Deuteronomy 10:12-22
Deuteronomy 10:12-22
[12] Now, Israel,
what does Yahweh your God require of you, but to fear Yahweh your
God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Yahweh
your God with all your heart and with all your soul, [13] to keep the
commandments of Yahweh, and his statutes, which I command you this
day for your good? [14] Behold, to Yahweh your God belongs heaven and
the heaven of heavens, the earth, with all that is therein. [15] Only
Yahweh had a delight in your fathers to love them, and he chose their
seed after them, even you above all peoples, as at this day. [16]
Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more
stiff-necked. [17] For Yahweh your God, he is God of gods, and Lord
of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the awesome, who doesn’t
respect persons, nor takes reward. [18] He does execute justice for
the fatherless and widow, and loves the foreigner, in giving him food
and clothing. [19] Therefore love the foreigner; for you were
foreigners in the land of Egypt. [20] You shall fear Yahweh your God;
you shall serve him; and you shall cling to him, and you shall swear
by his name. [21] He is your praise, and he is your God, who has done
for you these great and awesome things, which your eyes have seen.
[22] Your fathers went down into Egypt with seventy persons; and now
Yahweh your God has made you as the stars of the sky for multitude.
10:12 – What does the
Lord your God require of you
Is it not a
light thing that the Lord requires of us? Yes and no. We must take up
our cross daily. In that it is a cross, it is not a light thing. And
yet, in that it is a yoke, it is easy and light. What God requires of
us gives rest to our souls.
When
compared with the world, is it heavy or light? If we look only at the
empty promises of the world, then the world wins every time. But, as
we consider not only how empty the promises of the world are, but
also the temporal and ultimate end of its path, we must admit that
the world lays a heavy yoke upon those who serve it.
Is God
asking us to trade our soul for a bowl of soup? Is he requiring us to
give up our eternal soul for fleeting, passing pleasures? No. The end
result of his requirements is the gaining of our eternal soul. Along
the way it is peace and rest to our soul. It is health to our being
and our existence.
Micah 6:6-8 [6] How shall I come
before Yahweh, and bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come
before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? [7] Will
Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams? With tens of thousands of
rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my disobedience? The
fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? [8] He has shown you, O man,
what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act
justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Jeremiah 7:22-23 [22] For I
didn’t speak to your fathers, nor command them in the day that
I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings
or sacrifices: [23] but this thing I commanded them, saying,
‘Listen to my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my
people; and walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be
well with you.’
10:12,20 – Fear the
Lord your God
Jeremiah 32:39-40 [39] and I
will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me
forever, for their good, and of their children after them: [40]
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not
turn away from following them, to do them good; and I will put my
fear in their hearts, that they may not depart from me.
Psalm 128:1; 1 Peter 1:13-17
10:12 – Walk in all his
ways
Psalm 81:10-13 [10] I am Yahweh,
your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your
mouth wide, and I will fill it. [11] But my people didn’t listen to
my voice. Israel desired none of me. [12] So I let them go after the
stubbornness of their hearts, that they might walk in their own
counsels. [13] Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel
would walk in my ways!
Titus 2:11-14
10:12 – Love him
Psalm 145:20; Romans 8:28; 1 John 5:2
10:12,20 – Serve the
Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul
Hebrews 12:28-29
10:13 – Keep his
commandments and his statutes
10:14-15 – All things
and people belong to God, but he chose your fathers and you after
them.
Verse 16 has
a “therefore.” These verses (14-15) are the first reason given,
or first motivation given, to circumcise the hearts and to cease
stiffening the necks. God's love for the fathers and his choice of
their descendants after them should cause them to humble themselves,
no longer being stubborn and rebellious.
It is the
same for God's people today. As we consider God's love for us, it
should motivate us to humble ourselves before God, to cease our
stubborn and rebellious ways in holding onto sin against the will of
the one who loves us so.
10:16 – Circumcise your
heart
Leviticus 26:40-42 [40] “‘If
they confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, in
their trespass which they trespassed against me, and also that,
because they walked contrary to me, [41] I also walked contrary to
them, and brought them into the land of their enemies; if then
their uncircumcised heart is humbled, and they then accept the
punishment of their iniquity; [42] then I will remember my covenant
with Jacob; and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant
with Abraham; and I will remember the land.
