How to unstiffen your neck

Deuteronomy 10:12-22

(Did you pray yet)

(Have them go to, but don't read the text)

(Give introduction and context of your text)

Moses is speaking to the Israelites in an area close to Jericho, on the other side of the Jordan river.

The people had already wandered in the desert for 40 years, and God had already decreed that the first generation would have to die out before they could cross.

The book was almost entirely written by Moses and primarily contains his final speeches to the Israelites before his passing.

This is one of his speeches to Israel pleading with them to not forsake their covenant and to continue to be faithful to their God.

(Read the Text)

Moses, chosen by God to be the leader of the Israelites, had served God faithfully for the last 40 years. God fulfilled his promise in bringing his people out of Egypt and now what should’ve been a short journey to the land promised to the Israelites, took 40 years. God did not allow the Israelites to cross the Jordan into the land he promised them because of their unbelief and faithlessness Numbers 32:6-13.

Now in our text Moses is speaking to the Israelites and he begins by asking an interesting question. What doth the LORD thy God require of thee? What did he require of his people? The people currently were under the second covenant that God made with man, “The Mosaic Covenant”. In this was given all the ceremonial, civic, and moral laws that the people had to obey. God had purchased Israel and made this covenant with them. In Isaiah 43:3 it says For I am the LORD thy God, The Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom. God had 5 expectations from his people and Moses lists them and were going to look at them.

To fear him. To fear the LORD thy God. What does it mean to fear him? The Hebrew word used here is the word Yay-Ree, and it means to experience an emotional reaction of fear, terror, or apprehension. The LORD had done many things that are fearsome and powerful since that time. To name a few, 1)The Flood which destroyed everyone and thing that was outside of the ark. 2)The confusion at the Tower of Babel, in which God confounded the languages and dispersed every single people group to the appointed place of their dwelling on the planet.3) The Exodus, in which God demonstrated his supreme power over Egypt which no doubt would have been the superpower of that time. He sent devastating plagues that destroyed the country, caused great pain on its citizens, slayed the firstborn of every person including Pharaoh, and utterly destroyed the Hundreds if not thousands of chariots that pursued his people of which I believe can be seen to this day. God is a powerful powerful fearsome being, who is not to be taken lightly or disrespected. The Israelites were to Fear him. They were to show him the due honor he deserves. When you fear something you avoid conflict at all costs. The Israelites were to obey God, and by doing so would avoid conflict and his displeasure. Jesus said in Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. The Israelites were firstly commanded to fear the LORD. Pro 9:10 says “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

To walk in all of his ways. What does it mean to walk in all of his ways? As Image bearers of God, made in the image of God, we, as do the Israelites, share some qualities of God. Although our qualities are infinitely less than Gods and are tainted by sin, we do share some qualities. For example, Justice. God is a Just God, its one of his attributes. And Man has a sense of justice in him, an intuitive yet fallen understanding of justice and righteousness, turn to Rom 2:1 Rom 2:14-15. Generally speaking, no matter where you are in the world, its wrong to murder or lie or steal or rape. It doesnt matter what society says, it doesnt matter what the law is, everyone knows these things are wrong, we just suppress the truth in unrighteousness. The Israelites were to walk in the ways of God, that meant they were to behave themselves after the conduct of God. They were to be like him. Look at V18-19. Be kind because kindness was shown to you Moses is saying. Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

To Love him. What does it mean to love God? The Israelites in our passage were commanded to love Him. How were they supposed to Love God? Firstly by obeying him. What good is love that doesn't act? If I say honey I love you, but I keep looking at other women, my love is vain and I need to repent. If they say LORD God we love you, but we are going to continue to serve Baal, their love is vain and useless. Godly love stems out of gratitude. Consider all that God had done for the Israelites up to that time, and consider all the promises made to this particular people. Look at V15. Look also at Deuteronomy 7:6-8. The Israelites had much to love God for, and it was out of this Love that they should've obeyed his commands.

To serve him with all of your heart and soul. What does it mean to serve him? Does God need serving? Does God not own all things. He owns every atom, and he could just make us worship him, but he allows us to choose to serve him and worship him. God wants us to desire to worship him. That’s what it means to serve, its to honor and to worship. In some passages, the same word is used to mean to work or to toil. So you could say its to worship God, or work for him, to toil for him to honor him. To be pleasing to him. That’s what God wanted from his people, was for them to work and worship him. Go to 1 Sam 12:24

To Keep his commandments. What does it mean to keep his commandments? Do you want to know how we can know that God wanted his people to obey his commandments? He wrote it down. If you want to ensure that a message is understood properly and communicated, you write it down, you email it. We know that God expected and demanded that his chosen people keep his law because he commanded Moses to write it down. Now, there were different types of laws he gave. There were ceremonial, Moral, and civic laws. Some of these laws were meant to divide the Israelites from the rest of the inhabitants. Some were to serve as a way to deal with disputes and accidents, and others were they to serve as the measure of justice and righteousness when someone commited a sin and crime.

Moses clearly lays out Gods expectations for his people. He wanted them to Fear and respect him. He wanted them to walk in all of his ways and to be like him and imitators of him. He wanted them to Love him and to desire fellowship with their God and creator. He wanted them to serve him and to worship him. That they’re entire lives would be focused on him which is the only fitting act of such a God. And finally, He wanted them to keep his commandments. He gave many commandments for them to follow, but they were ALL their for their own good as we see at the end of verse 13 in our text. These commandments would keep the people separate and holy and pure and would be for their flourishing if they obeyed it.

