Assembly Testimony Bible Class

by J. Riddle (Cheshunt)

DEUTERONOMY

11) “What doth the Lord thy God require of thee"

Read Chapter 10.1-11.1

This chapter completes the section of the book in which Moses reviews events during the journey from Horeb, via Kadesh-Barnea, to the plains of Moab. Having described God's preservation and protection, ch.8, and pardoning mercy, ch.9, he now refers to His provision in the wilderness, ch.10. God gave them His Word, the law, priesthood, service and leadership. This chapter can be divided as follows:

(1) Incidents in the past, 10.1-11. These are introduced with the words, “At that time,” 10.1.

(2) Instruction for the future, 10.12-11.1. These are introduced with the words, “And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee?” 10.12. These instructions are set out in broad principle. The detailed instructions follow in subsequent chapters.

1) INCIDENTS IN THE PAST, v1-11

There are three parts to this section, each introduced by the words, “at that time,” v1,8,10. In each case, Moses refers to the events at Horeb. (A) The tables of the law, v1-7: (B) The choice of Levi, v8-9. (C) The leadership of Moses, v10-11.

A) The tables of the law, v1-7

Our attention is drawn to the giving of the law in the mount, v1-5, and the journey through the wilderness, v6-7.

i) In the mount, v1-5

The provisions of the law. We have already noted the fact that the ten commandments were written on “tables of stone.” See our comments on Deut.4.7-22. The law is inflexible! It offers no compromise, with the result that “all the world” is “guilty before God,” Rom.3.19. But under the terms of the “new covenant,” believers are “the epistle of Christ … written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God: not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart,” 2Cor.3.3. This alludes to Jer.31.31-34. We should also notice the words, “And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables, v2 … according to the first writing,” v4. God had not changed His mind! His Word is unalterable. Solomon said “meddle not with them that are given to change,” Prov.24.21.

The provision of the ark. “Make thee an ark of wood … and thou shalt put them, ‘the two tables of stone,’ in the ark.” The “ark” is mentioned four times in v1-5 and was made of “shittim wood.” It was evidently the first piece of tabernacle furniture to be made, even if it was not actually completed at that time. Whilst it has been suggested that this was a temporary deposit-box, Moses does say “and there they be, as the Lord commanded me,” v5. Since the “ark of the covenant” had been in existence for forty years when he said that, it does seem to be the same ark!

ii) In the wilderness, v6-7

The provision of priesthood. The giving of the law, and the provision of priesthood are related matters. See Mal.2.7. These verses emphasise the continuity of the priesthood during the wilderness journey: “there Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazer his son ministered in the priest's office in his stead.” The full log of the journey from Egypt to Canaan is given in Num.33. God's people were not without priestly representation, and neither are God's people today. But there is a difference: “And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: but this man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood …,” Heb.7-23-25. Moses now turns to other aspects of the priestly ministry.

B) The choice of Levi, v8-9

Our attention is drawn here to the separation of Levi in the mount, v8, and the inheritance of Levi in the land, v9.

i) In the mount, v8

“At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi,

(a) to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord;

(b) to stand before the Lord;

(c) to minister unto Him, and

(d) to bless in His Name, unto this day.”

We know that it was in “the wilderness of Sinai,” Num.1.1, that God said “bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest,” Num.3.6. This was before Israel broke camp en route for Canaan. See Num.10.11-12. So the words, “At that time,” do not refer to the places named in v6-7, but to Sinai or Horeb.

There is a complete sermon in this verse! Time and space here do not permit anything like an exposition, but it is highly recommended! Do notice that the ark was to be carried by the Kohathites, one of the three Levitical families, See Num.4.4-15. They weren't provided with wagons like others, Num.7.1-8. They felt the weight of the ark, the table of the shewbread, the candlestick, the altar of incense, and the brasen altar. Their responsibilities demanded strength and dignity, and this reminds us that we must never treat “the things concerning Himself,” Lk.24.27, lightly or carelessly. Another part of their ministry was to “minister unto Him.” No ministry could be more important. Compare Acts 13.2, where the word “ministered” refers to priestly service. Look up the word in your concordance. You might even have an ‘On Line Bible!’ (But don't let it make you a lazy Bible student, will you?). Priestly service isn't confined to what we call “worship.” See 2Cor.2.15; Phil.4.18; Heb.13.15-16.

ii) In the land, v9

“Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren:  the Lord is his inheritance, according as the Lord thy God promised him.” He is our inheritance as well. See Eph.1.11. For further details of your inheritance, read Rom.8.17, Col.1.12, 1Pet.1.3-4. In the spiritual realm, we are all ‘landed gentry!’

