Deuteronomy 4:1-7

Obedience Commanded

1 Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.
2 Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.
3 You saw with your own eyes what the LORD did at Baal Peor. The LORD your God destroyed from among you everyone who followed the Baal of Peor,
4 but all of you who held fast to the LORD your God are still alive today.
5 See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the LORD my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it.
6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
7 What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?

Deuteronomy 4:1-7 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 17

  • 1. S Leviticus 18:4
  • 2. Deuteronomy 1:3
  • 3. S Leviticus 18:5; Deuteronomy 5:33; Deuteronomy 8:1; Deuteronomy 16:20; Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Ezekiel 20:11; S Romans 10:5
  • 4. Deuteronomy 12:32; Joshua 1:7; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19
  • 5. Jeremiah 26:2
  • 6. S Leviticus 22:31
  • 7. Deuteronomy 10:12-13; Ecclesiastes 12:13
  • 8. Numbers 25:1-9; Psalms 106:28
  • 9. Psalms 71:17; Psalms 119:102; Jeremiah 32:33
  • 10. S Exodus 18:20
  • 11. S Leviticus 27:34
  • 12. Ezra 9:11
  • 13. Deuteronomy 29:9; 1 Kings 2:3
  • 14. Deuteronomy 30:19-20; Deuteronomy 32:46-47; Psalms 19:7; Psalms 119:98; Proverbs 1:7; 2 Timothy 3:15
  • 15. Job 1:1; Job 28:28; Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 2:5; Proverbs 3:7; Proverbs 9:10; Ecclesiastes 12:13; Ezekiel 5:5
  • 16. ver 32-34; 2 Samuel 7:23
  • 17. S Numbers 23:21; S Psalms 46:1; Isaiah 55:6; Acts 17:27
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