Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.
Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens, the highest heavens, and the earth with everything in them belong to the Lord God. His ownership is universal and complete, embracing the heavens, the earth, and all that is therein. Though He owns all creation, He delighted in the fathers and ancestors to love them. He chose Israel, their seed after them, above all people, and that choice is a very great privilege to be read thoughtfully.
The verse belongs to Moses's review rehearsal with Deuteronomy 8 and 11 before Israel entered the land of Canaan. In context it grounds what God requires of Israel for their good: to fear the Lord, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve Him with all the heart and soul, and to keep His commandments and statutes. His complete ownership gives Him authority to state what He requires and to direct the education of students, including lessons about physical well-being. The ten commandments required here are an expression of God's character and reveal His will.
Christ Himself was Israel's teacher in giving this definite instruction, with the richest blessings in store for keeping His commandments. God's word to His people in this is always affirmation and certainty, not yes and no. The passage goes on to present Him as God of gods and Lord of lords, great, mighty and terrible, who shows no partiality and takes no bribe. He executes judgment for the fatherless and widow and loves the stranger by giving food and clothing.
What was spoken to backsliding Israel speaks as truly now. It is the privilege of Christian churches today to receive every spiritual advantage promised on the same terms of obedience. The message from Deuteronomy 10:12-15 means especially much to Seventh-day Adventists, who above all people should bear its words in mind. They are to make much of what God says, acting decisively in obedience, and refusing worldly ambitious display or letting the world and nominal churches convert them to worldly ideas. Its most important things should be grouped with chapters 8 and 11 in a little book and circulated everywhere, since few outside that faith understand these things.
The most important work in response is to become acquainted with God's Word in order to obey it. Those who seek Him receive the grace of Christ to stand on vantage ground, walking in the light and giving Him the heart's best service. The verse calls those entrusted with sacred responsibilities and duties to recognize God's sovereignty and to honor sacred truth with wholehearted service, obedience, reverence, and reverent conversation and conduct. It rebukes carelessness in speech and deportment as a hindrance to spirituality.
Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens, the highest heavens, and the earth with everything in them belong to the Lord God. His ownership is universal and complete, embracing the heavens, the earth, and all that is therein. Though He owns all creation, He delighted in the fathers and ancestors to love them. He chose Israel, their seed after them, above all people, and that choice is a very great privilege to be read thoughtfully.
The verse belongs to Moses's review rehearsal with Deuteronomy 8 and 11 before Israel entered the land of Canaan. In context it grounds what God requires of Israel for their good: to fear the Lord, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve Him with all the heart and soul, and to keep His commandments and statutes. His complete ownership gives Him authority to state what He requires and to direct the education of students, including lessons about physical well-being. The ten commandments required here are an expression of God's character and reveal His will.
Christ Himself was Israel's teacher in giving this definite instruction, with the richest blessings in store for keeping His commandments. God's word to His people in this is always affirmation and certainty, not yes and no. The passage goes on to present Him as God of gods and Lord of lords, great, mighty and terrible, who shows no partiality and takes no bribe. He executes judgment for the fatherless and widow and loves the stranger by giving food and clothing.
What was spoken to backsliding Israel speaks as truly now. It is the privilege of Christian churches today to receive every spiritual advantage promised on the same terms of obedience. The message from Deuteronomy 10:12-15 means especially much to Seventh-day Adventists, who above all people should bear its words in mind. They are to make much of what God says, acting decisively in obedience, and refusing worldly ambitious display or letting the world and nominal churches convert them to worldly ideas. Its most important things should be grouped with chapters 8 and 11 in a little book and circulated everywhere, since few outside that faith understand these things.
The most important work in response is to become acquainted with God's Word in order to obey it. Those who seek Him receive the grace of Christ to stand on vantage ground, walking in the light and giving Him the heart's best service. The verse calls those entrusted with sacred responsibilities and duties to recognize God's sovereignty and to honor sacred truth with wholehearted service, obedience, reverence, and reverent conversation and conduct. It rebukes carelessness in speech and deportment as a hindrance to spirituality.