C The leadership of Moses, v10-11

Moses spent time in the mount, v10, before he embarked on the journey through the wilderness, v11. Notice the order. The Lord Jesus “ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach,” Mk.3.14.

i) In the mount, v10

We do not have details of all that took place during these “forty days and forty nights, but there is no doubt that Moses spent a great deal of that time in intercession for Israel: “the Lord hearkened unto me at that time also, and the Lord would not destroy thee.” See Ex.32.31. Israel's divinely-appointed leader gave himself to prayer and intercession. Men who lead and care for God's people take note! If an elder's work is confined to the so-called ‘oversight meeting,” the assembly will soon be in dire straits.

ii) Through the wilderness, v11

This verse stresses another aspect of leadership. “And the Lord said unto me, Arise, take thy journey before the people, that they may go in and possess the land which I sware unto their fathers to give unto them.” See Ex.32.34. Moses was to be seen to lead. This is most important. Elders lead by life as well as by lip, but beware of a non-teaching oversight.

2) INSTRUCTION FOR THE FUTURE, 10.12-11.1

This section enumerates the Lord's requirements of His people, 10.12-13, and establishes His right to those requirements, 10.14-11.1.

A) The Lord's requirements, 10.12-13

The words, “And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee,” recall a similar statement in Micah 6.8, “What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Notice that since He is “the Lord thy God,” He has every right to their obedience and devotion. There is another complete sermon in these verses. The teaching here can be developed along the following lines:

a) “To fear the Lord thy God.” There are fourteen references to “the fear of the Lord” in Deuteronomy. This is a filial fear: not the fear of a slave, nor of a sinner, but of a son. It has been described as “the attitude of a devoted son to his much-loved and honoured father, lest anything should mar the perfect harmony that subsisted between them.” This was a lawyer's definition! (M. Goodman). Read Ps.25.1-5, and trace the subject in the book of Proverbs. Back to your concordance.

b) “To walk in all His ways.” In the Bible, the word “walk” refers to our conduct and behaviour. This injunction can be profitably developed with reference to Eph.4.1; 5.1,8,15; Col.4.5, etc.

c) “To love Him.” When the Lord Jesus was asked, “What is the great commandment in the law?”, He replied, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment,” Matt.22.35-38. He still says “lovest thou me …,” Jn.21.15, etc.

d) “To serve the Lord thy God.” But not half-heartedly. It must be “with all thy heart, and with “all thy soul.” The expression “with all thy (or ‘thine’) heart” occurs five times in Deuteronomy. Do notice Paul's total commitment to God's service in Rom.1.9, “God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son.”

e) “To keep the commandments of the Lord, and His statues.” We must be “obedient children,” 1Pet.1.14, but it isn't a matter of gritting our teeth and saying ‘I must do my duty.’ The Lord Jesus said, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments … he that hath My commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me,” Jn.14.15,21. It was in Israel's best interests to do this: it was “for thy good.” It is in our best interests as well. “Godliness is profitable unto all things (physically, morally, and spiritually), having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come,” 1Tim.4.8.

B) The Lord's right to these requirements, 10.14-11.1

These verses emphasise the Lord's right to the obedience of His people in three ways. In each case, Moses reminds them that He is “thy God,” 10.14,20, or “your God,” 10.17. and in each case this is followed by a command introduced by the word “therefore,” 10.16,19;11.1. Space allows us only to summarise briefly:

a) He was the Creator Who loved them, 10.14-16. In view of His glory as Creator, and His love in choosing them, compare 7.6-7, they were to be marked by true faith and obedience. “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.” Circumcision was introduced in Gen.17.9-14, and Rom.4.11 makes it clear that it was the outward sign of Abraham's faith in Gen.15.6, signifying that he had no confidence in himself, but every confidence in God (compare Phil.3.3). Sadly, the ordinance became a sham, Jer.6.10, Acts 7.51. We must be careful that we don't become like the religious world, having “a form of godliness but denying the power thereof,” 2Tim.3.5.

b) He was the Almighty Who cared for them, 10.17-1. In view of His mighty power (“a great God … mighty and terrible”), yet tender care (He is concerned for “the fatherless and the widow,” and “loveth the stranger”), they were to care for others. “Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.”

c) He was the Saviour Who delivered them, 10.20-22 and 11.1. In view of His intervention on their behalf, they were to love and obey Him. “Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and keep His charge, and His statutes, and His judgments, and His commandments alway.” There are no exceptions to this rule!

—to be continued (D.V.)