by J. Riddle (Cheshunt)
Read Chapter 4
As we have noticed, ch.1-11 are retrospective. In ch.1-3 Moses relates historical facts, and in 4-11, he emphasises the lessons of their history. In ch.4-7, He reviews events at the beginning of the journey: In ch.8-10, he reviews events during the journey: In ch.11, he describes the land at the end of the journey. In this section of the book, Moses lays the foundation for the "statutes and judgments which follow. See 12.1. Ch.4-5 emphasise the implications of the covenant made with Israel at Sinai. See particularly 4.1-40 and 5.1-33. We now begin to meet the oft-repeated expression, "the statutes and … the judgments." See, for example v1, 5, 14. The character of the book is reflected in the words "possess" (v1, 5, 14, 22, 26) and "inheritance‚ (v20, 21, 38). The central message of the chapter lies in v9-10.
The chapter can be analysed as follows: (1) The lessons of Sinai, v1-40; (2) The cities of refuge, v41-43; (3) The introduction to the commandments, v44-49.
A) THEY POSSESSED THE WORD OF GOD, v1-8
This section falls into two parts: (i) obedience by Israel, v1-4; (ii) observation by others, v5-8. Both emphasise teaching. In the first case, it is present teaching: "Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments which I teach you," v1. In the second, it is past teaching: "Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments," v5.
i) Obedience by Israel, v1-4. "Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live (like the men that did not follow Baal-peor, v4), and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you." Obedience was the key to continuance ("that ye may live") and possession of the inheritance ("go in and possess the land"). Obedience is essential to our spiritual life, and to the enjoyment of our inheritance. See 1Pet.1.14.
Notice the warning: "Thou shalt not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it." The New Testament is equally insistent. See 2Tim.2.2 ("the same commit thou to faithful men"), and Jude 3: "the faith once (once for all) delivered unto the saints." Remember the solemn warning in Rev.22.18. The warning here is enforced by an illustration. "Your eyes have seen what the Lord did because of Baal-peor." This refers to Num.25: "And Israel abode in Shittim, and people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab … and Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor." As usual, immorality and idolatry went together, (See 1Cor.10.7). Hence the severe warning against idolatry that follows in v15-31. Past lessons must not be ignored. The clarity of those lessons is stressed by the words, "Your eyes have seen," v3. See also v9 and v34.
ii) Observation by others, v5-8. "Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them." Notice the faithfulness of the teacher, and the intimacy of his relationship with God: "even as the Lord my God commanded me." Compare Phil.4.19 etc. The result of obedience to the word of God would be a strong testimony to the surrounding nations: "For this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people," v6. The greatness of Israel was solely due to their relationship with God. This is emphasised by Moses in two ways: (a) they had the presence of God, v7: "For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord God is in all things that we call upon Him for?" (b) They had the Word of God, v8: "And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as this law, which I set before you this day?" Compare Ps.147.20.
Unqualified obedience to the Word of God, v1-4, will secure a unique testimony for the people of God, v5-8. Each assembly should covet the testimony that "God is in you of a truth," 1Cor.14.25. Sadly, Paul was obliged to write of Israel, "For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written," Rom.2.24. The following injunctions are relevant in this connection: 1Tim.5.14, 1Tim.6.1, Titus 2.8.
B) THEY EXPERIENCED THE PRESENCE OF GOD, v9-14
"And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven (JND, ‘unto the heart of heaven’)", v11. God's heart has now been revealed in love! Their great privileges, v6-8, brought solemn responsibilities. "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget (see 8.2, 8.18, 9.7, etc.) the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy son's sons." They were to apply the teaching of God's Word, first to themselves, and then to their successors. Compare 6.4-7. Children should not only be taught the Word of God, they should see it exhibited in the lives of their teachers! "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine," 1Tim.4.16.
