Deuteronomy 4:13
And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
God declared His covenant at Horeb, commanding Israel to perform it, and that covenant is the Ten Commandments written by Himself upon two tables of stone. He spoke it to Israel gathered apart at Sinai amid fire, darkness and cloud, where they heard His voice from the midst of the fire but saw no form. It was to be kept without adding to it or taking from it, taught diligently from father to son to later generations, and kept as their wisdom and righteousness bringing good, long life and blessing to them and their children. That keeping includes honoring the true Sabbath day as holy in reverence for Him, and refusing all worship of graven images or of sun, moon and stars. The law written by His finger and preserved in the ark will meet every person at the last day, when each case is decided by obedience or transgression.
Covenant Given at Horeb
The covenant declared and commanded to be performed is the Ten Commandments, written by God Himself upon two tables of stone. That declaration was made to Israel at Horeb, also called Sinai and Mount Sinai. Israel was gathered there apart from other nations amid fire, darkness, clouds, and the glory displayed on the sacred mountain. From the midst of the fire and from the pillar of cloud they heard the voice of the words, but they saw no similitude or form, only a voice.
At that same time Moses was commanded to teach statutes and judgments for Israel to do in the land they were going over to possess. Those righteous laws were given to govern them and to guide them there, making the nation wise and understanding. The setting gave solemn warning against corrupting worship by making a graven image in any form. That included the likeness of male or female, of any beast on the earth, of any winged fowl in the air, of anything creeping on the ground, or of any fish in the waters beneath the earth. It also warned against lifting the eyes to heaven and, when seeing the sun and moon and stars, even all the host of heaven, being driven to worship and serve them. Created things are not God but testify of Him and must not be worshiped.
The tablets were written by Jehovah's finger. After being broken they were rewritten on a second set of tablets. They remain sacredly preserved in the Ark in the Most Holy Place, where Jesus entered in 1844. They will be brought forth at the final judgment, when each case is settled according to obedience or transgression of the law God gave. The One who declared this covenant is the One who proclaimed Himself the resurrection and the life.
Obedience Required Forever
The revelation at Horeb was to be remembered and kept alive in later generations, taught from father to son by strict parental education in obedience, and obeyed exactly as given without adding to it, taking from it, erasing it, or changing it. That charge belongs to every human being living today, each one required to take heed to himself individually. The commandments were never to be erased or changed.
Keeping them was Israel's wisdom and public witness to their righteousness, part of what God required for them to be a holy people joined to His covenant and mercy. The Lord alone is God, and obedience to His commandments brings good to the people and their children, well-being, prolonged days, and long life upon the earth given forever. They were the righteous laws given to govern Israel and make the nation wise and understanding.
That obedience includes keeping the specified true Sabbath day holy, proclaimed by God at Mount Sinai for those who identify with His people. Its observance is a sign of obedience and reverence for God's holy day, including strict observance of the very day observed today. Careful study of the chapter is important for those who would belong to His covenant-keeping people.
The whole chapter is to be studied carefully by God's covenant-keeping people today as truly as by ancient Israel. Studying the Word for oneself and doing what the Lord has directed helps prevent rebellion and supports daily sanctification. This calls for wholly submitting to His will and way and resisting sinful inclinations, while those who have heard the truth for the last days are warned not to treat it as something to put on and set aside at will.
The word spoken was verified in judgment, for because the people disobeyed, only two of the adults who left Egypt entered Canaan and the rest died in the wilderness. God will still vindicate His word today if leaders depart from His commandments, and His word of judgment will also stand.
Every person will one day meet the commandments and understand their meaning. The tablets, rewritten on the second set and sacredly preserved, will be brought forth at the final judgment, when each person's case is settled according to whether that person obeyed God or transgressed His law. People are judged by the commandments God gave.
The commandments are sacred truth giving plain directions of what to do and what not to do, spoken by the voice of God from the pillar of cloud. Their specifications never lose their force because they are expressions of the mind of the infinite God, and every word is to be cherished and preached. They are principles to be acted out in all religious service toward God and toward one another — being Christian gentlemen, loving as brethren, doing no injustice, and always showing liberality, tenderness, compassion, and true courtesy, the very same principles expressed in James 3. Making them a thing of naught trifles with the infinite God, and all who depart from His word in their actions misrepresent His character, who would be represented by His people by correct principles in everything.
The covenant is light shining on the pathway that must be walked in by practical works, not merely held as theoretical belief. It means faith and works combined in earnest service for the Lord, including medical missionary work and educating students to do service. Neglecting that light and failing to do the specified work leaves a wrong example.