Deuteronomy 30:1-10 [1] It shall
happen, when all these things have come on you, the blessing and the
curse, which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind
among all the nations, where Yahweh your God has driven you, [2] and
return to Yahweh your God, and obey his voice according to all that I
command you this day, you and your children, with all your heart, and
with all your soul; [3] that then Yahweh your God will release you
from captivity, have compassion on you, and will return and gather
you from all the peoples where Yahweh your God has scattered you. [4]
If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of the heavens, from
there Yahweh your God will gather you, and from there he will bring
you back. [5] Yahweh your God will bring you into the land which your
fathers possessed, and you will possess it. He will do you good, and
increase your numbers more than your fathers. [6] Yahweh your God
will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love
Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you
may live. [7] Yahweh your God will put all these curses on your
enemies, and on those who hate you, who persecuted you. [8] You shall
return and obey the voice of Yahweh, and do all his commandments
which I command you this day. [9] Yahweh your God will make you
plenteous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in
the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground, for
good; for Yahweh will again rejoice over you for good, as he rejoiced
over your fathers; [10] if you will obey Yahweh your God’s voice,
to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this
book of the law; if you turn to Yahweh your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul.
Jeremiah 6:10-11 [10] To whom
shall I speak and testify, that they may hear? Behold, their ear
is uncircumcised, and they can’t listen. Behold, Yahweh’s
word has become a reproach to them. They have no delight in it. [11]
Therefore I am full of the wrath of Yahweh. I am weary with holding
in. “Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the assembly
of young men together; for even the husband with the wife shall be
taken, the aged with him who is full of days.
Jeremiah 9:25-26 [25] Behold,
the days come, says Yahweh, that I will punish all those who are
circumcised in uncircumcision: [26] Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and
the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that have the corners of
their hair cut off, who dwell in the wilderness; for all the nations
are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised
in heart.
Ezekiel 11:16-21 [16] Therefore
say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Whereas I have removed them far off
among the nations, and whereas I have scattered them among the
countries, yet will I be to them a sanctuary for a little while in
the countries where they have come. [17] Therefore say, Thus says the
Lord Yahweh: I will gather you from the peoples, and assemble you out
of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you
the land of Israel. [18] They shall come there, and they shall take
away all the detestable things of it and all its abominations from
there. [19] I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit
within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh,
and will give them a heart of flesh; [20] that they may walk in
my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them: and they shall be
my people, and I will be their God. [21] But as for them whose heart
walks after the heart of their detestable things and their
abominations, I will bring their way on their own heads, says the
Lord Yahweh.
In verses
16-20 it appears there is no condition for God's work in verse 19
being done. However, verses 21 seems to show that there is in fact a
condition. If those whose heart walks after the heart of their
detestable things will not receive a heart of flesh, then it seems
reasonable to understand that it is those whose heart has turned from
their detestable things who will receive a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26
Ezekiel 44:6-9 [6] You shall
tell the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord
Yahweh: you house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your
abominations, [7] in that you have brought in foreigners,
uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my
sanctuary, to profane it, even my house, when you offer my bread, the
fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant, to add to all
your abominations. [8] You have not performed the duty of my holy
things; but you have set performers of my duty in my sanctuary for
yourselves. [9] Thus says the Lord Yahweh, No foreigner,
uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into
my sanctuary, of any foreigners who are among the children of
Israel.
Acts 7:51 “You stiff-necked
and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the
Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do.
Romans 2:25-29 [25] For
circumcision indeed profits, if you are a doer of the law, but if you
are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become
uncircumcision. [26] If therefore the uncircumcised keep the
ordinances of the law, won’t his uncircumcision be accounted as
circumcision? [27] Won’t the uncircumcision which is by nature, if
it fulfills the law, judge you, who with the letter and circumcision
are a transgressor of the law? [28] For he is not a Jew who is one
outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the
flesh; [29] but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision
is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose
praise is not from men, but from God.
Colossians 2:9-13 [9] For in him
all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily, [10] and in him you
are made full, who is the head of all principality and power; [11] in
whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with
hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in
the circumcision of Christ; [12] having been buried with him in
baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the
working of God, who raised him from the dead. [13] You were dead
through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made
you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
10:17 – God is almighty
God and is an impartial judge.
