Dave Burnette's Commentary

Deuteronomy Chapter 10

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Moses 
Date Penned: (1407 BC)
Overview: To Remind and Rededicate Israel to the Lord (c 1-34)
Theme: Principles for Godly Living (c 5-28)
Message: Do Not Forget to Fear God (v 1-22)

Deuteronomy 10 Commentary

(10:5) The Tablets of the Law - The tablets of the law were still in the ark about 500 years later when Solomon put it in his newly built temple (a Kings 8-9). The ark last appears in the Israelites history during the reign of Josiah, about 300 years after Solomon (2 Chronicles 35:3).

(10:12-13) God's Expectations - Often we ask, "What does God expect of me?" Here Moses gives a summary that is simple in form and easy to remember. Here are the essentials: (1) Fear God (have deep respect for him). (2) Live in a way that pleases him (follow him). (3) Love him. (4) Serve him with all your heart and soul. (5) Keep his commands. We often complicate faith by adding merely human rules, regulations, and requirements. Are you frustrated and burned out from trying hard to please God? Concentrate on his real requirements and find peace. Respect, follow, love, serve, and obey him.

(10:16-19) God's Circumcision -  God required all male Israelites to be circumcised, but he wanted them to go beyond performing the surgery to really understand its meaning. They needed to submit to God inside, in their hearts, as well as outside, in their bodies. Then they could begin to imitate God's love and justice in their relationships with others. If our hearts are right with God, then our relationships with other people can be made right too. When your heart has been cleansed and you have been reconciled to God, you begin to see a difference in the way you treat others.

(10:17) God's Mercy - In saying that the Lord is God of gods and Lord of lords, Moses was distinguishing the true God from all the local gods worshiped throughout the land. Moses also called God "terrible. God is "terrible" in that he has such awesome power and justice that people cannot stand in his presence without his merey. Fortunately, his mercy toward his people is unlimited. When we begin to grasp the extent of God's mercy toward us, we see what true love is and how deeply God loves us. Although our sins deserve severe judgment, God has chosen to show love and mercy to all who seek him.

(10:20) Our Allegiance - "Swear by his name" means that God alone should have his people's allegiance.

 

 


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Obey and Fear the Lord

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the book of Deuteronomy with Chapter 10 and we are reminded to Fear the Lord and Obey the Lord as the former generation of Israel forgot at the giving of the 10 commandments. Moses reminds this new generation of Israel of the mistakes of their forefathers and the lack of Fear and Obedience resulting in judgement. The word Fear means "to reverence" or respect and obedience to follow the instruction of an authority. In making application we are to obey the Words of God and Fear the God of the Bible as its pages testify of the power of God. It reminds me of my early 20's when I bought my 1st sports car. My job transferred me to the West Virginia mountains. With my new fast car the winding mountain roads it felt like one of those new car commercials with a car racing around corners and hills. My problem is I did not Fear the Mountain roads nor did I obey the traffic laws resulting in me driving my car off a mountain, hitting a tree, destroying my car, and breaking my nose. A painful reminder of my disobedience. I now had a New Fear and sense of Obedience for the laws of the Roads. How about you? Do you Obey and Fear the Lord? Let us learn from those who came before us and left this example as a guide. To Obey and Fear the Lord.

 

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Deuteronomy 10

Deuteronomy 10

 1At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood.

 2And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.

 3And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in mine hand.

 4And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.

 5And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the LORD commanded me.

 6And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Mosera: there Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest's office in his stead.

 7From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbath, a land of rivers of waters.

 8At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.

 9Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him.

 10And I stayed in the mount, according to the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also, and the LORD would not destroy thee.

 11And the LORD said unto me, Arise, take thy journey before the people, that they may go in and possess the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give unto them.

 12And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

 13To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

 14Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD's thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.

 15Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.

 16Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.

 17For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

 18He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.

 19Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

 20Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

 21He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

 22Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.