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Deuteronomy 10:1-5

The chapter break is unfortunate.  It interrupts the narrative of Moses.  He is still teaching the generation preparing to go into the land that they had a sordid past full of disobedience.  There was no reason this generation should assume that wasn’t in them also.

God made the original tablets.  Moses hewed the second set and took them to God.  This suggests a less intimate relationship.  This is seen in the Exodus account when God initially refuses to accompany Israel after the Sinai incident (Ex 32:34).

This ark referred to might not be the ark of the covenant but a separate container for the tablets.  The words would be repeated, but the relationship seemed to have changed.  The words were put in the ark.

The second set of tablets had the same words on them, but they weren’t the originals.  The originals were broken before their idol.

Deuteronomy 10:6-11

This parenthetical insert speaks of Aaron’s death.  He died 40 years after the golden calf.  It is likely mentioned here to show why he wasn’t allowed to enter the land.  His part in the idolatry of the golden calf had consequences. 

The parenthetical statement speaks of the journey that is interrupted to note the place where Aaron was buried.  This ends up being a parenthetical statement inside a parenthetical statement.

Deuteronomy 10:12-22

What does the Lord require of you?  This is the question any thinking Israelite ought to be asking.  The Lord had taken them out of bondage and brought them to the cusp of the new land.  They ought to wonder what God wants them to do.

• Fear the Lord your God
• Walk in all His ways
• Love Him
• Serve the Lord your God with all your heart and soul
• Keep the Lord’s commandments and statutes.

This is what the Lord required.  These are the right responses.  If they loved the Lord, these things would come naturally and be right.  Obedience went with love.  Fear and reverence came from understanding who Yahweh was. 

The Lord reigned over all of heaven and earth.  He was sovereign.  He could have chosen any people, but He chose the forefathers of these people.  He chose them above all people.  This called for a response.  Moses said they should circumcise their hearts.  Circumcision was a sign of the covenant (Genesis 17).  This physical mark was a hidden sign of the state of the heart.  Moses called for the hearts of these people to be marked for covenant relationship.  It was time to no longer be stiff-necked but come under the guidance of the Master.

He is God of gods, Lord of lords, almighty.  They were to fear Him and serve Him.  He was their praise.  There was no other.  Jacob took his twelve sons to Egypt.  The Lord brought them out a great nation of great multitude.

©2007, 2023 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater