Chapter 10 continues the conversation Moses is having with the Israelites from chapter 9. Moses revealed in chapter 9 that he smashed the tablets in anger, and then prayed, again, for forty days and nights, pleading with the Lord not to destroy the people of Israel, and once again the Lord yielded to his pleas.
Moses continues, “At that time the Lord said to me, “Prepare two stone tablets like the first ones, and make a sacred chest of wood to keep them in. Return to me on the mountain, and I will write on the tablets the same words that were on the ones you smashed. Then place the tablets in the sacred chest--the Ark of the Covenant.” (Deuteronomy 10:1-2)
Moses did as God commanded and he placed the tablets in the Ark where they still remain.
Wow…the grace and mercy God continually gives to us!
Moses reminds the people that they left Mount Sinai at this time, and later Aaron died and his son Eleazar became the high priest. He also reminded them that the Lord assigned the Levites to carry the Ark of the Covenant, and that is why the Levites have no inheritance of land because the Lord himself is their inheritance.
Moses concludes this chapter with a call to love and obey the Lord. “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires you to fear him, to live according to his will, to love and worship him with all your heart and soul, and to obey the Lord’s commands and laws that I am giving you today for your own good. The highest heavens and the earth and everything in it all belong to the Lord your God. Yet the Lord chose your ancestors as the objects of his love. And he chose you, their descendants, above every other nation, as is evident today. Therefore, cleanse your sinful hearts and stop being stubborn.” (Deuteronomy 10:12-16)
Moses continues, “The Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and takes no bribes. He gives justice to orphans and widows. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. You, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. You must fear the Lord your God and worship him and cling to him. Your oaths must be in his name alone. He is your God, the one who is worthy of your praise, the one who has done mighty miracles that you yourselves have seen. When your ancestors went down into Egypt, there were only seventy of them. But now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky!” (Deuteronomy 10:17-22)
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Help us to fulfill our requirements and live according to your will and not ours, loving you with all of our heart and soul. We love you!
“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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