Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

4:1 And now. The speech turns from recounting the past to exhortation. Listen is a common injunction in Deuteronomy (5:1; 6:3, 4; 9:1; etc.) and means "heed and obey." As is often the case, the command to listen and obey carries a motive clause to encourage that behavior: that you may live, and go in and take possession. Land possession is not linked to military strategy or strength but to comprehensive obedience of the statutes and the rules that govern all aspects of life. As is common in Deuteronomy, mention of the land is qualified by reference to the patriarchs (fathers) in order to stimulate Israel's trust in God's faithfulness (see note on 1:8).

4:2 The authority and sufficiency of God's word is implied in the command not add . . . nor take from. Israel is to submit to God's entire word (see also 12:32). Such a command is necessary because of their persistent rebellion in the previous 40 years. For similar commands, see Prov. 30:6; Eccles. 3:14; Rev. 22:18-19.

4:3-4 Your eyes have seen. See also 3:21. Baal-peor. See 3:29 and note. Held fast describes faithfulness to a covenant, as in marriage (Gen. 2:24), and is commanded of all Israel (e.g., Deut. 10:20; 13:4). Those who held fast rejected pagan worship and are therefore alive today as an example of the promise of 4:1 (that those who obey will live) being fulfilled.

4:6 Part of the incentive to keep the commandments is missiological. Obedience will show to other nations Israel's wisdom and understanding, akin to the moral wisdom encouraged in Proverbs. Such wisdom will draw attention not only to Israel but ultimately to Israel's God (as epitomized by the queen of Sheba's visit with Solomon; 1 Kings 10), a pattern intended by the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 12:3).

4:7-8 so near. In the verses following, the Lord's nearness at Mount Horeb is recalled, though v. 7 has in mind an ongoing nearness, notably in answering prayer. In Deuteronomy that nearness comes through God's word (30:14) and his presence in the midst of the people. See also 1 Kings 8:52. In comparison with other nations, Israel's law is emphasized as righteous in order to encourage Israel to keep the laws of the following chapters and not to regard them as unduly onerous.

4:9 take care. Like all fallen humans, Israel's natural tendency is to ignore, forget, or disobey. Their failure in the past 40 years adds testimony to this warning. Make them known to your children. See 6:7; 11:19. Each generation has the responsibility of instructing the next generation in the faith.

4:12 saw no form; there was only a voice. The emphasis here, and in the second commandment (5:8-9), is that worship of an image is prohibited, since God's self-revelation was audible, not visible. Despite this, notice "your eyes have seen" in 4:3, 9, and "before your eyes" in v. 34.

4:13-14 Though not the entirety of the Sinai covenant, the Ten Commandments (lit., "Ten Words") sum it up. They alone of God's commands were spoken audibly to all Israel and were written by God on the two stone tablets (Ex. 20:1, 18-19; 24:12). The emphasis on covenant stresses the relational nature of the law (cf. Ex. 19:5; 20:2). The statutes and rules are the other laws given at Sinai, spoken only to Moses, who was instructed to teach them to Israel (Exodus 21-Leviticus 27).

4:15-19 The absence of a visible form for God now gives reason for prohibiting the worship of idols and images (cf. the second commandment, 5:8-9).

4:20 The Lord's saving acts in bringing Israel out from slavery (iron furnace; see also 1 Kings 8:51; Jer. 11:4) in Egypt give cause to worship. His own inheritance suggests privilege and intimacy (see Deut. 9:26, 29). Israel is the Lord's inheritance; the land is Israel's inheritance (4:21, etc.), though the landless tribe of Levi has the Lord as their inheritance (10:9; 12:12; 18:1).

4:21-22 because of you. See notes on 1:37-38; 3:26-28. good land. The land was described as "good" by the spies (1:25; cf. 1:35). The repeated emphasis serves as encouragement to Israel to enter.

4:23-24 A return to the prohibition of idolatry. Take care again suggests the ease with which people fall into idolatry (see v. 19 and note on v. 9). From the iron furnace of Egypt (v. 20) to a consuming fire (cf. 5:25; 9:3): Israel's covenant relationship with the Lord is to be exclusive. God is jealous for his people's unqualified allegiance. This is in fact the language of love (see also 5:9; 6:15; 9:3; cf. Heb. 12:29).

4:25-26 Calling on elements of nature to testify to an oath is a common feature of ancient Near Eastern covenant documents. See also 30:19 and 31:28.

4:27-28 scatter. See 28:64-68. few in number. See 28:62. The punishment for idolatry is exile to a pagan land; God will hand Israel over to an idolatrous nation to continue the sinful practice (cf. Rom. 1:24, 26, 28). Sarcasm is expressed here that other gods neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell (see Ps. 115:4-7; 135:15-17).

4:29-30 Exile is not the end. There remains hope of repentance and return (see 30:1-10). with all your heart and with all your soul. See note on 6:5. obey his voice. Returning to the Lord means forsaking the worship of visible forms and obeying his commands. See note on 4:12.

4:31 merciful. God's mercy does not compromise his jealous anger (v. 24; cf. 5:9-10; Ex. 34:6-7). In Deuteronomy, mercy is grounded in the Lord's faithfulness to the Abrahamic promises (9:27; 30:5, 20). God will maintain his covenant with Abraham, even if Israel forgets it (4:23; see Rom. 3:3-4). God also swore those promises under oath (Gen. 22:16; Heb. 6:13, 17-18). Cf. note on Deut. 1:8.

4:32-34 The Lord's approach to Israel at Sinai is the greatest event in any time (since the day that God created man) or any place (one end of heaven to the other). The theme of Israel's uniqueness resumes from vv. 5-20. By a mighty hand and an outstretched arm represents God's power (see 5:15; 7:19; 9:29; 11:2; 26:8; Ex. 3:19-20).

4:35-36 that you might know. The plagues were revelatory, so that Israel, as well as Pharaoh and Egypt, might know the Lord (Ex. 6:7). there is no other. See also Deut. 4:39; cf. 5:7; 6:4; 32:39. Deuteronomy asserts clear monotheism (belief in only one true God; see Mark 12:32). God is sovereign both in heaven and on earth.

4:37-39 Juxtaposed with God's universal sovereignty is his love of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (see notes on 1:8; 4:31). loved. A key, and unique, theme of Deuteronomy is the love of God for the patriarchs (here and 10:15), or for his people in general (5:10; 7:9, 12-13; 23:5), and Israel's reciprocal love for God (6:5; 7:9; 10:12; 11:1, 13, 22; 13:3; 19:9; 30:6, 16, 20). as it is this day. See note on 2:30. know . . . and lay it to your heart. Deuteronomy is constantly concerned with the state of Israel's heart (see 6:4-5; 7:17; 8:2, 17; 9:4; 10:16).