Knowing God

The Bible Teaching Commentary

Deuteronomy 5:1-33

Paul J. Bucknell

Introduction | Call (5:1-5) | Standard (5:6-21) | Relationship (5:22-33)

Purpose: This fourth page of the Deuteronomy 5 study shows God beckoning His people into a special relationship marked by faith, fear of the Lord, and obedience.

C) Our Special Relationship (Dt 5:22-33)

This is the second time the Ten Commandments were given. The first was in Exodus 20. Right after presenting the Ten Commandments in Exodus, many other statutes were also given concerning sacrifices, health, and other aspects of life. They are not included here immediately, and there is a reason for that.

Moses is trying to help the people get on the right footing with God. He shares about God’s love and patience so that they would desire a relationship with the Lord. They had seen many miracles and examples of His power over the years, but they hadn't truly understood God’s character. Because of this, they misinterpreted God’s motives. They saw God as a strict judge. They forgot all that God was doing to build a relationship with them. Throughout it all, God wanted to have a close relationship with people.

We want to look at this more closely because our belief in God is greatly influenced by what we think about Him. We've already gone over our first two points. Let me review them here since both are important for understanding God's relationship with us.

God truly cares about us! Although their fathers were rebellious and destructive, God did not destroy them all. Instead, He is willing and eager for them to do better than their ancestors. So, the Lord is offering this same covenant to them. God will fulfill His part.

God emphasizes what He expects. No tricks involved. There are specific minimum standards that people must follow. God desires spiritual faithfulness. There’s no room for idols. He also needs to restrain how people would live if He weren’t to destroy them.

God is going out of His way to draw people to Himself. Let us continue and see what else we discover in the rest of this chapter, Deuteronomy 5:22-33, and gain a better understanding of who God is and what kind of relationship He desires with us.

Personal address (Deuteronomy 5:22)

“These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly at the mountain from the midst of the fire, of the cloud and of the thick gloom, with a great voice, and He added no more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me” (Deuteronomy 5:22).

God communicated with these people. He has not spoken to many others. When He draws near to any group, His wrath often follows. However, under the covenant, people are somewhat protected. This moment becomes especially significant when God, through Moses, is pleading with the people to dedicate their lives to Him. He speaks without judging. His words show a willingness to share wisdom and insight for their well-being.

Serious words (Deuteronomy 5:22)

The Lord Himself inscribed these commands on two stone tablets. They were meant to last forever and stand the test of time. The way they were given was impressive: with fire, cloud, and a loud voice (22). The Lord went out of His way to communicate with man, and when He did, He shared some very important messages.

Needed Moses’ help (Deuteronomy 5:23-27)

“And it came about, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders. “And you said, ‘Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire; we have seen today that God speaks with man, yet he lives. ‘Now then why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer, then we shall die. ‘For who is there of all flesh, who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? ‘Go near and hear all that the LORD our God says; then speak to us all that the LORD our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it” (Deuteronomy 5:23-27).

The people acknowledged their need for Moses, the Mediator. They asked Moses to speak to and listen to God on their behalf. It’s not that God had stopped communicating with them, but that they requested God to speak through Moses. God is not distant but close. Looking at past events often helps clarify why things are the way they are. We should be careful not to draw false conclusions.

The Lord’s Desire for them (Deuteronomy 5:28-29)

“And the LORD heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me, and the LORD said to me, ‘I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have done well in all that they have spoken. ‘Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!” (Deuteronomy 5:28-29).

God wanted them not only to know His Word but also to fear Him so that they would obey it. “Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!” (Deut. 5:29).

Obedience brings great blessings to those who faithfully live under the covenant and their families forever! The commands are connected to our well-being, not just to keep us in place. Raising godly children is about leading them to develop character so they can live meaningful and beautiful lives.

‘Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!” (Deuteronomy 5:28-29).

An Important reminder (Deuteronomy 5:32-33)

“So you shall observe to do just as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left. “You shall walk in all the way which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess” (Deuteronomy 5:32-33).

The people were given God’s laws to obey. They were not to turn aside, ignore, or modify them. Obedience is crucial for living a long life in the land they were to enter. We can see this come true in Joshua and Caleb’s lives. Obedience makes a positive difference.

Summary

We are amazed that God would spend time with these Israelites. Remember, a correct view of God is essential! If we think of God as unjust, unloving, or uncaring, we will not approach Him. Instead, we will become defensive. If He speaks, we might feel threatened. Moses’ main point is that God wants to help, not hurt us.

Instead, we should look forward to building a deeper relationship with God. He has taken the first necessary step. Or perhaps we should say the first, second, and third steps. The commands we need have been revealed. God’s glory has been shown. And even though the first generation stumbled, God has picked up the ball and given it to the second generation so they can make a great play.

Application

Where does your faith in this great God need to grow and strengthen? Where do you doubt God or even feel despair at times? Is it because of your past failures? Your family’s or church’s shortcomings? Let’s take a step back and see how the Old Testament is fulfilled in a greater way through Christ.

The Call to join the covenant.

We have heard about evangelism and have been evangelized. We have heard the proclaimed good news. We have heard how God has called us to join Him in His New Covenant through Jesus. How does it work? We have hope of eternal life and intimacy with God through Jesus. He died for our sins. We believe in Him, and we are rescued from slavery in Satan’s hands. Otherwise, we will die with the evil one.

There is no middle ground. You are either a servant of God, who made you, or a pawn in the hand of the self-seeking destroyer who has already been judged. Only his sentence has not yet been fully carried out.

The Standard

In the Old Testament, we have laws, but here, Christ leads us far beyond any law through a life devoted to God and a life of love. Paul said there is no law against the fruit of the Spirit. God’s heart of love has been revealed in our lives.

“For of His fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him” (John 1:16-18).

God’s Heart: Our Special Relationship

We see God’s love so clearly displayed in His Son. He gave His best so we could be part of His great work. Amazing grace. Incredible life.

“You are My friends, if you do what I command you. “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:14-15).

Summary

Can we hold back our devotion to God? If we do, we break the covenant. What is meant to protect and help us becomes a curse instead. We cannot, as some claim, only have Jesus as Savior and not as Lord. Obedience is the reward of our calling. If we disdain obedience, then we really do not love His holiness and likely do not have His Spirit in us. “Trust in the Lord with all your hearts!”

Even though we are slaves, the Lord treats us as friends. He genuinely wants us to draw near to Him and trust Him!

“You are My friends, if you do what I command you. “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:14-15)

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This series on Deuteronomy 5 ends here, but do check out BFF’s many other Bible articles.