Deuteronomy Chapter 10
1 At that time the LORD said to me, "Cut two stone tablets like the first, and come up to me onto the mountain, and make an ark of wood.
2 I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke, and you shall put them in the ark."
3 So I made an ark of acacia wood, and cut two stone tablets like the first, and went up onto the mountain, having the two tablets in my hand.
4 He wrote on the tablets, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spoke to you on the mountain out of the middle of the fire in the day of the assembly; and the LORD gave them to me.
5 I turned and came down from the mountain, and put the tablets in the ark which I had made; and there they are as the LORD commanded me.
6 (The children of Israel travelled from Beeroth Bene Jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest's office in his place.
7 From there they travelled to Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of brooks of water.
8 At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the LORD's covenant, to stand before the LORD to minister to him, and to bless in his name, to this day.
9 Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD your God spoke to him.)
10 I stayed on the mountain, as at the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD listened to me that time also. The LORD would not destroy you.
11 The LORD said to me, "Arise, take your journey before the people; and they shall go in and possess the land which I swore to their fathers to give to them."
12 Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
13 to keep the LORD's commandments and statutes, which I command you today for your good?
14 Behold, to the LORD your God belongs heaven, the heaven of heavens, and the earth, with all that is therein.
15 Only the LORD had a delight in your fathers to love them, and he chose their offspring after them, even you above all peoples, as it is today.
16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.
17 For the LORD your God, he is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the awesome, who doesn't respect persons or take bribes.
18 He executes justice for the fatherless and widow and loves the foreigner in giving him food and clothing.
19 Therefore love the foreigner, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
20 You shall fear the LORD your God. You shall serve him. You shall cling to him, and you shall swear by his name.
21 He is your praise, and he is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.
22 Your fathers went down into Egypt with seventy persons; and now the LORD your God has made you as the stars of the sky for multitude.
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Deuteronomy Chapter 10 Guide
In recounting the story of the writing of the Law the second time, Moses distinctly affirmed that these tables too were written by God Himself. This was the culminating word in all he had said to them concerning their unfaithfulness. Side by side with their failure had been the manifestation of the pity and forbearance of God. They were therefore now being called upon to enter the land in spite of their own unrighteousness because of the compassion of God and His set determination to carry forward His larger purposes through them.
In a passage of great beauty, thrilling with earnestness, Moses made a statement summarizing the truth concerning the requirements of God as His people entered the land. The whole revealed the fact that everything depended on their relationship to Him. They were to fear Him, that is reverence; to walk in His ways, that is obedience; to love Him, that is worship; to serve Him, that is cooperation; to keep His commandments, that is fidelity.
In order to encourage them in such attitudes and activities, he made two great declarations concerning God. The first (verses Deuteronomy 10:14-16) concerned their relationship to Him. He is a great God, possessing all. He is a God of love, having delighted in their fathers and choosing their seed. In consequence of these facts they were called on to maintain the attitude of separation, in the words, "Circumcise ... the foreskin of your heart."
The second (verses Deuteronomy 10:17-19) declared anew the greatness of God as the Ruler of all things and of His love as it expresses itself in just dealing with the needy and the stranger. These convictions were to create their attitude toward strangers. They were to love them. Finally He made his appeal to them to fear, serve, cleave to, and swear by Jehovah their God.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Deuteronomy Chapter 10 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- God's mercies to Israel after their rebellion. -- (1-11)
- An exhortation to obedience. -- (12-22)
Verses 1-11
Moses reminded the Israelites of God's great mercy to them, notwithstanding their provocations. There were four things in and by which the Lord showed himself reconciled to Israel. God gave them his law. Thus God has intrusted us with Bibles, sabbaths, and sacraments, as tokens of his presence and favour. God led them forward toward Canaan. He appointed a standing ministry among them for holy things. And now, under the gospel, when the pouring forth of the Spirit is more plentiful and powerful, the succession is kept up by the Spirit's work on men's hearts, qualifying and making some willing for that work in every age. God accepted Moses as an advocate or intercessor for them, and therefore appointed him to be their prince and leader. Moses was a type of Christ, who ever lives, pleading for us, and has all power in heaven and in earth.
Verses 12-22
We are here taught our duty to God in our principles and our practices. We must fear the Lord our God. We must love him, and delight in communion with him. We must walk in the ways in which he has appointed us to walk. We must serve him with all our heart and soul. What we do in his service we must do cheerfully, and with good will. We must keep his commandments. There is true honour and pleasure in obedience. We must give honour to God; and to him we must cleave, as one we love and delight in, trust in, and from whom we have great expectations. We are here taught our duty to our neighbour. God's common gifts to mankind oblige us to honour all men. And those who have themselves been in distress, and have found mercy with God, should be ready to show kindness to those who are in the like distress. We are here taught our duty to ourselves. Circumcise your hearts. Cast away all corrupt affections and inclinations, which hinder you from fearing and loving God. By nature we do not love God. This is original sin, the source whence our wickedness proceeds; and the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be; so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God, Ro 8:5-9. Let us, without delay or reserve, come and cleave to our reconciled God in Jesus Christ, that we may love, serve, and obey him acceptably, and be daily changed into his image, from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord. Consider the greatness and glory of God; and his goodness and grace; these persuade us to our duty. Blessed Spirit! Oh for thy purifying, persevering, and renewing influences, that being called out of the state of strangers, such as our fathers were, we may be found among the number of the children of God, and that our lot may be among the saints.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.