Deuteronomy 4 KEEP AND DO The heart of the covenant God made with the nation of Israel is the law He gave. He set the unmistakable standard. Moses went over the terms of the contract carefully with this next generation of Israelites so all the people of Israel would know what would happen if they failed to keep the commands of the Lord, and also the blessings they would have if they kept and did what the law said. It is possible for us to know what is right and be able to define, and pass on, truth, and not do it. To go through religious forms that seem fairly close to what God intends, is not what it means to do them. Even if we are able to exactly duplicate what God intends from us, but to do it in resentment or carelessly, is not what doing the will of God from the heart is like. There are times when the feeble saint is restricted by age, infirmity or some imposed limitation. But when they draw near to the Lord and seek to keep His commandments and do them to the best of their ability, they are accepted because of the perfect acceptance of their Lord.
To take away from God's Word or add to it, is a presumptuous act on the part of one who is usurping authority over the revealed will of God. Anything taken away and considered unimportant, would make God's Word incomplete. Any additions we might make to God's commands and His Word, would impose a human element that could change with each individual's opinion. It would make it a burden to some and would undermine the divine authority of the scripture. Traditions of one culture or another have been added by religious groups and confusion has been the result. How often we hear the comment, "Which one is right?" When human laws are added to the Word of God, challenge to God's sovereign authority is made.
The Lord Jesus Christ condemned the Pharisees and other groups when He was here for doing that very thing. His clarification of the meaning of the law were not additions but were to aid people in understanding what the true meaning of the law was and what was the purpose of the law. The written law revealed what sin is. The lifestyle of humanity is guided by laws to avoid confusion and conflict. To obey those given by God guides us by pointing out our sin and the way sin has to be dealt with. The standard of righteousness the law defines, clearly points out what is wrong and what is right in the life of a conscientious person.
God's law first of all reveals to us what God is like morally. Then it exposes us for what we are and the kind of lifestyle God expects from us. Who God is, who we are, what God intends from us and how He expects us to live are all seen in the moral and ceremonial aspects of the law. It is true that our relationship with God does not depend on us keeping the whole law perfectly. The righteous standard of the law is beyond our human ability to keep and do perfectly for a lifetime without one failure. But the principle of the law, and the truth of the law is applicable to humanity world-wide. There are rules to live by and God wrote them on the heart and conscience of every person. Every culture has some standard of conduct to prevent anarchy and terror. When those laws are broken, wars break out, moral standards are forsaken and people live in fear.
When there is respect and obedience to laws, there is appreciation for God. Thanksgiving for forgiveness, worship for God, gladness in fellowship with others is appreciated because of the accepted sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf. This results in reverence for God, respect for God and others, and joy that accompanies righteousness in life. We are made aware of our sin by the law; of the holiness of God by the law; of the fact we are condemned by the law - but we are moved to accept God's forgiveness and love because Christ fulfilled the law.
The following generations of God's people need to be taught the Word of God early in life in order to learn how to escape the condemnation of the broken law. Passing on truth from one generation to another is the responsibility of parents and grandparents. When parents deviate from the path they were taught from the Bible, and go a different way than their parents, the grandparents will then have very little to say that is accepted by the younger generations. About all that we have to give by way of instruction that will be at least in a little measure accepted, is our lifestyle that is different but consistent. We are able to express our convictions and the scriptures by which we live. Sometimes the stories of life and what we have learned by experience are politely listened to. They at least give information even if the truths they contain are ignored as ancient and irrelevant. Over a lifetime we have proved the faithfulness of God to us as we have sought to serve Him according to the teachings of the scripture. Beyond that point we have to leave the results to God and trust Him to do what we cannot do.
For those who know what is right scripturally, and choose not to do that, there is greater condemnation than for those whose idols seem real to them. The idols (the things that we think about most) people make have no value and are wrong, no matter who the person is who submits to idol worship. They are condemned because of not obeying the law written on the tables of their heart, but their condemnation is not as great as those who know who God is and what he has done for them, and deliberately turned away from Him. Ignorance is not an excuse because "God is not far from everyone of us, for in Him we live and move, and have our being." God has very plainly revealed Himself to us in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is only one true God and there is no acceptable reason for a person to not come to Him. Creation, conscience, His goodness to us, the lives of Christians, pain and suffering, dreams - all these and more give silent testimony to Him and His being. The history of Israel prophetically unfolding, the Bible, the verbal teachings of believers in Christ and the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ leave every person without an excuse for not believing in Him.
The moral perfections of God keep people separated from Him without a sinless substitute to come between and provide reconciliation. In the Old Testament sinless animals provide 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 going into the promised land. Any form of idolatry we might have is reason for the "consuming fire" of God's holiness to bring judgment of one kind or another. His jealousy for righteousness is right and appropriate. God's word and God's honor, He will defend because these reflect His character as He reveals Himself to us. The law of God states the terms of our acceptance, and for that demand, He is jealous. That is not able to be nor ever will be, compromised. He is the Lord God Almighty, and His glory will never be given to another.
We can know God when with our heart and soul we seek for Him. When we find Him through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, we are accepted. That is not because we may have tried to keep the law, or for any false notion we might have that He will compromise His character and overlook our sin, but because we have claimed for ourselves the provision of the acceptable Substitute. With gratitude and devotion, we come to Him, and "believe that He is, and is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." When that personal relationship with God has been established, we find He is there to guide us, meet our need, give us understanding that we do not have naturally, and He loves us unconditionally. It is His divine right to have authority over us, and He does this with benevolent mercy. It is of "His mercies we are not consumed."
The purpose of the laws and regulations God had when He gave these to the nation of Israel, was for their good. If they would keep and do what He said, they would prosper. If they did not, there would be consequences because of their lack of faith in Him alone. When a nation acknowledges God as their Lord, there are great blessings. His laws were designed for their health, so certain things could be eaten and other things forbidden. Just laws for the behavior of the citizens were given so there would be contentment and fairness. When mercy was shown, there was prosperity. Covetousness brought loss. Righteous laws make for righteous living by righteous people when they are obeyed. God's laws are always righteous.
In our day, laws that we once lived by, have been changed so the people only prosper financially and to an extent, socially. They are becoming more depraved morally and spiritually. Good laws that are followed exalt a nation. When sin is allowed and justified as being acceptable "by the majority opinion," it is a shame to all the people. Spiritual prosperity that is experienced is known by the comfort and consciousness of the presence of God. There will always be difficulties, trials and temptations of living in this world where God is not honored. Believers will be going contrary to the ways of the world. But we are to "set our affections on things above, not on things on the earth." In this way what we know is from God and is the will of God, we will keep and do.