The Palestinian Covenant Renewed
November 25, 2020
Commentary
In these final words and the final acts of God’s faithful servant Moses, he gives them a reminder of:
1. GOD’s POWER (vv. 1-4). – Moses reminds God’s people that it was with their own eyes that they saw the great wonders of God performed in Egypt. With their own eyes they saw the plagues of blood, frogs, gnats, flies, hail, boils, locust, darkness, and the death of the first born as well as the parting of the mighty waters of the Red Sea.
2. GOD’s PROVISION (vv. 5-8) – Moses reminds God’s people of God’s provision during the 40 years of wilderness wandering. He had provided them with clothing, sandals that did not wear out and food from heaven that came down each day. He also provided them protection from their enemies, as God went before them in battle, and they won great victories.
3. GOD’s PRESENCE (29:9-15) – Moses reminded God’s people that they were standing in the very presence of God. He was entering into a covenant with them, which was an agreement and a relationship with them. This was a renewing of the Covenant that was made at Mount Horeb. There were not any new provisions that were not already made at Mount Horeb. The entire nation is being asked to ratify God’s covenant and not just the elders or heads of the tribes. The problem was that they did not understand because they had hardened their hearts.
Application
Lord, help me to constantly be reminded of your power, provision, and presence in my life!
Deuteronomy 29:1– 15 (NET)
1 (28:69) These are the words of the covenant that the Lord commanded Moses to make with the people of Israel in the land of Moab, in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Horeb.
2 Moses proclaimed to all Israel as follows: “You have seen all that the Lord did in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, all his servants, and his land. 3 Your eyes have seen the great judgments, those signs and mighty wonders. 4 But to this very day the Lord has not given you an understanding mind, perceptive eyes, or discerning ears! 5 I have led you through the wilderness for forty years. Your clothing has not worn out nor have your sandals deteriorated. 6 You have eaten no bread and drunk no wine or beer—all so that you might know that I am the Lord your God! 7 When you came to this place King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan came out to make war and we defeated them. 8 Then we took their land and gave it as an inheritance to Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh.
9 “Therefore, keep the terms of this covenant and obey them so that you may be successful in everything you do. 10 You are standing today, all of you, before the Lord your God—the heads of your tribes, your elders, your officials, every Israelite man, 11 your infants, your wives, and the resident foreigners living in your encampment, those who chop wood and those who carry water— 12 so that you may enter by oath into the covenant the Lord your God is making with you today. 13 Today he will affirm that you are his people and that he is your God, just as he promised you and as he swore by oath to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 14 It is not with you alone that I am making this covenant by oath, 15 but with whoever stands with us here today before the Lord our God as well as those not with us here today.