Deuteronomy 4.
IN the first three chapters of this book, we have been retracing the history of the children of Israel, from the time they left the mountain of the law, to the place where they were now encamped. Was it not gracious of God to omit from the story almost every Mention of the sins of the people? The blessings of obedience are shown, and but little is said here of the sorrows the people brought upon themselves by their disobedience.
Having been most wonderfully blessed, the people of Israel are repeatedly urged in this chapter to give the closest attention to God’s Word. This is not only in verse 1, but in verses 5, 6, 9, 10, 14, 2:3, & 40, the need is pressed for keeping His word in their minds and hearts. The second verse, too, commanded them to neither add to His Word, nor take anything from it. O, how important the Word of God is! How infallible a guide!
Baal-peor (verse 3) was a solemn memory, but those who stood for God were alive still. God was so near to them, unlike His ways with any other nation, but it made them very responsible; they were to take heed to themselves, for danger lay ahead. They would make idols for themselves, and provoke Him to anger, so that they would he scattered among the nations, serving false gods.
Still, Moses declared, if from thence they should seek the Lord their God with all their heart and with all their soul, they should find Him. When trouble came on them because of their sins, if they turned to the Lord their God, and should obey His word (for He is a merciful God), He would not forsake them, nor destroy them, nor forget the covenant of their fathers which He had sworn to them, (verses 29-31). How gracious are His words!
Then God, through Moses, reminds the people of the peculiar privileges that had been and were theirs: —His word is, as usual, put first (verse 33); then the Mighty deliverance He had wrought for them, making them. His people, though there were others greater and mightier than they, and giving them a home for an inheritance. This reminds us of the Christian’s happy portion,
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Because then these things had been done for them, these earthly people of God, as indeed the least, as we might say, that could be expected of them, should keep His word and do according to it (verse 40).
May our God stir up His people of this present day to a far greater desire to answer to His word in heart and soul and conscience.
Moses (verse 41), sets apart three. cities on the east side of the Jordan, for refuges for those who, without realizing what they were doing, killed another.
It reminds us of the word of the Lord Jesus when they crucified Him,
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:3434Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:34)), for the punishment, due to Israel for putting their Messiah to death, has not been carried out, though they are set aside until another dealing of God.
This book of Deuteronomy, then, is what God, through His servant Moses, set before the children of Israel as they rested in sight of the home prepared for them by God, already possessors of many blessings secured to them by the same powerful and gracious hand. (verses 44-49).
ML 09/21/1924