Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all
your
heart
Fear him not with a servile fear, which is before dehorted from,
but with a filial fear, a reverential affection for God; and
includes the whole of religious worship, internal and external;
explained further by serving him according to the truth of his
word, and in a cordial, sincere, and affectionate manner; and if
this was wanting in them, he suggests that his prayers and
instructions would be of little avail, and not to be depended on:
for consider how great things he hath done for
you;
in bringing them out of Egypt: settling them in the land of
Canaan; giving them his laws, statutes, commands, and ordinances;
sending prophets unto them, and raising up judges for them, and
bestowing all good things on them, in nature, providence, and
grace; though some restrain this to the great thing he had done
that day, to convince them of their sin, and by which they were
returned to the Lord, namely, the violent storm of thunder; which
wonderful instance of the power of God, and token of his
displeasure against them, they were to lay up in their minds, and
not forget, that it might be a means of preserving them from sin
for the future.