Deuteronomy 4:31, commentary and pictures

The Lord God is merciful and will not forsake His people, destroy them, or forget the covenant He swore to their fathers. The promise is for those who turn back to Him and obey His voice when in distress and trouble in the latter days, even after unfaithfulness and scattering, for it rests on His mercy and faithfulness while idolatry brings judgment and exile. Because He is merciful He hears and forgives those who seek Him with all heart and soul in calamity, and though cast out to the uttermost part He will gather them and bring deliverance so they are not left abandoned. Even defeat, burning of the city, and scattering among heathen lands when they fail in mission and build walls of division is not forsaking or destruction, but if they are loyal and submissive He will bring them again into their own land. The word given through Moses before entering Canaan stands unchanged and belongs to God's covenant-keeping people today, to be studied carefully and obeyed in keeping His commandments proclaimed at Sinai including the true Sabbath, in justice, love, tenderness and compassion.

Promise and Its Context

The Lord God is merciful, and He will not forsake His people, nor destroy them, nor forget the covenant He swore to their fathers. That assurance belongs to a chapter to be studied by those who would be counted among God's covenant-keeping people. It is held out for those who obey and depend wholly upon Him, as part of the promises connected with obedience to His commandments.

The promise applies when His people turn back to Him and obey His voice in distress and trouble and suffering in the latter times, even after unfaithfulness and scattering. It rests on His mercy and on His faithfulness to the covenant. The preceding warning at the same time makes clear that idolatry brings judgment and exile.

The promise was spoken through Moses in the hearing of all Israel before they entered Canaan, together with solemn warnings against idolatry, and it stands unchanged through the centuries. The word of the chapter was verified when Israel disobeyed, so that all but two of the adults who left Egypt died in the wilderness and only two entered Canaan. Its central call is to know that the Lord is the only God in heaven and on earth, and to keep His statutes and commandments so that it may go well with them and with their children and they may prolong their days upon the land God gives them.

Mercy in Israel's History

The promise was given through Moses before entering Canaan and stands unchanged through the centuries. When His people return in penitence and faith to keep His commandments and do them, He will not leave them in weakness and oppression, for that would bring dishonor upon Him. Though they were cast out to the uttermost part of heaven, He in mercy will gather them from there and bring them to the place He has chosen to set His name, and His promise will not fail.

Because He is a merciful God He hears and forgives those who in times of apostasy turn to Him and obey His voice with all the heart, keeping them from being forsaken or destroyed and remembering the covenant sworn to their fathers. Those who seek Him with all heart and soul will find Him, and His mercy remains available to the scattered and repentant. He hears them when they seek and call on Him in calamity, and obedience brings deliverance from trouble so they are not left abandoned. The word was spoken in the hearing of all Israel together with solemn warnings against idolatry. It gave wonderful encouragement to those who came to the temple courts to seek forgiveness and renew their vows of allegiance to Jehovah, and it met abundant fulfillment during the reformation under Hezekiah when the temple services were restored.

When His people fail to be His missionaries and build walls of division between themselves and those around them, He permits calamity upon them. He permits their city to be destroyed by fire and permits them to be overcome by enemies and carried into heathen lands and scattered, that the knowledge of His truth might be carried to the world. That scattering is not forsaking or destruction. If they are loyal and true and submissive, He will bring them again into their own land.

Study and Obey Today

The chapter belongs to those who would be counted among God's covenant-keeping people and is to be studied carefully for the sacredness of God's law. Its warning and promise apply to God's people today, for the word spoken to Israel was verified when they disobeyed and only two of the adults who left Egypt entered Canaan while the rest fell in the wilderness. It calls the people back to the true platform with the assurance that truth will triumph. Obedience is connected with observing God's law proclaimed at Sinai, including the true Sabbath which God gave to be kept holy, and mercy is set within promises connected with obedience to His commandments.

The chapter is a solemn charge whose instruction must be read carefully and obeyed. The lesson is to follow the Lord's directions and commandments and to leave nothing important in His Word neglected, for disobedience is rebellion. Its sacred directions express God's mind and must retain their force. They are to be practiced in religious service toward God and one another through justice, love, liberality, tenderness, compassion, and courtesy, and God's people misrepresent His character when their actions depart from His word.

The chapter is given as reading for those who will do practical medical missionary service. Active faith joined with works is walking in the light, and God will give His Spirit and favor to those who will work. The sacredness of God's law is to be studied today, for God will vindicate His word now in the same way as in the wilderness if the leaders of His people depart from His commandments.