Context No. 3734 of 4322 · Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 4:1-8: in context

1Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and to the ordinances which I teach you, to do them, that you may live and go in and possess the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, gives you. 2You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. 3Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baal Peor; for the LORD your God has destroyed all the men who followed Baal Peor from among you. 4But you who were faithful to the LORD your God are all alive today. 5Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do so in the middle of the land where you go in to possess it. 6Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who shall hear all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” 7For what great nation is there that has a god so near to them as the LORD our God is whenever we call on him? 8What great nation is there that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law which I set before you today?

Moses urges Israel to listen to and keep God's statutes, neither adding to nor taking away from his word. And he gives a striking reason: keeping God's commands will be their wisdom and understanding in the sight of the nations, who will say, surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. Obedience to God is itself a kind of wisdom the watching world can recognize.

And Moses marvels at two gifts Israel has that no other nation has. What great nation has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us whenever we call on him? And what great nation has statutes so righteous as this law? Two treasures set Israel apart: a God who is near, who hears when they call, and a law that is good and righteous. These are gifts to be treasured and lived out. We too have a God who draws near when we call, and his word to guide us; and to keep his ways is our true wisdom, visible even to those watching from outside.

Do I treasure the nearness of the God who hears when I call, and the goodness of his word, keeping his ways as the true wisdom that even the watching world can recognize?

Sources

Deuteronomy 4:7: "For what great nation is there that has a god so near to them as the LORD our God is whenever we call on him?"
Deuteronomy 4:6: "Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples."
Deuteronomy 4:2: "You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you take away from it."