark of the covenant constructed from shittim wood and ready to store the tablets. He was then to cut two tablets from stone and bring them up the mountain for the LORD to once again write the words that were on the first pair of stone tablets that Moses broke in anger when he saw the people worshipping the golden calf. The core content of the covenant between God and His people consisted of the Ten Commandments. Moses then declares that he did exactly as the LORD had commanded.
Deut. 10:6 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.
Moses proceeds to detail the next portion of their journey—Beeroth to Mosera. According to Numbers 20, Mosera must be near Mount Hor (probably near Edom), where we are told that Aaron was buried. Moses, Aaron and Eleazar all ascended Mount Hor in view of all the people. Moses personally supervised the transfer of the high priestly garments from Aaron to his son Eleazar before coming back down the mountain after Aaron’s burial. We know from the account in Numbers that all was done according to God’s instruction.
Deut. 10:7 From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbath, a land of rivers of waters.
The next leg of their journey is identified as traveling from Gudgodah to Jotbath. The Hebrew indicates that these are desert locations, but Jotbath must have been a big oasis in the desert to be described as having much water.
Deut. 10:8 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.
Deut. 10:9 Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him.
Moses seems to be talking in generalities. He now references the time that the Levites were singled out to carry the ark of the covenant and minister to the LORD. This was a great privilege. Their whole duty was to serve the LORD and have none of the distractions and responsibilities associated with land ownership. Their inheritance was in the LORD and their needs would be provided through the sacrifices and offerings made at the tabernacle.
I couldn’t help but think of how the church is described as a “royal priesthood” and our duty to serve the LORD.
1Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light….”
Colossians 3:23-24 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
As we serve Him, our purpose is also to bless others in His name. I’m looking forward to the time when I have nothing in this earthly realm to distract me from serving and worshipping the LORD.
Deut. 10:10 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.
The two times on the mountain were understandably the highlight times of Moses’ life on earth. He had 80 days and nights of personal fellowship with the LORD. Moses was thrilled to have been the instrument through whom his people were spared destruction. I just thought of this verse as I was trying to describe what I thought Moses was feeling.
Jeremiah 9:24 “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Moses was proud to have a friendship with God and that he had some understanding of God’s heart and could therefore pray effectively.”
Deut. 10:11 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.
This verse basically emphasizes that Moses was leading the people as God’s representative and as part of God’s plan in bringing Israel into possession of the land.
Deut. 10:12 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,
Deut. 10:13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
These are two very key verses in this book of instruction. They basically summarize God’s expectation of the people as detailed in the laws He had given them.
To fear the LORD thy God – This is a reference to acting with reverence toward God in light of His sovereign might and power.
To walk in all His ways – In looking at the Hebrew for ways, I see this as referencing following God’s leadership and embracing His character traits as your own.
To love Him – When I looked at Webster’s definition, the phrase that stood out to me in connection with the Hebrew for love was “devoted attachment.” This would be reflected in one’s desire to please Him through obedience.
To serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and soul – The Hebrew for serve makes reference to a bondslave, one who willingly chooses to labor/work towards accomplishing the desires of His master. “With all thy heart and soul” references total commitment with passion and physical ability.
To keep the commandments and laws of God as had been revealed to them – This references living in obedience to everything God has revealed as His will for them.
I’m always intrigued by the order of things that are listed in scripture and in trying to understanding overlapping truths. I think it is significant that “fearing God” is first on the list because it is the foundation necessary to compliance with the following instructions. The next four items in the list are an outgrowth of a profound respect for God and recognition of Who He Is. It seems to me that the first four as I have defined them go hand-in-hand with one another. The reason that I single out the last one is because it is the one that I think can be practiced independent of the preceding three. One would obviously not choose to obey God without recognizing Who He Is, but one can respond to that truth by obedience through self-discipline or observance of ritual without heart involvement. Based on the following verses I think that is what Moses is getting at.
I almost missed the last little phrase. To submit to and serve God in obedience is always for our good.
I couldn’t help but be reminded of Micah 6:8 as I was reading through this section again.
Micah 6:8 “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
Though the words are different, the intent is the same. To do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God would show fear/reverence of God, love of God and a desire to serve Him in obedience.
Deut. 10:14 Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.
Moses reminds the people that YHWH, the God of Israel, owns every part of creation. Maybe he means to remind them that despite their God-given privilege of freedom to choose, God is still sovereign.
Deut. 10:15 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.
As I read this verse, I hear a declaration of God’s love for all people, but that the people of Israel should rejoice in the fact that YHWH had singled them out “above all people” as His favorites so to speak. Is it wrong for God to have favorites? No; He is Sovereign; He can do anything He chooses. He is also righteous and holy; therefore, anything He chooses to do will be right. It’s also interesting to note that Moses emphasizes that the LORD delighted in their fathers, and it was His love for their fathers that was the reason their descendants would enjoy His blessing.
Deut. 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
Moses is basically saying that based on Who God Is and His choice of you as His favorite among all peoples, you should humble yourself and quit being stubborn and willfully disobedient. Circumcision is a cutting away of the flesh. It is through the flesh that we experience the effects of our inherited sin nature through pride and temptation. To cut away the foreskin of the heart is a picture of humbling oneself before God and submitting to His will. It’s a choice to deny the flesh and feed the spirit.
Deut. 10:17 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:
Deut. 10:18 He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
Deut. 10:19 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Again, Moses stresses the truth that should be their primary motivation. YHWH, the God of Israel is THE God. He stands apart from the “gods” of the heathen nations in that He is mighty and possesses the ability to back up what He says; He can’t be bribed. Everyone is on equal footing before His throne of justice. He cares about providing for those that are orphaned and widowed or are strangers among His people. Moses reminds them that (though this generation might not remember the harsh realities represented by that truth) they were strangers in the land of Egypt. If God loves the stranger, they should love him/her too.
I got to thinking about being a stranger. A stranger is out of place; he doesn’t belong. The Hebrew indicates that there is fear associated with such status, and that would be the natural response of anyone who finds himself in another culture with people of another language. In fact, it’s the natural response of being among those who are different from you. God’s people are to example God before the world. Those who wander into “His kingdom” among His people should experience His love in action. I couldn’t help but make application to the church today. We represent the kingdom of God on earth today. “Strangers” who find themselves in contact with God’s people should experience His love in action.
Deut. 10:20 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.
Again, Moses declares that based on all He has taught them, they should reverence, worship and serve YHWH, the God of Israel. When I looked at the Hebrew for cleave, the phrase that stood out was “to catch by pursuit.” In other words, they were to be diligent in their effort to maintain their relationship with Him and ensure His presence among them. YHWH is also the only authority worthy of attesting to the surety of an oath, since He alone has the power to enforce it.
Deut. 10:21 He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.
I think a combination of the NLT and the NIV state it best…
NLT - He is your God, the one who is worthy of your praise, the one…
NIV - who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.
I thought it was interesting to note that the Hebrew for terrible made reference to things that cause fear. And frankly, the miracles that God had performed for the people of Israel up to this point should have produced a godly fear toward the source of such awesome power and ability.
Deut. 10:22 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.
The chapter ends with Moses reminding them how the seeds of their nation had been sown in Egypt with 70 people. Now, some 400 years later they had multiplied to the point that they seemed to number as many as the stars in heaven as they saw it. This is obviously a statement of contrast and perspective.