While they were not to forget what they had seen at Horeb, they were not to forget what they did not see at Horeb: "And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but ye saw no similitude, only ye heard a voice." This is now emphasised in connection with a solemn warning against idolatry:
C) THEY LEARNED ABOUT THE JEALOUSY OF GOD, v15-31
See v23-24, "Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which He made with you (see v13), and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee. For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God." See also 5.8, 6.15. These words are cited in Heb.12.29. They are a warning to us. The Scriptures describe the jealousy of God in three ways. (a) He is jealous of His own glory: see Exod.39.25, Isa.48.11; (b) he is jealous for His people: see Joel 2.18, Zech.1.14, etc; (c) He is jealous of the affections of His people, as here. See also Exod.34.14, Deut.32.16, etc. he demanded the wholehearted love and devotion of His people, and therefore:
i) Idolatry was prohibited, v15-20
The worship of terrestrial things was prohibited, v16-18. Compare Rom.1.23. The worship of celestial things was prohibited, v19. The folly of idolatry is emphasised by the words that follow: "But the Lord hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto Him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day." Israel owed nothing to idolatry: they owed everything to God, and belonged to Him. Compare 1Jn.19-21.
ii) Judgment was pronounced, v21-28
a) Judgment on Moses, v21-22. "Furthermore the Lord was angry with me for your sakes (see also 3.26), and sware that I should not go over Jordan. It has been said that Moses was refused entrance to Canaan because ‘he broke a type!’ This seems a little speculative, to put it mildly! Ps.106.32-33 explains why it "went ill with Moses."
b) Judgment on Israel, v23-28. If Moses was unable to enjoy the land because he "believed Me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel," Num.20.12, 27.12, then Israel could not expect immunity from judgment either. Notice that disobedience, v25, would be followed by dispossession and destruction, v26, and by dispersion, v27-28.
iii) Restoration promised, v29-31
"But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Nehamiah alluded to this passage. See 1.8-9. Notice reference to "the latter days," and the fact that "He will not … forget the covenant of thy fathers which He sware unto them," v30-31. This refers, not to the covenant made at Sinai, but to the unconditional promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in connection with the land.
D) THEY ENJOYED THE FAVOUR OF GOD, v32-40
These verses stress the great privileges of God's people, together with their responsibilities. Compare v7-8. They can be summarised as follows:
i) The uniqueness of their privileges, v32-34
"For ask now of the days that are past, which were set before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?" (a) "Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?" b) "Or hath God assayed to go and take Him a nation from the midst of another nation … according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?" Compare v3 and 9.
This reminds us of the uniqueness of our privileges. We too have the Word of God. Not now "speaking out of the midst of the fire," but in the complete canon of Scripture. God has "blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus," Eph. 1.3 Those "spiritual blessings" follow: "chosen … in Him," v4, "predestinated," v5, "redemption," v7, "forgiveness," v7. Staggering, isn't it!
ii) The reason for their privileges, v35-38
Three reasons are given. (a) "Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mayest know that the Lord He is God; there is none else besides Him." Compare Isa.45.6, 18, 22. See also v39. (b) "Out of heaven He made thee to hear His voice, that He might instruct thee; and upon earth He shewed thee His great fire, and thou heardest His words out of the midst of the fire." (c) "And because He loved thy fathers, therefore He chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in His sight with His mighty power out of Egypt; to drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day."
We must not forget that our great privileges are intended to deepen and enrich our knowledge of God, Jn.17.3, to bring us into increasing conformity to His Word, Col.2.6-7, and to remind us constantly of His love. God blessed Israel, because He loved the "fathers": He has blessed us "for Christ's sake," Eph.4.32.
iii) The implications of their privileges, v39-40
"Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord He is God in heaven above, and upon earth beneath: there is none else (see v35). Thou shalt keep therefore His statutes, and His commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, for ever." The lesson is clear: enjoyment of God's blessings demands obedience to His Word.
Current space does not allow us to consider this absorbing subject. For further details, see Num.35, Deut.19, Josh.20. Study will be most rewarding!
These verses speak for themselves. Details of the covenant made at Sinai follow in ch.5, to be followed by "the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments."
—to be continued (D.V.)