Today’s passage: Deuteronomy 5
Helpful thoughts:
- With the “Introduction” of Moses’ sermon completed, he moves on to the “Body,” the proclamation of the law. Moses starts where it all started for Israel at Mt. Sinai, the Ten Commandments.
- From the ESV Study Bible:
- “The Ten Commandments stand at the head of the law given at Sinai. In many respects, the detailed laws of Deuteronomy 12-26 follow the general pattern of the Ten Commandments, suggesting the Ten Commandments function as a summary of God’s requirements for his people.”
- Taken at face value, what Moses said in verse 5 would be inaccurate. However, the statement was rhetorical in nature. The new generation of Israel was not to consider Israel’s covenant with God a thing of the past or only the possession of their deceased parents and grandparents. It was theirs.
Questions to consider:
- In this giving of the Ten Commandments, what was the major reason to observe the Sabbath? What reminder was it to give Israel? Who was Israel’s new master? In contrast to Pharaoh’s increasing severity and harshness in burdening Israel, what was their new master giving to them?
- What was God’s heart toward Israel (see verse 29)? What did He desire for them (see verse 33)? How do we see (and why is it so good to know) that our God is both good and loving?
- What does the Lord’s statement in verse 29 reveal that He knew about the nature of people? Will our hearts always be in the right place? What did our good and loving God do with this knowledge (Psalm 103)?