Year 1, Week 21, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 21, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Deuteronomy 10-11.

Today’s reading is a continuation of Moses’ case for why Israel should be faithful to the terms of the Covenant. Deuteronomy 10 first looks back to when Moses cut two new stones for the Ten Words to be given a second time, as the first stones were shattered by Moses as he came down from Mt. Sinai and witnessed Israel’s idolatry. Deuteronomy 10 also provides a beautiful summary of what the LORD requires of His people. Deuteronomy 11 continues stressing Israel’s need to love the LORD, but adds the importance of Israel remembering what the LORD has said to them and done for them as the means to cultivate their love for the LORD.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the LORD's clear explanation of what He requires of His people: “Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments!” (Psalm 112:1). Today’s reading provides a clear statement that gives the essence of what the LORD requires: “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, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13). While this summary is found in the Old Covenant, it is also the essence of what the LORD requires of His people in any Covenant arrangement. While some of the particulars of the Old Covenant were pertinent to the nation of Israel, the call to fear God, walk in His ways, loving and serving Him and keeping His commandments transcends for all times everywhere.

Moses explains that these requirements were for Israel’s good. The LORD loves His people dearly: “Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the LORD set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.” (Deuteronomy 10:14-15). In love, the LORD had blessed His people with protection and provision, and has given Himself to His people: “He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen. Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.” (Deuteronomy 10:21-22). The depth of His love extends not only to His people, but even to the Land that He was providing to His people: "But the land that you are going over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water by the rain from heaven, a land that the LORD your God cares for. The eyes of the LORD your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.” (Deuteronomy 11:11-12).

However, there remains one matter that renders it impossible for Israel to fear God, walk in His ways, loving and serving Him and keeping His commandments. Israel needed a change of heart:“Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn.” (Deuteronomy 10:16). Without a change of heart, Israel would stubbornly resist complying with the LORD’s requirements. Only through a heart circumcision would Israel possess the ability to humbly comply. Israel lacked the ability to change their heart, but such a change was fundamentally required. Israel is unable, but it was a willful inability—the could not circumcise their hearts for they would not circumcise their hearts. In their stubbornness that would refuse to ask for mercy from the LORD so that they could do what was required of them. The remainder of the Old Testament Scriptures will testify to Israel’s resistance to seek the LORD for the mercy needed so that they would do what was required of them—circumcise their hearts—so that they could do what was further required of them: fear God, walk in His ways, loving, serving, and obeying Him.

But what the. Old Covenant requires, but does not provide the ability to do, Christ, in the New Covenant supplies: “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ” (Colossians 2:11). Christ pardons people in need of heart circumcision, and then, by His Spirit, He performs a true circumcision of the heart. With a new or circumcised heart, all who are in the New Covenant, have new desires and abilities to carry out what the LORD requires: "But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:17-18).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe