Deuteronomy 4:9-14 – The call to consecrated living

In Deuteronomy 4:9-14, Moses reminisced and recounted for the children of Israel what took place at Mount Sinai described in Exodus 19. It was an astounding sight that was hard to forget for those who were present. Moses remembered God instructing him to assemble the people so that He could speak to them. For God wanted the people of Israel to know and fear Him and then to teach all that they would soon see at Mount Sinai to their children and all subsequent generations.

So that day, they all drew near and stood at the foot of Mount Sinai and faced an amazing scene. The whole of Mount Sinai was engulfed with smoke, fire, and thick darkness. Out of the thick darkness, God spoke to them. They heard His voice, but they did not see His form. That awesome day, God also gave them two tablets of stone with the Ten Commandments that He Himself had written. At the same time, God also instructed them to keep the statues and judgments as a rule of life when they entered the promised land.

Verse 9 contains a serious exhortation to the Israelites that we will also do well to adhere to. The Israelites were strongly urged to heed to themselves and to keep their soul diligently. Why? Firstly, so that they would remember and not forget the things which they had seen and heard all the days of their lives. Secondly, so that they could make them known to their sons and grandsons.

This episode that had taken place at Horeb or Mount Sinai was a critical point in the history of Israel and has much to teach us. From their experience, we learn firstly that God has no form and that He speaks to His people. Hence, it is a needful thing to discern the voice of God. Unlike man-made idols, God has no form. It was needful for God to emphasize that to the children of Israel because they would soon encounter many idols in Canaan. Those man-made idols would have some forms, but they could not speak. We must be mindful of what our Lord Jesus had affirmed in John 4. He said that “God is Spirit and we must worship Him in Spirit and in truth.”

Secondly, Israel as God’s covenant people was obliged to keep the conditions laid down in the covenant. The Ten Commandments capture the essence of how the people of God should live and conduct themselves. Again Jesus summed it up for us in two requirements. We must love God with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength. And we must also love our neighbors as ourselves. We are also expected to keep these commandments.

Thirdly, the set of “rule of life” Moses gave them was also an assurance that they would soon be in the promised land. They were then expected to keep and do what they were instructed so that they could be identified as God’s unique people. Isn’t this what the Apostle Paul also tells us what to do in Romans 12:2? Here’s the paraphrase. Do not emulate the standards of the world. Don’t take on the pattern of ungodly living. Instead, pattern life after the principles of God’s Word. When that is done regularly, one will be gradually transformed to become more and more like Christ the Lord. This lifestyle will help a person to experience God’s will to its fullest. Be sure to live this kind of life!