Deuteronomy 5:28-33: a reflection

28The LORD heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me; and the LORD said to me, “I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have well said all that they have spoken. 29Oh that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them and with their children forever! 30“Go tell them, ‘Return to your tents.’ 31But as for you, stand here by me, and I will tell you all the commandments, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess.” 32You shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn away to the right hand or to the left. 33You shall walk in all the way which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.

After the people, hearing God's voice at Sinai, ask that Moses speak to them, God expresses something tender about his desire for them. He approves what they have said, and then adds a heartfelt longing: Oh that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them and with their children forever! God's commandments are not arbitrary demands; his longing is for a heart in his people that would follow him, and the reason he gives is their own good: that it might be well with them and their children forever. His desire for their obedience flows from his desire for their good.

Notice God's longing, and its reason: that it might be well with them. God does not merely demand obedience; he longs, from the heart, that his people would have a heart to follow him. And the reason is not his own benefit but theirs: that it might be well with them and with their children forever. His commandments were given for their good; his longing for their obedience was a longing for their flourishing. The God who gave the commandments yearned that his people would keep them, not to satisfy some arbitrary demand, but because in following him lay their own good and blessing. His heart's desire for them was their welfare.

That is worth taking to heart, for God's commands to us flow from his desire for our good, and his longing is for a heart in us that would follow him. We can think of God's commands as arbitrary demands, burdens imposed on us against our interest; but God's own words reveal a heart that longs for our good, that it might be well with us, and that yearns for us to have a heart to follow him. His commands are for our flourishing, and his longing for our obedience is a longing for our welfare. Do not think of God's commands as arbitrary burdens against your good; they flow from his desire that it might be well with you, and his longing is for a heart in you that would follow him. Receive God's commands as flowing from his desire for your good, and ask him for a heart that would follow him, as he longed for such a heart in his people that it might be well with them; for God's commands are given for our flourishing, and his heart's desire is our good, that it might be well with us and our children forever.

Lord, after the people, hearing your voice at Sinai, ask that Moses speak to them, you express something tender about your desire for them. You approve what they have said, and then add a heartfelt longing: oh that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them and with their children forever! Your commandments are not arbitrary demands; your longing is for a heart in your people that would follow you, and the reason you give is their own good. Show me your longing, and its reason: that it might be well with them. You do not merely demand obedience; you long, from the heart, that your people would have a heart to follow you. And the reason is not your own benefit but theirs: that it might be well with them and with their children forever. Your commandments were given for their good; your longing for their obedience was a longing for their flourishing. Your heart's desire for them was their welfare. Take that to my heart, for your commands to me flow from your desire for my good, and your longing is for a heart in me that would follow you. I can think of your commands as arbitrary demands, burdens imposed on me against my interest; but your own words reveal a heart that longs for my good, that it might be well with me. Keep me from thinking of your commands as arbitrary burdens against my good; they flow from your desire that it might be well with me, Lord, and your longing is for a heart in me that would follow you. Help me receive your commands as flowing from your desire for my good, and give me a heart that would follow you.