Deuteronomy 10:12-22 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 10:12-22. Let’s go!
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (NIV)
12 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
13 and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
On verses 12-13: When you love someone, naturally you want to give all of yourself to that person, and you desire for that person to give all of themselves to you. That’s why we get pop standards like, “All of me, why not take all of me? Can’t you see, I’m no good without you”. That’s why John Legend sings, “Give your all to me, I’ll give my all to you.” That’s why in Phantom of the Opera, Christine and her lover sing to each other, “Love me…That’s all I ask of you.”
The same goes for God. Because God loves us, He wants to give all of Himself to us, and in return He wants us to give all of ourselves to Him. That’s why verse 10 says, “what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul”. God’s call to give your all is rooted in love.
Deuteronomy 10:14-15 (NIV)
14 To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.
15 Yet the LORD set his affection on your forefathers and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations, as it is today.
On verses 14-15: Think of how vast and massive this universe is and how small we are compared to it all. And yet the Bible says that the LORD set His affection on people like us. That’s the amazing love of God. God’s heart is drawn toward us in a way that the rest of the universe can only look on in envy. You are desired, chosen and pursued by the God of the universe.
Deuteronomy 10:16-17 (NIV)
16 Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.
17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.
On verses 16-17: God is above all things, and His approval cannot be bought. That’s why you can’t buy your way into heaven or perform your way into His good graces. That’s also why the proper response to this great, mighty and awesome God is to “circumcise your hearts”, that is, to commit yourself to living for God’s purpose and God’s glory.
Deuteronomy 10:18-19 (NIV)
18 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.
19 And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.
On verses 18-19: Why does Moses tell the Israelites to care for foreigners, i.e. “aliens”? First, it’s because God loves and defends the fatherless, the widow and the alien, and we as His children are to follow in our Heavenly Father’s footsteps. Second, it’s because the Israelites once were aliens in Egypt themselves. Applied to us, that includes reaching out to people who are new to our country, city or church community. We are to empathize with and have compassion toward those who are not as familiar with our environment/home as we are.
Deuteronomy 10:20-22 (NIV)
20 Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.
21 He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.
22 Your forefathers who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.
On verses 20-22: Don’t take for granted how great our God is. He is the God we are to serve (v20), hold fast to (v20), and swear by (v20). He is the One we are to praise (v21). He is the One who does amazing wonders in our lives. May we never forget how great our God is and what He has done for us.
Father, thank You that out of all the things in this world, You set Your affection on us and pursue us with Your love. I realize today that it is out of love that You give all of Yourself to us and ask that we give all of ourselves to You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
