Deuteronomy 10:1-22 • Faithful God, Devoted People

HOOK

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Review & Overview

1. The Theme & Purpose

“Beware lest you forget” is a key theme in Deuteronomy.

Moses emphasizes the danger of forgetfulness because it leads to arrogance and disobedience. Israel needs remember two things:

(1) when they prosper, it is God who has caused it, and

(2) If and when they disobey God, He will discipline them as He did when the previous generation failed to believe Him.

Deuteronomy is a call to obedience as a condition to blessing.

God has always been faithful to His covenant and He now extends it to the new generation.

So, Deuteronomy is like a renewal contract document that uses the same format as Near Eastern treaties in the time of Moses.

Scholars have found parallels between Deuteronomy and other contracts that were found from the ancient Near East, like the Hittite Empire during this time.

So what we have here is a contract between God and His people.

2. Previous Study’s Review

In chp.9: Moses Recounted how Rebellious the Children of Israel were:

They rebelled against God’s command to enter the Land because of the Giants…         

They rebelled against God’s law with the Golden Calf…      

They rebelled against God’s provision in complaining about the Quail…

We saw how we need to be careful not to condemn them too quickly…    because    we have the same problem…

We, like the Israelites are stiffed neck…         rebellious…               &           stubborn…            hello…

2. Current Study’s Overview

That brings us to chapter 10 and our study for today.

The Title of Today’s Message is: Faithful God, Devoted People

Because… Have you ever noticed how relationships are sustained not just by big promises, but by everyday faithfulness?

A marriage isn’t built in a moment at the altar — it’s proven in the day-to-day choices to love and honor.

Friendships don’t last because of a single good memory, but because both people keep showing up, even when it’s inconvenient.

Here in Deuteronomy 10, we see that same dynamic in our relationship with God — only on a far greater scale.

He’s the God who never breaks His covenant, even when His people fail.

And because He’s faithful, He calls His people to live in faithful devotion to Him.

And here’s the question: If God is this faithful to us, how could we not give Him our whole hearts in return?

If your taking notes, were gonna see that Moses deals with 4 things:

1. The Second Pair of Tablets Vs. 1-5

1.1 Vs. 1a

In Ex.32: Moses received the first tablets of stone, the 10 Commandments… 

he came down the mountain and saw the people worshipping the golden calf threw down the tablets & broke them

Then in Ex.34 Moses was commanded to make a Second Pair of Tablets…       it was at that time…

1.2 Vs. 1b-5

Here Moses looks forward to the building of the Ark of the Covenant, that wooden box that held the 10 Ten Commandments… 

Because it wouldn’t be built until Ex.37:  a while after the 10 Commandments were given… 

According to… there were 3 items in the Ark:  

Hebrews 9:4 NKJV

4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;

The 10 Commandments were still in the Ark during the reign of King Solomon in 970 BC…    and apparently right up until the 16th king of Judah, Josiah, 640 BC…      

2 Chronicles 35:3 NKJV

3 Then he said to the Levites who taught all Israel, who were holy to the Lord: “Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, built. It shall no longer be a burden on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and His people Israel.

But after that, we don’t know?

2. The Separating of the Levites Vs. 6-9

2.1 Vs. 6

Moserah is the area of Mt. Hor, by the boarder of Edom… 

In Num.33:38-39 that is where Aaron died in the 40th year after the exodus…  he was 123 years old…

What’s sad is that Aaron wouldn’t be able to enter the Promised Land because he didn’t believe God… he believed the 10 spies with the bad report…   

Hebrews 3:19 NKJV

19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

And subsequently his third son Eleazar would take his place…

2.2 Vs. 7

These were places in the Wilderness where the Israelites camped…      

QUESTION: Why mention these places…  Why record the past?

APPLICATION: I think it’s a good idea to look at the past and see where we’ve been…     

to check it in light of where we are now…         as it pertains to our spiritual pilgrimage…         our progress as believers…

APPLICATION: Are we repeating the same mistakes of the past…   or  are we moving forward…  growing… maturing…

2.3 Vs. 8-9

At that time, when they were camped at Mt. Sinai, the Levites were separated unto the Lord…   

in Ex.32:6 after the golden calf incident Moses said, whoever is for the Lord come to me & all the Levites rallied to him…  

& in Num.3: they were confirmed as those that God choose to minister to Him & to bless His name… and because of that the Lord is their inheritance…

APPLICATION: Beautiful picture for us…   because we too are to be separated unto the Lord…    set apart for the Lord.

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

2 Corinthians 6:17 NKJV

17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”

So we too are to minister to the Lord by ministering to others…         &        bless His name…   

And understand that the Lord is our inheritance…       not the world or the things in the world…

3. Staying in the Mountain Vs. 10-11

3.1 Vs. 10

The first time Moses came down from Mt. Sinai was in Ex.32: he spent 40 day & 40 nights there…

The second time was in Ex.34:  when he spent another 40 days & 40 nights up there…       

what was he doing…             he was fasting & praying for the people…        mediating on behalf of the people…

According to vs.10b the Lord heard & answered his prayers by not destroying the people… 

And such a beautiful picture looking forward to Jesus:   

Hebrews 8:6 NKJV

6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

1 Timothy 2:5 NKJV

5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

Heb.7:25 He lives to make intercession for us…  that we would not be destroyed…

3.2 Vs. 11

Thus beginning their 40 year journey in the wilderness…

Apart from the Lord though…     

we too are wandering in the wilderness…      a dry & deserted place…

4. State of the People Vs. 12-22

4.1 Vs. 12-13

This is more of a rhetorical question…          because Moses only lists 5 things…

When in fact there are 613 does & don’ts in the O.T….          365 don’ts…      &     248 dos… 

 Jesus clarifies what God requires from us in…

Matthew 22:37 NKJV

37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

Love God & Love others, all the law & prophets hang on these 2 commandments…     

Romans 13:10 NKJV

10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

4.2 Vs. 14

Moses wanted them to remember that they Belong to the Lord…

Psalm 24:1 NKJV

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.

everything & everyone belongs to God…

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NKJV

19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

4.3 Vs. 15-16

God in His infinite sovereignty choose the Jewish people as His own special people…    according to Deut.9:5-6 it had nothing to do with their righteousness or goodness…

As a result of that God not only wanted external obedience…     cutting away the foreskin of the flesh…        but             internal obedience…      cutting away the foreskin of the heart…

You see, they had a heart problem…    and, so do we…     

Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV

9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

but    Jesus Christ can give us a new heart… 

Ezekiel 36:26 NKJV

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Transforming us from the inside out…

4.4 Vs. 17-19

Moses is saying, here are some attributes of God…      be like Him…   good example for us to follow…

John 13:15 I have given you an example, do as I have done…            

1 Peter 2:21 Christ is our example…   

Matt.11:29 take My yoke and learn of Me…   

4.5 Vs. 20-21

In other words, let your whole life involve & revolve around the Lord…   Put Him first…

Good word for us…           putting Jesus first in our lives…    

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

4.6 Vs. 22

This is what the Lord Promised back in Gen.15:5, Deut.1:10,  Point, God keeps His Promises.…

2 Peter 1:4 exceedingly great & precious promises…    

2 Corinthians 1:20 NKJV

20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

We can rest in the fact that God will keep His promises…           because He is faithful… 

ENDING….