May the mumbling commence!
Watch yourselves closely, remember, and obey. The commands of the Lord did not expire when Israel entered the Promised Land, nor have they expired for us today. As Christians, we are called to watch ourselves closely, to remember, and to obey.
Israel was commanded not to forget all of the miracles the Lord had performed before their eyes. Deuteronomy has a recurring refrain that told Israel to teach these stories and commands to their children and grandchildren – so that the stories and commands would never be forgotten.
Chapter four of Deuteronomy especially lifts up the command not to make idols in the image of any of God’s creation. If they did they would corrupt and pollute themselves and their relationship with the Lord. So, they were to watch themselves carefully about this particular commandment. If they did fall into this sin, the Lord promised them that they would be scattered among the nations, where they will receive what they wanted – to worship idols of wood and stone. And these idols cannot hear, see, smell, or taste. What an awful substitute for the Lord, who alone is God!
Yes, another recurring phrase in Deuteronomy can be found in verse 35 of chapter four: “You were shown these things so that you may know that the Lord is God, besides him there is no other.” These things were the miraculous signs and wonders that the Lord performed in Egypt to rescue Israel from slavery. All of Gods commands, laws, and precepts flow from this action. Israel was to obey out of gratitude and remembrance of what the Lord had done for them.
You and I have reason for gratitude and remembrance for what the Lord has done for us through Jesus the Christ. For this reason, we are to worship God by obeying his commands in every nook and cranny of our lives. Worship cannot (or should not) be contained or confined to Sunday morning worship (or Saturday or Wednesday). Worship and Sabbath is a way of life focused on God, with faith in the direction of the Holy Spirit. No other thing or person can have preeminence over our relationship with the Lord.
[I pause to wonder why Moses, in chapters three and four, seems to insist that it was Israel’s fault that Moses was not allowed into the Promised Land. Knowing the frequent complaints of Israel, I can agree that Israel’s behavior had not a small part in the fall of Moses from the graces of leadership with God. But, I believe that Moses was giving too much credence to the idea.
Just as we have choices in our lives, Moses had a choice in his life. He could have chosen to continue to endure the fickle nature of Israel and do as the Lord commanded, but Moses chose to lash out in anger. Moses chose to encourage the people’s idea that the wondrous miracles in the desert were his and Aaron’s work. We should not place the blame of our own decisions on the shoulders of others and their decisions.]
Then, Moses recounts the Ten Words (or Commandments). I will take time here to note the most significant change from the Words recorded in Exodus 20. The change occurs in the reasoning for remembering the Sabbath. In Exodus, the reason for remembering the Sabbath was based upon the creation story of Genesis – the Lord did the work of creation in six days and rested on the seventh, blessing it and making it holy.
In Deuteronomy, the reason for remembering the Sabbath was to keep them from committing the same errors as the Egyptians in their treatment of slaves. God rescued Israel from Egypt, and God will rescue people from any oppression that Israel might do. Treating all people (and animals) fairly was not an optional commandment. It is still not an optional commandment. The Ten Words again began with the remembrance of the exodus of Israel. Remembering is essential to hearing and obeying.
Moses was asked to teach both, so were the Israelites. We are not excused from this commission either. The stories of exodus (from Egypt or Babylon or from sin itself through Jesus) and the laws of the Lord must be retold, remembered, and passed on to our children and grandchildren. May we never forget that the Lord is God alone. There is no other besides Him. And may we give thanks!
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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