Day 88
Deuteronomy 10:12-19
And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the LORD’S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good? Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. Yet the LORD set His affection on your fathers, to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, you over all the other peoples, as it is this day. So circumcise your heart, and do not stiffen your neck any longer. For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who does not show partiality, nor take a bribe. He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the stranger by giving him food and clothing. So show your love for the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (NASB)
Today’s passage from Deuteronomy tells us exactly what God requires of us. And God requires three simple things from us: (1) fear him, walk in his ways and love him, to serve him with all our heart and our soul, and to keep his commandments; (2) to “circumcise” our hearts and not be “stiff-necked”; and (3) to show our love for the stranger.
- God requires us to fear him, walk in his ways and love him, to serve him with all our heart and our soul and to keep his commandments.
And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the LORD’S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?—Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (NASB)
Repeatedly God emphasizes the necessity of having love that comes from the heart. God did not want his people to substitute heartfelt love for him with mere outward forms of religion, such as keeping commandments, offering sacrifices and the like. It was necessary that they always obey God from a heart that sincerely loved and honored him. For the New Testament believer, faith and love from the heart are also a primary element in our relationship with God. It is indeed possible to read Scripture, pray, attend church and take part in the Lord’s Supper without a heartfelt devotion to God himself and this is what is meant when people talk about legalism. Outward obedience and correct religious practices are acceptable and effective only if they are based on knowing Jesus Christ through sincere faith in and love for him because of who he is and what he has done for us.
- God requires us to “circumcise” our hearts and not be “stiff-necked.”
Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. Yet the LORD set His affection on your fathers, to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, you over all the other peoples, as it is this day. So circumcise your heart, and do not stiffen your neck any longer.—Deuteronomy 10:14-16 (NASB)
The Lord’s choice of Israel is a mark of inexplicable and discretionary grace, because Israel had no moral or theological claim to the Lord’s favor. Circumcision was the sign of the Abrahamic covenant, a rite to be followed by succeeding generations of the faithful. This symbolized a cutting off of the previous life and a willingness to propagate sons and daughters who would also enter into covenant with the Lord. Circumcision of the flesh alone could not guarantee a right relationship to the Lord because the relationship was one of faith springing from the heart. Moses therefore commanded Israel, “Circumcise your hearts and don’t be stiff-necked any longer,” an exhortation picked-up in the New Testament as well (Romans 2:25-29 and Colossians 2:8-15)
- Show love to “the strangers living in your land.”
For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who does not show partiality, nor take a bribe. He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the stranger by giving him food and clothing. So show your love for the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.—Deuteronomy 10:17-19 (NASB)
The Bible is clear that those who take advantage of defenseless people can expect the Lord’s swift and severe judgement. The Israelites had been resident aliens themselves in the land of Egypt, and those who have been delivered from difficult and oppressive situations should be the first to deal kindly with others in similar circumstances.
Tomorrow’s Bible Readings:
Deuteronomy 11-12, Luke 8:22-39, Psalm 70:1-5 and Proverbs 12:4