Observations and Interpretations
(1) Background of chapter 4 (EBC) ..the usual account of which is common to suzerain-vassal covenants (宗主国与附庸国之间的盟约), having been given (1:1–3:29), Moses next turned to the stipulations of the covenant-treaty...This beginning section on stipulations (4:1–14) is largely hortatory, though what the Israelites were exhorted to do necessitates introductory reference to the stipulations.
They are not only the citation (or repetition) of laws but also an educative instrument explaining, interpreting, and sometimes adjusting the laws as they would relate to the circumstances that Israel would face in Canaan.
Application: Remember what God has done in your life. Those are the foundation of our relationship with Him and our bases for obedience to Him today. If God did not save our lives we would have a hard time to follow Him.
(2) Repeated word
(2) Repeated word
Pay attention to [the law)...so that you might live and ...take possession of the land v.1
you who remained faithful to the LORD your God are still alive v.4
I have taught you (the law)...so that you might carry them out in the land... v.5
Be sure to do them... v.6
A full enjoyment of life is based on obeying on God's law. Therefore do not add nor subtract from it v.2. Why would people add/subtract the law?
(BKC) Israel must not add to it and thereby weaken its power, as the Pharisees and later Christian legalists would do. Nor must Israel subtract anything from it to accommodate the willfulness or weakness of human nature.
(BKC) Israel must not add to it and thereby weaken its power, as the Pharisees and later Christian legalists would do. Nor must Israel subtract anything from it to accommodate the willfulness or weakness of human nature.
Application: Do we see obedience to God vital to our lives? Even we may answer yes, do we only have partial obedience to God and like to add/subtract according to what we like to obey?
(3) The second advantage of the Law was to make Israel morally and spiritually unique among the nations.
v.7-8 (EBC) (1) the Lord was near them when they prayed; (2) no other nation had such righteous laws.These righteous laws were communicated and operated through prayer... the giving of them brought Israel close to God
(BKC) In contrast with all other nations Israel was not to be distinguished by her natural resources, wealth, or military might, but by her moral skill and close relationship to God, both of which would come from her obeying her moral constitution.
Application: What makes us stand out among our friends? Does our proximity to God stand out? Or other things? If we do not obey to God and pray according to His will we are not able to get close to God v.7-8 and also John 15:7
(4) To obey the Law, one needs to pay very careful attention and do not forget v.9. The one thing that Moses repeatedly reminded them to be careful was idolatry v.15, 23-24, 25,39. Israel would certainly be dispersed among the nations with a great loss of life v.26-27. Sadly, even Moses warned them before they entered the land, Israel did exactly what was prohibited and was dispersed to Assyria and Babylon later.
Application: Israel had committed this sin once before Moses gave this warning yet even after Moses warned them here they eventually fell on this sin. How about us? Do we take warning seriously? Shall we fall over and over again?
Audrey
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