For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
The commandment commanded this day is not hidden and not far off, so it can be known and obeyed; it is not in heaven so that someone must go up to bring it down to be heard and done, and it is not beyond the sea so that someone must go over to bring it to be heard and done, but the word is very near, in the mouth and in the heart, that it may be done. No command God gives is inaccessible or impossible to keep consistently, for His law does not require meaningless customs or burdensome restrictions. The verse states principles plainly defined by the Word spoken from the pillar of cloud, which bind His people with great light, especially men in responsible positions at the heart of the work.
It belongs to a call to return to the Lord with all the heart and soul after the blessings and curses have come upon them, by hearkening to His voice, keeping His commandments and statutes written in the book of the law, and turning to Him. In it God sets before His people this day life and good and death and evil, blessing and cursing, commanding them to love the Lord, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, statutes, and judgments, that they may live and multiply and be blessed in the land over Jordan they go to possess, the land sworn to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. To those who so obey, God gives plenteousness in every work of the hand, in children, cattle, and land, and rejoices over them for good.
If the heart turns away so as not to hear, but is drawn away to worship and serve other gods, they shall surely perish and shall not prolong their days upon the land. Heaven and earth are called to witness the charge to choose life, that they and their seed may live, by loving the Lord, obeying His voice, and cleaving to Him, for He is their life and the length of their days. The nearness of the word is the word of faith received in the heart and confessed with the mouth; genuine faith embraces Christ personally as the only hope of salvation, trusts that God raised Him from the dead, leads to salvation and righteousness, works by love, and reshapes the character after Christ's likeness, and God circumcises the heart so that people may love Him with all heart and soul.
Having the truth is not enough without heart conversion to practice the truth, laying aside hereditary and cultivated character, one's own spirit, and confederating to do what God expressly forbade. Obedience keeps justice and mercy and love for God and man standing, while disobedience makes justice fall in the streets and equity unable to enter. Walking contrary to these principles insults God, abuses His honor, and misrepresents Him before the world by those called by His name.
The commandment is given by God to all the world to govern human minds, and when He tells parents what He requires He means they shall be obedient; it requires parents themselves to obey and to instruct their children diligently to become acquainted with the law and to love and fear God and be obedient to all His commandments, including the Sabbath. Disregard for God's laws and despising of His Sabbath puts the world in rebellion against God and in controversy with Him and kindles His wrath against the earth's teachers because they make sin and iniquity abound; if parents had obeyed and so trained their children, the world would not be in its present terrible state, as it was in the days of Noah. The verse is an encouragement to those who have turned away to return without delay.
The commandment commanded this day is not hidden and not far off, so it can be known and obeyed; it is not in heaven so that someone must go up to bring it down to be heard and done, and it is not beyond the sea so that someone must go over to bring it to be heard and done, but the word is very near, in the mouth and in the heart, that it may be done. No command God gives is inaccessible or impossible to keep consistently, for His law does not require meaningless customs or burdensome restrictions. The verse states principles plainly defined by the Word spoken from the pillar of cloud, which bind His people with great light, especially men in responsible positions at the heart of the work.
It belongs to a call to return to the Lord with all the heart and soul after the blessings and curses have come upon them, by hearkening to His voice, keeping His commandments and statutes written in the book of the law, and turning to Him. In it God sets before His people this day life and good and death and evil, blessing and cursing, commanding them to love the Lord, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, statutes, and judgments, that they may live and multiply and be blessed in the land over Jordan they go to possess, the land sworn to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. To those who so obey, God gives plenteousness in every work of the hand, in children, cattle, and land, and rejoices over them for good.
If the heart turns away so as not to hear, but is drawn away to worship and serve other gods, they shall surely perish and shall not prolong their days upon the land. Heaven and earth are called to witness the charge to choose life, that they and their seed may live, by loving the Lord, obeying His voice, and cleaving to Him, for He is their life and the length of their days. The nearness of the word is the word of faith received in the heart and confessed with the mouth; genuine faith embraces Christ personally as the only hope of salvation, trusts that God raised Him from the dead, leads to salvation and righteousness, works by love, and reshapes the character after Christ's likeness, and God circumcises the heart so that people may love Him with all heart and soul.
Having the truth is not enough without heart conversion to practice the truth, laying aside hereditary and cultivated character, one's own spirit, and confederating to do what God expressly forbade. Obedience keeps justice and mercy and love for God and man standing, while disobedience makes justice fall in the streets and equity unable to enter. Walking contrary to these principles insults God, abuses His honor, and misrepresents Him before the world by those called by His name.
The commandment is given by God to all the world to govern human minds, and when He tells parents what He requires He means they shall be obedient; it requires parents themselves to obey and to instruct their children diligently to become acquainted with the law and to love and fear God and be obedient to all His commandments, including the Sabbath. Disregard for God's laws and despising of His Sabbath puts the world in rebellion against God and in controversy with Him and kindles His wrath against the earth's teachers because they make sin and iniquity abound; if parents had obeyed and so trained their children, the world would not be in its present terrible state, as it was in the days of Noah. The verse is an encouragement to those who have turned away to return without delay.