Deuteronomy 33:1-6: a reflection

1This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. 2He said, “The LORD came from Sinai, and rose from Seir to them. He shone from Mount Paran. He came from the ten thousands of holy ones. At his right hand was a fiery law for them. 3Yes, he loves the people. All his saints are in your hand. They sat down at your feet. Each receives your words. 4Moses commanded us a law, an inheritance for the assembly of Jacob. 5He was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together. 6“Let Reuben live, and not die; Nor let his men be few.”

In Moses' final blessing over the tribes of Israel, a beautiful picture appears of the people gathered close to God, at his feet, receiving his words. Yes, he loves the people, Moses says; all his saints are in your hand. They sat down at your feet. Each receives your words. God's people are pictured as sitting at his feet, gathered close, held in his hand, receiving his words. This is the posture of the learner, the disciple: sitting at the feet of God, close to him, attentive, receiving what he says. To sit at God's feet is to take the place of one who listens and learns, who receives his words rather than dictating our own, who draws close to be taught. God's people are those who sit at his feet and receive his words, held in his hand, loved by him. The posture of belonging to God is the posture of the learner at his feet, receiving his words. To sit at God's feet and receive his words is the fitting posture of those who are his.

Notice the posture Moses pictures: God's people sitting at his feet, receiving his words. They are not standing over him, dictating terms, or keeping their distance; they sit at his feet, close, attentive, in the posture of the learner and disciple, receiving what he says. This is a beautiful image of what it means to belong to God: to sit at his feet, drawn close, held in his hand, loved by him, and to receive his words. The one who sits at God's feet takes the place of the learner, ready to listen and receive, rather than the place of one who would instruct God or keep him at arm's length. To receive God's words is the fruit of sitting at his feet, close and attentive. This posture, sitting at his feet to receive his words, is the fitting posture of God's people, who are loved by him and held in his hand. To draw close and listen is to take our proper place before God. The learner's posture at God's feet is where his words are received.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are called to sit at God's feet and receive his words, in the posture of the learner. We can keep God at a distance, or approach him as those who would instruct him or dictate terms, rather than sitting at his feet to receive his words; but Moses pictures God's people sitting at his feet, close, attentive, receiving what he says. To sit at God's feet is to take the posture of the learner, drawn close, ready to listen and receive. Do not keep God at a distance or approach him on your own terms; sit at his feet and receive his words, as his people are pictured doing, close to him and held in his hand. Sit at God's feet in the posture of the learner, drawn close and attentive to receive his words, rather than keeping him at a distance or approaching him on your own terms, as Moses pictured God's people loved by him, held in his hand, sitting at his feet and receiving his words; for the fitting posture of those who belong to God is the learner's posture at his feet, close and attentive, ready to listen and receive what he says rather than dictating our own, and to draw near and receive his words is to take our proper place before him.

Lord, in Moses' final blessing over the tribes of Israel, a beautiful picture appears of the people gathered close to you, at your feet, receiving your words. Yes, he loves the people, Moses says; all his saints are in your hand. They sat down at your feet. Each receives your words. Your people are pictured as sitting at your feet, gathered close, held in your hand, receiving your words. This is the posture of the learner, the disciple: sitting at your feet, close to you, attentive, receiving what you say. To sit at your feet is to take the place of one who listens and learns, who receives your words rather than dictating our own. Show me the posture Moses pictures: your people sitting at your feet, receiving your words. They are not standing over you, dictating terms, or keeping their distance; they sit at your feet, close, attentive, in the posture of the learner, receiving what you say. This is a beautiful image of what it means to belong to you: to sit at your feet, drawn close, held in your hand, loved by you, and to receive your words. The one who sits at your feet takes the place of the learner, ready to listen and receive. To receive your words is the fruit of sitting at your feet. Take that to my heart, for I am called to sit at your feet and receive your words, in the posture of the learner. I can keep you at a distance, or approach you as one who would instruct you or dictate terms, rather than sitting at your feet to receive your words; but Moses pictures your people sitting at your feet, close, attentive. Keep me from keeping you at a distance or approaching you on my own terms; help me sit at your feet and receive your words, Lord, close to you and held in your hand, in the posture of the learner ready to listen.