DEUTERONOMY 5

Chapter five of Deuteronomy begins with Moses calling a meeting of all Israel to tell them the judgments of the Lord. The first thing to note is that God made a covenant with Israel in Horeb.

This was a separate covenant from those made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The covenant was for everyone and their seed after them.

The Lord spoke to them face to face out of the fire, Moses told Israel and God spoke to them the Ten Commandments they were to follow in His Kingdom.

Moses emphasizes that when God finished His talk, God added no more than the Ten Commandments and also wrote them for Moses to give to Israel as a testimony.

Israel learned that God can talk to man and that man can live through him. The people expressed that they wanted Moses to come and listen to the Lord and bring what they should and will do.

God tells Moses that He heard what the children of Israel said, and God only wished that they would have the mind to do what they said; that they would fear Him and keep all His commandments always. If so, it would be okay with them to do this; if they did, God would prolong their days.

Some Comments on Deuteronomy 5

Commentary on Deuteronomy 5: 1-5

Moses demands attention

When we hear the word of God we must learn it; and what we have learned we must put into practice, for that is the end of hearing and learning; not to fill our heads with notions, or our mouths with talk, but to direct our affections and conduct.

Commentary on Deuteronomy 5: 6-22

Here is some variation of Exodus 20 between the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6 and Luke 11.

It is more necessary for us to join in with things, rather than words, in an unchanging way. There is no mention here of the original reason for keeping the Sabbath holy, taken from God’s rest from the work of creation on the seventh day.

Although this still applies, it is not the only reason. Here it is taken from the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt; for that was typical of our redemption by Jesus Christ, in remembrance of which the Christian Sabbath was to be observed.

In the resurrection of Christ we were brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. How sweet it is for a soul truly distressed under the terrors of a broken law to hear the gentle, revitalizing language of the Gospel!

Commentary on Deuteronomy 5: 23-33

Moses refers to the consternation caused by the terror with which the law was given. The appearances of God have always been terrible to man, ever since the fall; but Christ, having taken away sin, invites us to come boldly to the throne of grace.

They were of good mind, under the strong convictions of the word they heard. Many have their consciences troubled by the law that has not purified them; they are extorted from them by righteous promises, but they do not fix and root good principles in them. God commended what they said.

He desires the welfare and salvation of poor sinners. He has given abundant proof that He does; He gives us time and space to repent. He has sent His Son to redeem us, promised His Spirit to those who pray for Him, and declared that He is not pleased with the ruin of sinners.

It would be good for many, if there were always a heart in them, as there sometimes seems to be; when they are under conviction of sin, or the reproofs of Providence, or when they come to look death in the face.

The only way to be happy is to be holy. Say to the righteous: it will be well with them. Let the believers do more and more of their study and delight, doing what the Lord God has commanded.

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