Keep The Commands

Seems like a pretty easy injunction doesn’t it… Keep the Commands of the Lord God. So why then does Moses have to add this: Do not add it to it, do not take away from it. The reason? So that we can keep the commands of God.

Deuteronomy 4:1-2
“And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.

keep the commands, devotional on Deuteronomy 4

What’s involved to keep the commands?

Moses is clear. To keep the commands of God the first thing we need to do is LISTEN. Moses has presented the commands of God to the Israelites.

All they need to do in this first part is listen while he TEACHES them. So to be taught by someone speaking to you, a person needs to be ACTIVELY listening. Otherwise how will you retain the information being presented?

So that of course begs the question: When reading or listening to God’s word do I really focus on what I am hearing or reading? How can I do a better job? I know that for me taking notes helps me a whole ton when it comes to focus and attention. What do you find helps you?

So let’s say we’ve listened well to the teaching given to us… now we have to DO them. To put into practice what we have learned. So we’re not to be hearers only, but doers of the word. Putting things into practice is the best way to cement new teaching into our lives isn’t it?

The reason we are to do this? Moses told the Israelites that obedience to God’s commands meant they may live and take possession of the land God is giving to them. I’m not an Israelite, so I have to wonder, how does this correlate to me? Obedience to God does help me to live. It does. It gives me a better life even when things are tough. Doesn’t mean everything is always sunshine and roses because stuff… it happens you know? But God, he helps make it doable. But I just realized something, the text says, “MAY live”. Not that living is guaranteed.

But what land? I dunno about that. Part of me wants to say heaven waits, but I don’t know that the text suggests it. But I don’t know if it’s so much about the land, as more so that God has a plan in place for his people. Do his will, make his commands something to live by, and God’s plans will come to pass.