Deuteronomy 5:31
But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it. But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.
God set Moses apart to stand by Him and receive all the commandments and the statutes and the judgments, to teach them to Israel so the people would do them in the land God gave them to possess. This followed Israel's fearful request that Moses go near and hear God for them rather than hearing Him themselves, a request that shows unbelief. Those commandments were given to guide conduct in the promised land, not merely to be heard, and were to be learned, remembered, and obeyed as the expression of God's will, with Israel's prosperity and blessing as a holy people depending on that obedience. They require full surrender and continuing obedience to all the Lord's commandments today with none neglected, and Deuteronomy 4 to 8 is to be studied because the world is nearing God's great final review when every character will have been investigated and every case decided for eternity. Parents are to use this instruction in training children from infancy to form characters approved by God, and keeping these commands given at the mount in family life and business prepares people to regain the Paradise lost through disobedience.
Moses Receives the Law
Israel had asked Moses to go near and hear God for them and to relay His words to them, rather than hearing God themselves. They asked not to hear God's words themselves because His words thrilled them with fear. In response God told Moses to stand by Him and to remain with Him to receive all the commandments and the statutes and the judgments that Moses was to teach Israel so they might do them in the land God gave them to possess. That fearful request shows unbelief, and the commandment of God is here repeated.
God set Moses apart as mediator to remain with Him while He gave him the commandments, statutes, and judgments, and appointed him to receive God's law and convey it to the people. He was to teach them to Israel so the people would do them and obey them in the land God was giving them to possess. These commandments, statutes, and judgments stand within God's dealings with His people and are among all the directions God has given that are to be carefully observed, from the greatest to that which may seem the least.
They were given to guide Israel's conduct in the promised land, not merely to be heard, and were to be learned, remembered, and obeyed. They express God's will and definite requirements of His ancient people, given that they might be a holy people unto Himself. Israel's prosperity and blessing in the land depended on obeying God's commandments, and the law is thus connected with Israel's life in the promised land.
Obedience Required Today
The instruction of Deuteronomy 4-11 sets forth God's dealings with His people, and the command to stand by and receive all the commandments and statutes and judgments to teach Israel to do them in the land carries direct meaning for every soul carrying responsibilities in connection with sanitarium work. Those commandments, statutes, and judgments are among all the directions God has given that are to be carefully observed, from the greatest to that which may seem the least. What God required of His ancient people was that they might be a holy people unto Himself.
Deuteronomy 4 to 8 is to be studied because the world is nearing the day of God's great final review when the people of this world must stand before the Judge of all the earth to answer for their deeds. The present is the time of investigation, when before that review every character will have been investigated and every case decided for eternity. The charge to receive and teach so the people will do in the land given them to possess requires full surrender and continuing simplicity of obedience to all the Lord's commandments with none of the important things in His Word neglected. It calls for special interest in doing them, with public reading and careful heeding of the charge, with every soul searching the Scriptures and making God's Word the study book lest he be found in rebellion.
Daily sanctification according to God's Word, sanctification of mind, soul, and body in perfect obedience to God's will, glorifies God and leaves no excuse for disobeying His holy commandments, and these requirements apply to every person today. The chapter is included among the instructions parents are urged to read as they train their children from infancy to form characters approved by God. That training takes every precaution to prevent objectionable traits of character, with parents controlling themselves for the sake of God as Creator and Redeemer, cleansing the soul-temple and trimming the inner lamp, and revealing piety, virtue and godliness in the home life. It begins with parents first consecrating themselves to God by entire surrender of the soul, because unless the root is holy there can be no acceptable fruit and God accepts no service without personal consecration, and by this self-preparation they make themselves ready for the present life and the future life in the city of God.
Keeping these commands spoken at the mount, in family life and business, prepares people to regain the Paradise lost through disobedience. Rejecting God's law for human precepts instead leads to false worship and to persecution of those who refuse it.