Deuteronomy 4:1-8: a reflection

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?

As Moses urges Israel to keep God's law, he points to a privilege that set them apart among all nations: they had a God who was near, who heard them whenever they called. What great nation is there that has a god so near to them, Moses asks, as the LORD our God is whenever we call on him? Other nations had gods that were distant, silent, unresponsive. But Israel had the LORD, a God who was near to them, present among them, and who heard them whenever they called on him. This nearness of God, his presence and his readiness to hear, was a privilege unlike anything the nations had. This shows the privilege of a God who is near, who hears us whenever we call. Our God is near, hearing us whenever we call on him. It is a great privilege to have a God so near. God is not distant or silent, but present and ready to hear. Treasure the nearness of a God who hears whenever you call.

Notice the privilege Moses points to. He asks a question meant to stir wonder: what great nation has a god so near to them as the LORD our God is whenever we call on him? The point is that this nearness was extraordinary, unlike anything the surrounding nations had. Their gods were distant, remote, silent, unable to hear or respond. But Israel's God was near: present among them, accessible, and ready to hear them whenever they called on him. This nearness of God, his presence and his readiness to hear, was a privilege beyond price. This privilege is ours as well, and even more fully. In Christ, God has drawn near to us; and he hears us whenever we call on him. We do not serve a distant, remote, silent God, unable or unwilling to hear us; we have a God who is near, present with his people, and who hears us whenever we call. This is a privilege easily taken for granted, but extraordinary: that the great God is near to us, and hears us whenever we call. When we pray, we are not calling into an empty distance, hoping to be heard by a remote deity; we are speaking to a God who is near and hears whenever we call. We do well to treasure and make use of this privilege, that our God is near and hears us whenever we call on him. Treasure the privilege that your God is near and hears whenever you call. You do not serve a distant, silent God, but one who is near and present. When you pray, you speak to a God who hears whenever you call. Do not take for granted the nearness of a God who hears you.

That is worth taking to heart, for we have a God who is near and hears us whenever we call, a privilege beyond price, as Moses stirred Israel to see. We can take for granted, or forget, how near our God is; but Moses asked what nation had a god so near as the LORD is whenever we call. God is near. When you pray, remember that you do not call into an empty distance, but to a God who is near and hears whenever you call; treasure and make use of this privilege. Treasure the privilege that your God is near and hears you whenever you call on him, unlike the distant and silent gods of the nations, as Moses, urging Israel to keep God's law, pointed to a privilege that set them apart among all nations, that they had a God so near who heard them whenever they called, asking what great nation had a god so near as the LORD; for other nations had gods that were distant, silent, and unresponsive, but Israel had the LORD, a God near to them and present among them who heard them whenever they called, this nearness being a privilege unlike anything the nations had, a privilege that is ours as well and even more fully since in Christ God has drawn near and hears us whenever we call, so that we do not serve a distant, remote, silent God unable or unwilling to hear us but have a God who is near and present with his people and hears us whenever we call, a privilege easily taken for granted but extraordinary, that the great God is near to us and hears us whenever we call, so that when we pray we are not calling into an empty distance hoping to be heard by a remote deity but speaking to a God who is near and hears, and we do well to treasure and make use of this privilege.

Lord, as Moses urges Israel to keep your law, he points to a privilege that set them apart among all nations: they had a God who was near, who heard them whenever they called. What great nation is there that has a god so near to them, Moses asks, as the LORD our God is whenever we call on him? Other nations had gods that were distant, silent, unresponsive. But Israel had you, a God who was near to them, present among them, and who heard them whenever they called on you. This nearness of yours, your presence and your readiness to hear, was a privilege unlike anything the nations had. Show me the privilege Moses points to. He asks a question meant to stir wonder: what great nation has a god so near as the LORD our God is whenever we call on him? The point is that this nearness was extraordinary, unlike anything the surrounding nations had. Their gods were distant, remote, silent, unable to hear or respond. But you were near: present among your people, accessible, and ready to hear them whenever they called. This nearness of yours was a privilege beyond price. This privilege is mine as well, and even more fully. In Christ, you have drawn near to me; and you hear me whenever I call on you. I do not serve a distant, remote, silent God, unable or unwilling to hear me; I have a God who is near, present, and who hears me whenever I call. This is a privilege easily taken for granted, but extraordinary: that you, the great God, are near to me, and hear me whenever I call. When I pray, I am not calling into an empty distance; I am speaking to you, who are near and hear whenever I call. Take that to my heart. Keep me from taking for granted the nearness of a God who hears me; help me treasure and make use of this privilege, Lord, that you are near and hear me whenever I call, and remember, when I pray, that I speak not into an empty distance but to a God who is near and present with me.