Deuteronomy 4: Obey the Lord

Deuteronomy 4: Moses Commands Obedience / Cities of Refuge East of the Jordan / Transition to the second address

Moses' address to the Israelites, which began in Deuteronomy 1 and continued in chapters 2 and 3, continues here today. Moses has wrapped up the historical part, reiterating the successes and failures of the Israelites (but mostly failures). Israel has been a bit remiss in following the Lord. Moses therefore now delivers a message commanding obedience.

Moses Commands Obedience: Deuteronomy 4.1-40
What is God? Don't worry - I am not getting existential on you. I would just like to point out that this section explores many ways in which to understand - and not to understand - God.

Moses asks Israel to heed the commandments that are being given, and to not add or subtract any of them. The people saw firsthand in the Baal of Peor incident that the Lord will discriminate in killing certain Israelites that do not obey his commandments.

The commandments give the Israelites wisdom and discernment; others who hear the laws will say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!" (Deut 4.6). Moses rhetorically asks what other nation has so near and personal a god, and what other nation has such great statutes. But the people must not forget these commandments, and how the Israelites once stood before God at Horeb (they are standing before God at Horeb) and saw the blazing mountains and dark clouds and heard the Lord speaking out of the fire. It seems that the Lord speaks through something like a volcano: a blazing mountain and thick cloud and noise. The people do not see the embodiment of the - they only hear his words. And the covenant, the ten commandments which the Israelites are charged to observe is written by the Lord on two stone tablets and taught by Moses.

The question of what God looks like is left unanswered. But we do know that guessing is a bad idea; the Lord commands that because no form appeared at Horeb, no one knows what the Lord looks like and no one should attempt to reproduce his image in an idol. There shall be no likeness, whether male or female, animal or bird or fish. The Lord is not the sun, moon, or stars; in fact, the Lord made these for all humanity. But the Israelites - they are the Lord's chosen people, brought out of the iron-smelter of Egypt and in the Lord's own possession.

Moses laments that he will die for the congregation's mistrust of the Lord, so they should be careful not to forget their covenant with God or make an idol. "For the Lord your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God" (Deut. 4.24). The Lord can easily destroy anyone (or anything) he desires.

Then Moses delivers a prophetic message to the people. If their ancestors become complacent in following the Lord and begin to worship an idol, they will not live long in the promised land. The Lord will scatter the people, and only a few will remain. Away from the promised land Israel will "serve other gods made by human hands, objects of wood and stone that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell" (Deut. 4.28). In fact, this does happen in the future. But the people will eventually return to the Lord. In fact, this happens as well. And the Lord (who cannot be portrayed but who is able to see, hear, eat, and smell) will always keep Israel as his people:

"Because the Lord your God is a merciful God, he will neither abandon you nor destroy you; he will not forget the covenant with your ancestors that he sword to them" (Deut. 4.31)

God is great; the greatest thing in all history. God allows people to hear his voice from a fire and live. God takes a nation for himself, transports them, defends them, leads them by signs and terrifying displays of power. And there is no other besides him. It is for the love of ancestors that the Lord continues to protect Israel. It is also in fulfillment of the covenant.

Here God shifts from monolatry to monotheism. Before it was possible that more than one God existed and that God was simply the greatest. Here it is specifically stated:

So acknowledge today and take to heart that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. Keep his statutes and his commandments, which I am commanding you today for your own well-being and that of your descendants after you, so that you may long remain in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time.
(Deut. 4.39-40)

Cities of Refuge East of the Jordan: Deuteronomy 4.41-43
Moses designates the cities of refuge that lie east of the Jordan. Bezer belongs to the Reubenites, Bezer belongs to the Reubenites, and Golan belongs to the Manassites.

Transition to the Second Address: Deuteronomy 4.44-49
An editorial note wraps up the first four chapters as "the law that Moses set before the Israelites" as they waited beyond the Jordan, "under the slopes of Pisgah," where poignantly Moses saw, but was not allowed to enter, the promised land.

Tomorrow: The (second) ten commandments.