And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.
Deuteronomy 31:1 marks the moment when Moses is about to lay down his place as the visible leader of the hosts of Israel. In this farewell address to all the people he rehearses in their hearing God's past dealings with them and the rules and regulations God had given them. His burden is to press upon them the importance of obeying God's law and making its sacred precepts the rule of daily life.
As children of God they are to be willing to suffer any inconvenience rather than break a single commandment, for such a course pleases God more than mere professions of loyalty or words of praise. That obedient living preserves harmony between person and person and between humanity and its Maker, and it causes Israel to be regarded as a wise and understanding people. In the path of obedience alone is safety for them as individuals and as a nation, since only obedience secures the divine favor and ensures happiness and prosperity in the land to which they are going. The rich promises are given on condition of obedience, so that if they do not keep His commandments He would not — He could not — fulfill them to them.
At this farewell Moses as visible leader and lawgiver stands superior in wisdom and integrity to all earthly sovereigns and statesmen. Yet he continually recognizes himself as the servant of God, speaking and acting according to divine direction, claiming no credit for himself but pointing the people to God as the source of power and wisdom.
Deuteronomy 31:1 marks the moment when Moses is about to lay down his place as the visible leader of the hosts of Israel. In this farewell address to all the people he rehearses in their hearing God's past dealings with them and the rules and regulations God had given them. His burden is to press upon them the importance of obeying God's law and making its sacred precepts the rule of daily life.
As children of God they are to be willing to suffer any inconvenience rather than break a single commandment, for such a course pleases God more than mere professions of loyalty or words of praise. That obedient living preserves harmony between person and person and between humanity and its Maker, and it causes Israel to be regarded as a wise and understanding people. In the path of obedience alone is safety for them as individuals and as a nation, since only obedience secures the divine favor and ensures happiness and prosperity in the land to which they are going. The rich promises are given on condition of obedience, so that if they do not keep His commandments He would not — He could not — fulfill them to them.
At this farewell Moses as visible leader and lawgiver stands superior in wisdom and integrity to all earthly sovereigns and statesmen. Yet he continually recognizes himself as the servant of God, speaking and acting according to divine direction, claiming no credit for himself but pointing the people to God as the source of power and wisdom.