4:20Deuteronomy 4:20

The Lord Himself took Israel out of Egypt, which is pictured as an iron furnace to describe their harsh enslavement, and delivered them by mighty power with signs and wonders out of love.Ms 120, 1909+2 He brought them out to be His own possessed people, a people of inheritance unto Him.Ms 120, 1909+2 That belonging came with His covenant and law at Sinai, where He let them hear His voice from heaven and from fire and proved that He alone is God in heaven above and on earth beneath, and it stands against turning to images or worshiping the heavenly bodies because He is a consuming fire and a jealous God.Ms 119, 1903, par. 15–17+3 The promised inheritance included the land of Canaan they were about to possess, given on condition of obedience to His law as the condition of prosperity in the good land.Ms 119, 1903, par. 15–17+2 They were therefore to remember His covenant, make no idol or forbidden likeness, and keep His statutes and commandments so that it would go well with them and their children after them and prolong their days in the land He gives, and even when tribulation comes in the latter days those who turn to Him and obey His voice will not be forsaken or destroyed nor will He forget His covenant.Ms 119, 1903, par. 15–17+2

The LORD Himself took Israel and brought them forth out of Egypt, which the verse pictures as an iron furnace to describe harsh enslavement.Ms 120, 1909+4 He delivered them by mighty power with signs and wonders, taking a nation from the midst of another nation out of love for their fathers.Ms 119, 1903, par. 15–17+1 He brought them out to be unto Him His own possessed people, a people of inheritance, as they were that day.Ms 120, 1909+4

That deliverance came with His covenant and law at Sinai.Ms 119, 1903, par. 15–17+2 There He let them hear His voice from heaven and from fire, and He proved by that deliverance that He alone is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.Ms 119, 1903, par. 15–17 The blessing promised with the keeping of His commandments belonged to this same setting of bringing them out and making them His people.Lt 176, 1907, par. 11–12

Their special belonging to Him is set against turning to images or worshiping the heavenly bodies.Ms 119, 1903, par. 15–17+1 They were to remember His covenant and make no idol or forbidden likeness of anything, because He is a consuming fire and a jealous God.Ms 119, 1903, par. 15–17+1

The inheritance promised in the verse included the land of Canaan they were about to possess, given to them as God's own people on condition of obedience to His law as the condition of prosperity in the good land.Ms 119, 1903, par. 15–17+2 That deliverance from Egypt to make them His possessed people therefore bound them to remember His covenant and to make no idol or forbidden likeness, because He is a consuming fire and a jealous God.Ms 119, 1903, par. 15–17+1 They were to keep His statutes and commandments so that it would go well with them and with their children after them and that they would prolong their days in the land He gives forever.Ms 119, 1903, par. 15–17+1

Israel's history verified His spoken word about disobedience, for the people disobeyed and of the adults who left Egypt only two entered Canaan while the rest died in the wilderness.Ms 65, 1906, par. 21–22+1 Even Moses, despite his faithfulness and suffering, was not allowed to enter the land he longed to see because of public disobedience, and his exclusion is joined to Israel's sin keeping him from sharing that inheritance.Ms 120, 1909, par. 17–18+1

He will vindicate His word in the same way today if the leaders of His people depart from His commandments.Ms 65, 1906, par. 21–22 He can protect obedient people and their families and make them examples to others, calling for obedience, humility, and faithfulness in response to His deliverance and care.Ms 120, 1909, par. 17–18 Even when tribulation comes in the latter days, those who turn to Him and obey His voice will not be forsaken or destroyed, nor will He forget His covenant, while those who turn back to God can rely on His faithfulness to the covenant.Ms 119, 1903, par. 15–17+1

The whole fourth chapter of Deuteronomy, to which the verse belongs, is to be studied by those who would be counted among God's covenant-keeping people.7MR 309.1–3+2 It gives instruction about His dealings with His people, recalling that the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, the iron furnace, and chose them as His own people to be holy to Him.7MR 309.1–3+2 Those entrusted with sacred work are called by it to observe all His directions carefully, studying what He required of ancient Israel.7MR 309.1–3+1

That study is inseparably connected with observing the law proclaimed at Sinai.Lt 6, 1909, par. 5+2 It includes God's true Sabbath given to be kept holy, with promise of blessing if they kept His commandments.Lt 6, 1909, par. 5+2

Its directions are sacred truth spoken by the voice of God from the pillar of cloud, telling the people the acts they should do and the actions they should not do.Ms 40, 1891, par. 42–45 Its 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.Ms 40, 1891, par. 42–45 They are to be acted out in principle in all religious service toward God and toward one another, in loving as brethren, doing no injustice, and always showing liberality, tenderness, compassion, and true courtesy.Ms 40, 1891, par. 42–45 God is to be represented by His people through correct principles in everything, for these principles are the principles of the law of God, and all who depart from His word in their actions misrepresent the character of God.Ms 40, 1891, par. 42–45

The chapter is to be read as specifying the work the Lord requires in these last days.Lt 55, 1897, par. 9–11 That work is practical medical missionary service exemplified by Christ's work for the Samaritan woman.Lt 55, 1897, par. 9–11 It is done by faith combined with works through walking in the light given and educating others to serve the Lord rather than neglecting the light.Lt 55, 1897, par. 9–11