Deuteronomy 5:23, commentary and pictures

Moses is rehearsing how the Lord declared His holy commandments to the whole assembly from the mount out of fire, cloud and thick darkness with a great voice and wrote them on two tables of stone, when the people heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness while the mountain burned with fire and all the heads of the tribes and the elders came near to him. They confessed that God had shown His glory and greatness in talking with man and man still living, yet they feared death from the great fire if they heard His voice again, so they asked not to hear Him directly but for Moses to go near, hear all God would say and speak it to them, promising to hear and do it. God approved their words as well said and longed that they would always have such a heart to fear Him and keep all His commandments that it might be well with them and their children forever, though it is also taught that their request revealed unbelief. The instruction in Deuteronomy 4-8 sets forth what God required that they might be a holy people unto Himself, the standard of full surrender and continuing simplicity of obedience to all His commandments with sanctification of mind, soul and body, which applies to every person today with no excuse accepted for disobedience. That wish for an obedient heart covers all who live on earth till the close of time under the mediation of Jesus Christ, for prosperity depends upon obedience to God's requirements, and those chapters are to be studied now because the world is nearing God's great final review when every character will have been investigated and every case decided for eternity.

Sinai Setting and Request

Moses is rehearsing how the Lord declared His holy commandments to the people, speaking to the whole assembly from the mount out of fire and cloud and thick darkness with a great voice and writing His words on two tables of stone, at the time when the commandment was being repeated. When the people heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, for the mountain did burn with fire, all the heads of the tribes and the elders came near to Moses. They came as leaders of Israel after hearing God's voice from the fiery darkness on the mountain.

They confessed that God had shown His glory and His greatness, and that God had talked with man and man still lived. That experience proved that the living God speaks with people. Yet they feared they would die by the great fire if they heard God's voice again.

They asked not to hear God's words spoken directly because the voice thrilled them. They asked Moses to go near, hear all that God would say, and speak it to them, promising to hear it and do it. God approved their words as well said. He expressed the wish that they would always have such a heart to fear Him and keep all His commandments, so that it would be well with them and with their children forever.

Their request for Moses to hear God for them reveals unbelief. Moses recalled this revelation to expose the folly of worshiping the powerless, man-made calf and to point Israel back to the living God. That worship broke the recently made covenant, as represented by the broken tables of stone, for which Moses was not reproved. God was very angry with Aaron and would have destroyed him without Moses' special intercession, and Moses confronted Aaron over bringing so great a sin upon the people.

Law's Call to Obedience

Deuteronomy 5:23 stands within Deuteronomy 4-8, which set forth what God required of His ancient people that they might be a holy people unto Himself, and which teach why God's people are identified as His people. That instruction gives the standard for full surrender and continuing simplicity of obedience to all His commandments, with none of the important things specified neglected. It requires sanctification of mind, soul, and body and perfect obedience to God's will. The same requirement applies to every person today, and no excuse is accepted for disobedience to God's commandments.

Those chapters are to be studied and read with profit now because the world is nearing God's great final review, when all must stand before the Judge of all the earth to answer for deeds. The present is the time of investigation when every character will have been investigated and every case decided for eternity. The verse is to be read to the people and read carefully with chapters four, six, seven, and eight, with the special lesson being interest to do them. Every soul is to search the Scriptures for himself and make the Word the study book and sanctify himself daily according to the Word, lest he be found in rebellion, so the Lord will be glorified.

The verse shows that God takes no pleasure in punishing the transgressor but must maintain the honor of His throne when His righteous laws are trampled upon, and He delights to bestow His blessings upon all who will value them. God's wish for an obedient heart covers all who live on earth till the close of time and all who come under the mediation of Jesus Christ, teaching that the prosperity of all depends upon obedience to God's requirements. The heart fixed upon the Lord will treasure His law more highly in proportion as the masses disregard and despise it. The words spoken there are God's law, whose instruction, kept before children and followed in home life and business, would form a people fit to regain Paradise lost through disobedience.