Deuteronomy 4:14, commentary and pictures

The Lord commanded Moses at that time, after declaring His covenant of the Ten Commandments at Horeb and writing them on two tables of stone, to teach Israel His statutes and judgments so they would do them in the land they were going over to possess. Those statutes and judgments express His will and mind in wise, righteous and merciful rules for governing life, telling what to do and what not to do. Keeping what was taught brings blessing, going well with them and their children after them and prolonging their days in the land God gives, while departing from it brings vindication of His word, as shown when Israel disobeyed and only two of the adults who left Egypt entered Canaan. The whole chapter containing this charge is to be studied diligently now because it calls God's people back to His true platform and upholds the sacredness of His law, requiring careful observance and doing of what the Word requires from the greatest to what might seem least. For His covenant-keeping people this means observing the law proclaimed at Sinai including the true Sabbath, continuing the teaching in every house with parents training their sons and their sons' sons to fear God and keep His commandments, and not leaving belief merely theoretical but putting it into works.

Command and Its Setting

The Lord commanded Moses at that time to teach Israel His statutes and judgments, that they might do them in the land they were going over to possess. That time came after He had declared to them His covenant, the Ten Commandments, at Horeb, also called Sinai, and had written them on two tables of stone. The added teaching of statutes and judgments was to prepare them for life in the land they were about to possess and enter.

Israel had heard His voice out of the midst of the fire with no similitude or form seen, also described as speaking by voice from the pillar of cloud. With that revelation came the charge to take good heed to themselves lest they corrupt themselves by making a carved figure in the form of man or woman, beast or bird, creeping thing or fish. They were also charged not to be driven to worship and serve the sun and moon and stars, even all the host of heaven. Moses gave this instruction as his farewell charge before leaving Israel, repeating the command given at Sinai. In it he enforced the law of God over and over, guarding every point against disobedience and idolatry.

The statutes and judgments so taught express the will and mind of God, giving wise and righteous and merciful rules for governing life. They tell what to do and what not to do, as sacred truth and principles of His law, the same principles later expressed in James 3. The land where they were to be done was a land where idolaters, idolatry, and forbidden practices would be continually before Israel. There they were to keep His requirements in mind and remember His law rather than turn to the gods of the nations, remaining faithful amid opposing influences.

Obedience and Present Duty

Keeping the statutes and commandments taught for the land brings promised blessing, that it goes well with Israel and with children after them and prolongs days in the land God gives forever, while departing from them brings vindication of His word. This was verified when Israel disobeyed and only two of the adults who left Egypt entered Canaan and the rest died in the wilderness, and the same vindication will come today if leaders depart from His commandments. The whole chapter containing the command is therefore to be studied diligently now because it upholds the sacredness of God's law and calls His people back to His true platform. Its charge to carefully observe and do what the Word requires, from the greatest to what might seem least, applies beyond Israel to people carrying responsibilities in sacred work. Its warnings and truth are not to be put on for certain occasions and laid aside at will, but its lesson is to study and do what the Lord requires.

For God's covenant-keeping people the teaching requires observing God's law proclaimed at Sinai, including the true Sabbath. This instruction applies to each person, who must take heed individually, and it connects with observing the day kept in the present. The teaching was to continue in every house, with parents training their sons and their sons' sons to fear God and keep His commandments. Obedience to the taught Word brings blessing now and eternal life, while disobedience will be brought forth when every case is judged and settled. Belief is not to remain merely theoretical but is to be put into works.

That doing includes medical missionary work and educating students to do service for the Lord while walking in the light shining across the pathway, and those who do this very work will receive His Spirit and favor. The directions are to be acted out in principle in all religious service toward God and toward one another, meaning loving as brethren, doing no injustice, and always showing liberality, tenderness, compassion, true courtesy and gentlemanly conduct. Every word is to be cherished and the truth preached without being trifled with, for God will not be trifled with though many make this truth nothing. All who depart from His word in action misrepresent His character, while light and gladness belong to the righteous and upright in heart who keep it.

The charge also applies to God's people today to remain faithful amid opposing influences, where idolatry and forbidden practices are continually before them, by keeping God's requirements in mind. God gave these lessons to bring His people into right relation to Himself so they do not lose heaven but see the King in His beauty and lawfully share Christ's glory through partaking with Him in suffering, by believing the Word just as given and living a faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Created things are not God but testify of Him, so His people must resist unsanctified desires and the inclination to indulge them. To work with God they must serve Him according to His Word, submitting wholly to His will and way.