Obedience Brings Life
May 8, 2020
Commentary
As we think about Israel’s future, their stay in the land will be determined by their obedience (vv. 15-16). Some day He will return them to the Land, and they shall never go out again. When He brings them back, they will obey Him. Moses never taught the Israelites that they were justified by obeying the Law. Instead, he sets before them the greatest of all commandments which is to love God (vv. 15-20).
If a believer chose to embark on a pattern of disregarding the Law, he could easily be drawn away to other gods which would bring great judgment into his life (v. 17). He would be destroyed (killed) or taken from the land by death or captivity (v. 18). We are not robots; we can hear God’s Word, learn God’s will, and decide either to obey or disobey. He doesn’t force his will on anyone. Moses made it clear that making this kind of decision isn’t difficult. We have the revealed truth of God in His Word, and that Word is available to us. God wants us to know that it is a matter of life or death whether we chose to follow Him or not.
Moses called all creation to witness Israel’s great opportunity to accept the covenant and enjoy his blessings (v. 19). God offered His people life, for God is our life (v. 20). So, the life of the nation was to consist of her obeying the Lord. This obedience could be passed down from one generation to another since godly parents usually produce godly children.
Application
Daily, in each of life’s situations I must affirm my commitment to Him. I can only experience full enjoyment of life as I obey God’s Word. Have you ever said you would obey God if you knew what he wanted? The truth of the matter is God’s principles for daily living are written in the Bible. The most difficult part of obeying these is deciding to start doing it now (Romans 10:5-8).
Deuteronomy 30:15– 20 (NET)
15 “Look! I have set before you today life and prosperity on the one hand, and death and disaster on the other. 16 What I am commanding you today is to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to obey his commandments, his statutes, and his ordinances. Then you will live and become numerous and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are about to possess. 17 However, if you turn aside and do not obey, but are lured away to worship and serve other gods, 18 I declare to you this very day that you will certainly perish! You will not extend your time in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess. 19 Today I invoke heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set life and death, blessing and curse, before you. Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live! 20 I also call on you to love the Lord your God, to obey him and be loyal to him, for he gives you life and enables you to live continually in the land the Lord promised to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”