Today we begin Deuteronomy Chapter Four.
For the Complete Jewish Bible, click here.
For the King James version, click here.
Deuteronomy 4 is an incredible chapter.
Why do I say that?
I say that because it goes right to the heart of the most central question every human being on this planet will eventually have to answer for themselves.
And that question is this…
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR LIFE?
Imagine if you will that you are on your deathbed…
…with only a few hours left to live.
You are surrounded by your loved ones who are standing over you waiting for your last words.
What final message would you give to them?
What last words of wisdom would you like them to receive so that the remaining days of their lives would be ones of joy, accomplishment and fulfillment?
What legacy would you want to leave behind?
Well, this is the context of Deuteronomy Chapter 4.
Moses knows his last days on earth are fast approaching and that the final message he gives to this younger generation of Israelites had better stick.
This isn’t a time for trivialities.
Moses has to get right to the heart of the matter concerning how one should live out any precious amount of time one has left on this planet.
Moses exhortation is as clear as it is sobering.
He begs this generation to carry on with the good work God has begun…
…BY OBEYING GOD’S TORAH.
He pleads with them to not make the same mistakes their parent’s made.
Moses not only tells the people they should obey God’s Torah, he also gives them solid reasons WHY they should obey God’s instructions.
What is most fascinating and significant is that Moses establishes the truth of God’s Torah by connecting it to history.
The Mosaic Law is not some incomprehensible, unrealistic, or unreachable set of instructions that were only concocted in the mind of God and then given to the people verbatim.
No…these laws were handed down within a certain culture in a certain language at a specific time in human history.
And not only that.
How these laws were to be applied were also demonstrated via a variety of different settings and situations.
Of course, at this point in time, not all of the laws had been fully fleshed out and demonstrated.
Some of the instructions, particularly those revolving around agricultural practices, could not be observed until the people entered the Promised Land.
We shall continue with this train of thought the next time we meet…
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