Deuteronomy 4:23-27

23 Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden.
24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
25 After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time—if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing evil in the eyes of the LORD your God and arousing his anger,
26 I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed.
27 The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you.

Deuteronomy 4:23-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 4

This chapter contains an exhortation to Israel to keep the commands, statutes, and judgments of God, urged from the superior excellency of them to those of all other nations, De 4:1-8, from the manner in which they were delivered, out of the midst of fire, by a voice of words, but no similitude seen, De 4:9-15, and particularly the Israelites are cautioned against idolatry, from the consideration of the goodness of God to them, in bringing them out of Egypt, De 4:16-20, and the rather Moses is urgent upon them to be diligent in their obedience to the laws of God, because he should quickly be removed from them, De 4:21-24, and should they be disobedient to them, it would provoke the Lord to destroy them, or to carry them captive into other lands, De 4:25-28 though even then, if they repented and sought the Lord, and became obedient, he would be merciful to them, and not forsake them, De 4:29-31 and they are put in mind again of the amazing things God had done for them, in speaking to them out of fire, and they alive; in bringing them out of another nation, and driving out other nations to make room for them; all which he improves, as so many arguments to move them to obedience to the divine commands, De 4:32-40 and then notice is taken of the three cities of refuge, separated on this side Jordan, De 4:41-43, and the chapter is concluded with observing, that this is the law, and these the testimonies, Moses declared and repeated to the children of Israel in the country of Sihon and Og, who were delivered into their hands, and their lands possessed by them, which laid them under fresh obligations to yield obedience to God, De 4:44-49.

Cross References 12

  • 1. ver 9; ver 9,16
  • 2. S Exodus 20:4
  • 3. S Exodus 15:7; S Exodus 19:18; Exodus 24:17; Deuteronomy 9:3; Hebrews 12:29
  • 4. S Exodus 20:5
  • 5. ver 16
  • 6. ver 23
  • 7. 1 Kings 11:6; 1 Kings 15:26; 1 Kings 16:25,30; 2 Kings 17:2,17; 2 Kings 21:2
  • 8. Genesis 31:50; Proverbs 14:5
  • 9. Deuteronomy 30:18-19; Deuteronomy 31:28; Deuteronomy 32:1; Psalms 50:4; Isaiah 1:2; Isaiah 34:1; Jeremiah 6:19; Micah 6:2
  • 10. Deuteronomy 6:15; Deuteronomy 7:4
  • 11. S Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 28:36,64; Deuteronomy 29:28; 1 Kings 8:46; 2 Kings 17:6; Psalms 44:11; Psalms 106:27; Jeremiah 3:8; Micah 1:16; Nehemiah 1:8
  • 12. Isaiah 17:6; Isaiah 21:17; Obadiah 1:5
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