KEEP AND DO. Deuteronomy 4 The law He gave is the core of the covenant God made with Israel. He established a clear standard. Moses reviewed the terms of the agreement carefully with the next generation of Israelites so everyone would understand what would happen if they failed to follow the Lord's commands, as well as the blessings they would receive if they obeyed the law.
It is part of a leader's role to equip those they lead with the necessary training and encouragement to motivate them to keep going, even when faced with difficulties or opposition. Obeying God in our daily lives and work becomes a counter-cultural force that reveals God’s intention in society and government. That alone is enough motivation to pass on to our families from one generation to the next the works of God in our lives. The Bible provides us with many examples of what God has done for His people, and we need to share these with our children.
Share with them instances when God has answered our prayers. Remind them of moments when our consciences were pricked and we realized we were acting on our own instead of trusting and obeying God. Talk about the blessings we received when God's peace rules in our hearts. Explain how God has revealed Himself to us without visual images. Clarify why God can’t reveal Himself visually when we are in these earthly bodies. Describe what it means to be made in the image of God. Explain why God judges disobedient and rebellious people and why holiness and sin cannot coexist. Talk about why creation suffers today as a testimony to human disobedience.
It is possible for us to know what is right, define truth, and pass it on, yet fail to do so. Engaging in religious rituals that appear close to God's will is not the same as truly fulfilling them. Even if we can perfectly imitate what God desires, doing so with resentment or carelessness does not truly reflect doing God's will from the heart. Sometimes, the humble saint is limited by age, illness, or other imposed restrictions. But when they draw near to the Lord, seek to obey His commandments, and do them to the best of their ability, they are accepted because of the perfect acceptance of their Lord.
Taking away from or adding to God's Word is a presumptuous act, as it involves usurping God's authority over His revealed will. Removing parts and considering them unimportant would leave God's Word incomplete. Adding human opinions to God's commands would introduce personal biases that can vary with each individual. This could burden some and weaken the divine authority of Scripture. Religious groups have incorporated traditions from different cultures, leading to confusion. How often do we hear the question, "Which is right?" When human laws are added to God's Word, it challenges God's sovereignty.
The Lord Jesus Christ condemned the Pharisees and other groups during His time here for doing exactly that. His explanation of the law's meaning was not an addition but was intended to help people understand the true purpose and meaning of the law. The written law reveals what sin is. Humanity's way of life is guided by laws to prevent confusion and conflict. Obeying God's laws helps us identify our sins and understand how sin must be addressed. The standard of righteousness set by the law clearly indicates what is right and wrong in a conscientious person's life.
God's law first reveals what God is like morally. Then, it shows us who we are and the kind of life God expects from us. Who God is, who we are, what God wants from us, and how He expects us to live are all reflected in the moral and ceremonial parts of the law. It is true that our relationship with God doesn't depend on us perfectly keeping the entire law. The righteous standard of the law is beyond our human ability to uphold perfectly for a lifetime without failing once. However, the principles and truth of the law apply to people everywhere. There are rules to live by, and God placed them in every person's heart and conscience. Every culture has some standard of conduct to prevent chaos and violence. When these laws are broken, wars happen, moral standards are abandoned, and people live in fear.
When there is respect and obedience to laws, God is honored. Giving thanks for forgiveness, worshiping God, and experiencing joy in fellowship with others is valued because of the accepted sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf. This leads to reverence for God, respect for others, and happiness that comes with living righteously. The law makes us aware of our sin and God's holiness, and shows that the law condemns us, but we are motivated to accept God's forgiveness and love because Christ fulfilled the law.
The upcoming generations of God's people need to learn the Word of God early in life to understand how to avoid the condemnation of the broken law. Passing on truth from one generation to the next is the duty of parents and grandparents. When parents stray from the path taught by the Bible and choose a different way than their own parents, the grandparents will then have little to say, and the younger generations will accept that. The main thing we can offer in instruction, that will be at least somewhat accepted, is our different but consistent lifestyle. We can show our convictions and the scriptures by which we live.
Sometimes, the stories of life and what we have learned from our experiences are politely listened to. They at least provide information even if the truths they contain are dismissed as old and irrelevant. Over a lifetime, we have proven God's faithfulness to us as we have sought to serve Him according to the teachings of the scripture. Beyond that point, we must leave the results to God and trust Him to do what we cannot.
For those who know what is right scripturally and choose not to do it, there is greater condemnation than for those whose idols seem real to them. The idols—the things that we think about most—people create have no value and are wrong, regardless of who submits to idol worship. They are condemned because they fail to obey the law written on the tables of their hearts, but their condemnation is not as severe as for those who know who God is and what He has done for them and deliberately turn away from Him. Ignorance is not an excuse because "God is not far from every one of us, for in Him we live and move, and have our being."
God has clearly revealed Himself to us through the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is only one true God, and there is no valid reason for anyone not to turn to Him. Creation, conscience, His goodness toward us, the lives of Christians, pain and suffering, dreams—all these and more silently testify to His existence. The prophetic unfolding of Israel's history, the Bible, the spoken teachings of believers in Christ, and the Person and work of Jesus Christ leave everyone without an excuse for not believing in Him.
The moral perfections of God separate people from Him without a sinless substitute to mediate and provide reconciliation. In the Old Testament, sinless animals offered temporary atonement. Now, through our Lord Jesus Christ, the Perfect Man and sinless Substitute for us has been provided. Moses' anger and self-will kept him from entering the promised land. Any form of idolatry we might have is the reason for the "consuming fire" of God's holiness to bring judgment of one kind or another.
His jealousy for righteousness is justified and fitting. He will defend God's word and honor because these reflect His character as revealed to us. The law of God sets the terms of our acceptance, and for that demand, He is jealous. That cannot be compromised, nor will it ever be. He is the Lord God Almighty, and His glory will never be given to another.
We can know God when we seek Him with our hearts and souls. We are accepted when we find Him through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. This is not because we have tried to keep the law or because we falsely believe He will compromise His character and overlook our sin, but because we have claimed the provision of the acceptable Substitute for ourselves. With gratitude and devotion, we come to Him and "believe that He is, and is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
Once that personal relationship with God is established, we find He is there to guide us, meet our needs, and provide us with an understanding we do not have naturally. He loves us unconditionally. It is His divine right to have authority over us, and He does so with benevolent mercy. It is of "His mercies we are not consumed."
The purpose of the laws and regulations that God gave to the nation of Israel was for their good. If they followed and obeyed what He said, they would prosper. If they did not, their lack of faith in Him would lead to consequences. When a nation recognizes God as its Lord, there are great blessings. His laws were made for their health, allowing certain foods to be eaten and others to be forbidden. Just laws regarding citizens' behavior were established so there would be contentment and fairness. When mercy is shown, there is prosperity. Covetousness brings loss. Righteous laws promote righteous living by righteous people when they are obeyed. God's laws are always just.
In our time, the laws we once lived by have been changed so that people only thrive financially and, to some extent, socially. They are becoming more morally and spiritually corrupt. Good laws that are obeyed elevate a nation. When sin is permitted and justified as acceptable "by the majority opinion," it is a disgrace to all people. The comfort and awareness of God's presence lead to spiritual prosperity. There will always be difficulties, trials, and temptations in a world where God is not honored. Believers will go against the ways of the world. But we must "set our affections on things above, not on things on the earth." In this way, what we know is from God and is His will; we will keep and do.