Deuteronomy 5:32, commentary and pictures

Moses gave this charge after repeating God's commandments as Israel prepared to enter the promised land of Canaan. It calls for careful, exact and complete obedience to everything the Lord has commanded, from the greatest to the least, without deviating to either side. Walking in all His ways in this way was joined to life, well-being and long life in the land, making Israel His holy and distinguished people, since obedience means life and disobedience means death. The same instruction applies just as surely today as God's people prepare for the final judgment, requiring the sanctification of mind, soul and body with no excuse accepted for disobedience. It governs the whole of life at home and in business by all ten precepts, rejecting one's own will, human judgment and worldly policy, and means holding firmly to the light given, standing firm for truth, and refusing to leave the appointed path of duty when tempted or opposed.

Command and Its Setting

Moses gave this charge after repeating God's commandments, as Israel stood ready to enter Canaan, the land God had promised them. It commands observing to do all that the Lord God has commanded, without turning aside to the right hand or to the left. That means careful, exact and complete obedience to every direction He has given, from the greatest to what may seem the least, including every important requirement and following His specific directions.

The command came repeated through Moses after Israel asked not to hear God's voice directly. They asked this because hearing His words thrilled them, and the request showed unbelief. The following verse joins walking in all His ways with life, well-being, and long life in the land to be possessed. Israel's prosperity depended on keeping His commandments, for obedience means life and disobedience means death.

This obedience was to make them live as His holy people. By it they were distinguished as His people, under His covenant mercy and blessing.

Faithful Obedience Today

The charge to observe to do all that the Lord God has commanded, without turning aside to the right hand or to the left, applies to people today just as surely as it applied to Israel. It comes from the One who gave His life to purchase the world, and its study is a lesson for God's people now as they prepare for the final review in which every life is investigated and every case decided.

It requires the sanctification God required of Israel in the wilderness and requires of every person, the sanctification of mind, soul, and body. No excuse for disobedience is accepted, for this steady obedience belongs to His definite requirements to be remembered and obeyed.

Parents must teach the law to their children, with obedience meaning life and disobedience meaning death. They are to train them from infancy to form characters meeting God's approval, taking every precaution to prevent objectionable traits of character, controlling themselves for Christ's sake, and preparing themselves for the present life and the future life so they and their children may be admitted into the city of God. This means keeping the commandments throughout life and keeping them constantly in mind so as to avoid false ways, for walking in all His ways brings life, well-being, and long life in the land to be possessed.

It governs the whole of life by God's law, including its ten precepts, including conduct at home and in business, preparing a people to regain the Paradise lost through disobedience. It therefore rejects following one's own preferences and will, human judgment, human teachings and traditions, principles invented by people or shaped by worldly policy, and any self-made standard. The world's disloyalty is no excuse for carelessness or disregard by those who claim to be His chosen people, and departing by disregarding His commandments leads others into apostasy, while doctrines lacking that foundation are unsafe. Human teachings that oppose His commands, including reverence for a false sabbath, turn people away from that obedience, whereas observing the seventh-day Sabbath is the sign of undivided obedience, and keeping the fourth commandment entails keeping the rest.

It means holding firmly to the light given and continuing in the right work and duty without yielding to doubts, opposition, or false religious impressions. This includes standing by Scripture on Christ's literal, personal return rather than yielding to teachings that spiritualize it away. It includes continuing to bear the same message, speaking truth and lifting up the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, without being turned aside by controversy, opposition, or coming tests. It includes standing firm for truth amid opposition and refusing to yield from the course set, with experienced standard-bearers remaining faithful to the old paths as steady counselors and light-bearers for younger workers.

For those facing temptation it means refusing the enemy's challenges and remaining on the appointed path of duty, with obedience bringing life, well-being, and continued possession. This calls leaders and workers carrying responsibilities in connection with sanitarium work to purify their souls, to set a consecrated example in word and deportment before children and households, and to render consecrated loving service, carefully observing every direction given from the greatest to that which may seem the least. It calls for expressing His mind faithfully even when doing so conflicts with the opinions of loved ones, and for avoiding turning to either extreme so as to continue serving God and supporting those in need and those called to the work.