This seems
to be another reason or motivation to circumcise our hearts and no
longer stiffen our necks. Before this exhortation, God's love is
spoken of as a reason or motivation. After this exhortation, the
coming judgment before the impartial judge is spoken of as a reason
or motivation.
In this
case, the fear of God and the coming judgment should motivate us to
circumcise our hearts and humble ourselves.
Both
motivations are given, and both are important. Each has a place in
the Christian's life. May the Lord grant that we understand both his
love for us and the awfulness of the coming judgment. Both should
cause us to flee unrighteousness, and pursue God. Both should teach
us of the goodness of God.
As both
motivations are given time and again, we should learn to value both,
and to lay hold of both. For those who know the fear of God, meditate
on his love. For those who know the love of God, consider the fear of
the Lord. Both are an important part of the Christian's spiritual
armor.
2 Chronicles 19:7 Now therefore
let the fear of Yahweh be on you. Take heed and do it: for there is
no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking
of bribes.”
2 Corinthians 5:9-11 [9]
Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be
well pleasing to him. [10] For we must all be revealed before the
judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the
body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. [11]
Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are
revealed to God; and I hope that we are revealed also in your
consciences.
Galatians 6:3-5 [3] For if a man
thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives
himself. [4] But let each man test his own work, and then he will
take pride in himself and not in his neighbor. [5] For each man will
bear his own burden.
10:18 – Widow and
orphan
Isaiah 1:16-17 [16] Wash
yourselves, make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings
from before my eyes. Cease to do evil. [17] Learn to do well. Seek
justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge the fatherless. Plead for the
widow.”
James 1:27 Pure religion and
undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless
and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the
world.
10:19 – Love the
foreigner
10:20 – Cling to him
Joshua 23:6-8 [6] “Therefore
be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book
of the law of Moses, that you not turn aside from it to the right
hand or to the left; [7] that you not come among these nations, these
that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their
gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow down
yourselves to them; [8] but hold fast to Yahweh your God, as
you have done to this day.
Acts 11:22-23 [22] The report
concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in
Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch, [23] who,
when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He
exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near
to the Lord.
Acts 11:22-23 [KJV] [22] Then
tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in
Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as
Antioch. [23] Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was
glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would
cleave unto the Lord.
10:20 – Swear by his
name
As God's
people swear by his name, and prove trustworthy, faithful and true,
then God's name will be honored among all men as they hear of those
who swear by God's name. This will serve ultimately to the salvation
of all men.
[*MHCC*] - (Matthew Henry Concise Commentary) Deuteronomy 10:12-22
12-22 We are here taught our duty to
God in our principles and our practices. We must fear the Lord our
God. We must love him, and delight in communion with him. We must
walk in the ways in which he has appointed us to walk. We must serve
him with all our heart and soul. What we do in his service we must do
cheerfully, and with good will. We must keep his commandments. There
is true honour and pleasure in obedience. We must give honour to God;
and to him we must cleave, as one we love and delight in, trust in,
and from whom we have great expectations. We are here taught our duty
to our neighbour. God's common gifts to mankind oblige us to honour
all men. And those who have themselves been in distress, and have
found mercy with God, should be ready to show kindness to those who
are in the like distress. We are here taught our duty to ourselves.
Circumcise your hearts. Cast away all corrupt affections and
inclinations, which hinder you from fearing and loving God. By nature
we do not love God. This is original sin, the source whence our
wickedness proceeds; and the carnal mind is enmity against God, for
it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be; so then
they that are in the flesh cannot please God, #Ro 8:5-9|. Let us,
without delay or reserve, come and cleave to our reconciled God in
Jesus Christ, that we may love, serve, and obey him acceptably, and
be daily changed into his image, from glory to glory, by the Spirit
of the Lord. Consider the greatness and glory of God; and his
goodness and grace; these persuade us to our duty. Blessed Spirit! Oh
for thy purifying, persevering, and renewing influences, that being
called out of the state of strangers, such as our fathers were, we
may be found among the number of the children of God, and that our
lot may be among the saints.
