Deuteronomy 26:16-19 - A Life Totally Dominated by God

Introduction

Israel’s first pledge of allegiance to YHWH at Sinai (Exod. 24:7)

A new pledge now required by this new generation of Israelites about to enter the Promised Land

In response to YHWH’s grace and in expectation of His blessing, Israel was to be a people set apart YHWH alone.

Exposition

Israel declares (vv. 16-17)

Deuteronomy 26:16–17 NASB95

16 “This day the Lord your God commands you to do these statutes and ordinances. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul. 17 “You have today declared the Lord to be your God, and that you would walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments and His ordinances, and listen to His voice.

commands = orders you; these are laws not suggestions

statutes = prescriptions; prescribed courses of action in general circumstances and sometimes in specific circumstances? (Merriam-Webster: law or decree made by a sovereign or by God) rules?

ordinances = decisions; verdicts rendered given general and specific circumstances? (Merriam-Webster: an authoritative order, a religious rite) rituals? rites?

do them

be careful to do them

be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul

an example of the opposite

Genesis 6:5 NASB95

5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Psalm 14:1–3 NASB95

1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good. 2 The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.

Romans 1:28–32 NASB95

28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

This is the world, but it wasn’t to be Israel. Israel’s heart, Israel’s soul was to be filled with joyful, loving obedience to YHWH who had saved them by His grace.

What God commands in v. 16, Israel declares in v. 17.

This is the “if you will, then I will” from the covenant at Sinai.

YHWH would be Israel’s God.

Thus, Israel would…

…walk in His ways…

The New Bible Dictionary, Third Edition Walk

More frequently it stands for the whole manner of a man’s life and conduct,

…and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His ordinances…

keep possession of; continually observe or obey

…and listen to His voice.

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 8085. שָׁמַע

to hear intelligently (often with impl. of attention, obedience,

His ways are found in His statutes, commandments, and ordinances. In His statutes, commandments, and ordinances, Israel would hear the voice of God.

YHWH declares (vv. 18-19)

Deuteronomy 26:18–19 NASB95

18 “The Lord has today declared you to be His people, a treasured possession, as He promised you, and that you should keep all His commandments; 19 and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, for praise, fame, and honor; and that you shall be a consecrated people to the Lord your God, as He has spoken.”

As His people, Israel will be…

…treasured—a treasured possession, just as YHWH promised; a promise contingent upon and requiring Israel to keep all His commandments

this is not unfair or unrealistic; a husband treasures his wife, but that treasuring is contingent upon her faithfulness and he has every reason to expect and even demand faithfulness from her

…exalted—YHWH will set Israel high above all nations; He has made them all but Israel will be exalted for praise, fame, and honor

Does this mean that Israel will praised, famed, and honored or that YHWH will be praised, famed, and honored? Both.

Jeremiah 13:11 NASB95

11 ‘For as the waistband clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole household of Israel and the whole household of Judah cling to Me,’ declares the Lord, ‘that they might be for Me a people, for renown, for praise and for glory; but they did not listen.’

Jeremiah 33:9 NASB95

9 ‘It will be to Me a name of joy, praise and glory before all the nations of the earth which will hear of all the good that I do for them, and they will fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace that I make for it.’

Israel’s exaltation would not be an end in itself. YHWH would be exalted so YHWH would be exalted through them among the other nations.

…consecrated—a consecrated people to the Lord your God, as He has spoken.

Israel would be a people set apart rather than blending in.

I’m I set apart or am I blending in?

Do I live differently?

Do I think differently?

Do I feel differently?

Do I speak differently?

Am I different?

If so, in what way?

The point isn’t to be weird but to be totally given to God.

Illustration

world of broken allegiances

college swears allegiance to an athlete

athlete swears allegiance to a college

but what if the college finds a potentially better player next year?

what if the athlete doesn’t get the desired playing time?

will the sworn allegiance last?

God will never His allegiance to us.

In Christ, we will never violate our allegiance to Him.

Even if we are faithless, He is faithful.

He is faithful.

Christ in us, we are faithful.

Blessed and agreeing to obey but failing to do so (intentionally failing to do so)… but still receiving the benefits of the agreement because of grace.

Application

The Book of Deuteronomy D. Conclusion to the Declaration of the Law (26:16–19)

The Israelites declare that the Lord is their God; their declaration commits them to a life totally dominated by God.

Every life is dominated by something. What is your life dominated by?

Work.

Family.

Pleasure.

Covenant promises now ours in Christ

1 Peter 2:9–12 NASB95

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1 Peter 4:16 NASB95

16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

Conclusion

“This day” in v. 16 is emphasized. The explanation and application of the Mosaic Law in the previous chapters had been discussed in the future tense. In other words, their discussion was related to the time when Israel had entered, possessed, and finally dwelt in the Promised Land. But “this day” in v. 16 means that it is time to start living as the people of God today.

But warnings in Deuteronomy 27-28.

What warnings for us if we abandon Christ?