Deu 5:1
AND Moses called all Israel, and said to them: "Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them.
I like Matthew Henry’s take on this it is straight forward and to the point:
He demands attention: "Hear, O Israel; hear and heed, hear and remember, hear, that you may learn, and keep, and do; else your hearing is to no purpose.’’ When we hear the word of God we must set ourselves to learn it, that we may have it ready to us upon all occasions, and what we have learned we must put in practice, for that is the end of hearing and learning; not to fill our heads with notions, or our mouths with talk, but to rectify and direct our affections and conversations.
Tts 3:8- This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
Tts 3:9- But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.
Remember though, it is not this that saves us... but this that makes us good witness to salvation and also gives us an abundant life in many ways. So it really doesn't matter how many angels can dance on the head of a stick pin.
Deu 5:2
"The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.
The word ‘Horeb’ means "Desert"... sometimes I feel deserted when I’d rather feel full of desserts! Sometimes I feel spiritually very dry... but the Lord our God has made a binding agreement that essentially ties me to His interests and business... and He to mine. It is conditional upon my heart attitude toward Him and my activity of continuously setting Him before me.
Psa 16:8- I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
This happens in two ways...
1) I put Him before me everyday in prayer and in His Word.
2) I put His Kingdom and His purpose before my own.
So then in practicality we must sometimes just keep digging to find that WATER of the Holy Spirit that will quench the thirst of our souls... LIVING WATER... Worshipping and praising Him as we dig He will cause it to gush forth, a river of LIFE from within us.
Deu 5:3
"The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive.
This is, by the way, the absolute best deal for any of us. And it is for you and me today. God speaks to us today... not to our ex who cheated us, not to that person that did us wrong years ago and seemingly never repented... not to the person who offended us last week... not to the company we work for that doesn't pay us enough and never appreciates us, nor to the coworkers that conspire against us...but only to us who abide in Christ today.
Deu 5:4
"The LORD talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire.
Do any of us really know what it is like to come face to face with God?? I think really I would pee my pants... let me give you some scriptures to look up that attempt to describe it:
Matt 17: 1-6; Rev 6: 15-17; Rev 1: 10-17; Isa 6: 1-7
This is essentially where we are when we realize that we are sinners and are undone before Him in the midst of His Holiness as we have none of our own save His everlasting arms that we lean on.
Deu 5:5
"I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain. He said:
Its comforting to know that there are others that pray for us and stand to intercede when we are in this spiritual desert... perhaps getting tired and we stop digging... having doubt, being afraid because of the fire. Remember the fiery furnace?? Shadrach, Meschach and Abed-Nego? The went through the fire with the Lord... partnering with Him in this very covenant by faith. And they were promoted when they came out. But sometimes we are not so brave, bold or confident and get afraid of the fire. Remember what Jesus said:
You really need to read the whole chapter of John 16, but I will give three verses that summarize.Jhn 16:1- "THESE things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.
Jhn 16:32- "Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
Jhn 16:33- "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will* have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Oh Lord Jesus, thank You that You stand in the gap for us and that Your work is finished... all we need do is trust, pray, Love and obey... help us to do so in Your name.