Tragically, if you’ve ever read the rest of the book, God told Moses that they would depart from him and serve other Gods after your death. And this came true as the people went through periodic times of rebellion and idolatry for hundreds of years. When the people rebelled, persecution and judgement came on them. When they repented and turned back to God and began following him, blessings and protection.

I’d like to turn your attention now to the reasons Moses lists as to why the people should fear God and serve and love him with all of their being.

God is the creator

A. (Look at Verse 14). God made and created all things. He created every precious metal and every beautiful thing. He created every single human and therefore had ownership of it. The imagery used here is fascinating and still applicable. Heaven in many contexts of the bible is used to speak of the sky and the stars. Here, Moses doesn't just say that God is the owner of the heavens but the heaven, OF the heavens! And when I read that I think that was their way of expressing light years. But when we look at our solar system, there are planets that we can BARELY see. I tell you now, that God owns the planets that are beyond what we can even view. He made the star that no man will ever view all for his glory!

B. (Lets read Verse 15 now). Moses now contrasts that with the people of Israel. God already owned every single thing and person and star, and yet God soverignly set his love on Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and he chose their children to be his people. Out of all the different groups on the planet at that time, God chose to make the Israelites his possession and people.

So the command now goes out, Circumcise your hearts, Unstiffen your neck! Return from your rebellion, repent and come back to me.

In light of all thats been said, and all thats been done for the Israelites, he commands them to circumcise their hearts. Lets pause there. What does that mean? Circumcisson was a command that God gave to Abraham to perform on all his children and people. It was to seperate him from the other peoples of the lands, but more importantly it was a picture of something spiritual. Circumcission was an act of faith, it was a discarding of the flesh, and a newness and cleanness of the individual. Just as our hearts can be surrounded by every imaginable sin, we are commanded to be circumcised in the heart. It was a departure from their old natural identity, of which every single man comes into the world naturally and by default, and a removing of the natural because of the words of God, to be a part of the unnatural. The Israelites were to also, as it read, Be no more stiffnecked, which is why I entitled the message, how to not be stiffnecked!

Moses continues on why the Israelites were to do as God required.

2. God’s Character

A. Look at Verse 17 and 18. The people were to do as God required because of who God is. Not only did he have rights because he created it all, but he was in charge and supreme over it all. He’s the God of Gods and Lord of Lords. That isnt to say that their is a plurality of Gods in existence but in the context of the age that Moses and the Israelites lived in, 1400 BC, every nation had a “god” and they received worship. God isnt just a god in the council of other Gods, No, he’s the God of the gods, he’s the Master of all Masters, the King of kings and Lord of Lords. The “Great” God, “Mighty”, and “Terrible” or one to be feared/respected. No doubt you right now as well of the Israelites can think of some of the acts of our God that cause him to be called Great and Mighty and Terrible.

B. I find it something to rejoice over when Moses’ says God regards no persons and takes no reward. It would have been comforting to them as it is comforting to us now to know that God is not a respecter of men. I dont need to be concerned for Gods impartiality. Unlike the most powerful men in our time, God who is infinitely more powerful can not be bribed. He always does whats right! No crime his overlooked and no bribe prevent justice.

C. He executes justice for the orphan and the widow. I can’t fathom the sorrow that comes in being an orphan or widow. But I can know for a surety that it would be immensely comforting to know that if someone was the cause of it, that justice will be served one day and that God see’s all things.

3. Gods Faithfulness

A. Lets read Verses 19-22 now. Moses again exhorts the people to fear and give reverence to the LORD, to serve the LORD, and in addition, to cleave and swear. Theres another place the word cleave is used, which many of you are familiar. In Genesis, a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife and the two shall become one flesh. Moses didn’t use that word by accident. He was trying to express to the people that the nation of Israel was to cleave to her God in the same way a man and woman are to cleave to one another. He was saying that they should have a deep personal relationship with their God and cleave to him. And to swear by his name is make an oath. When you enlist in the military, you swear on the bible, to defend the constitution and the country and pledge your loyalty to it. The people of Israel were to swear and pledge their undying loyalty to their God.

B. He is thy praise, and He is thy God. I love this verse. God is our praise. God is our God. Does your heart rejoice the the LORD is praised? When we sing songs that magnify the name of Jesus our Lord, does your heart rejoice? He is our God, he’s our inheritance.

C. Lets read verse 21 and 22. Moses speaking to the Israelites now reminds them that it was God who had done the miracles they had seen with their own eyes. Bread from heaven for the two million souls in the desert. Meat as well when they complained about the bread. Deliverance from the superpower of the ancient world. Providence in keeping their clothing and shoes from wearing down. He tells them look at all that the LORD has done for you.

D. Lastly, and one of the most visual examples of the faithfulness of God to his people. It was a miracle they would have seen with their own eyes 24/7 whenever they looked around. The sheer number of the Israelites! Jacob and all the souls with him left Caanan with 70 people and arrived in Egypt, and now they were as numerous as the stars in heaven!

What did God require from the Israelites? To Fear him, To walk in his ways, To love Him, To serve him, and to keep his commandments.

Why should the Israelites do these things according to Moses? Because God was their creator and the Soverign of the Universe who divenly imparted his love onto their people. God’s character compelled them as well. He was and is exceedly worthy to worship and fear and serve. Lastly, Why should the Israelites do the things God required? Because God was so faithful to them! God brought them out of bondage and provided for them and even forgave them when they rebelled against him. He provided literal food from heaven, and kept his promise to their ancestor Abraham by making them as numerous as the stars in heaven. That is why.

Although this book was written to the Israelites, we gentiles can still be blessed by it. “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD require of thee?” I now turn the spotlight onto us. What does the LORD require from us, right now, this morning on the 19th. What does he require of us here in this very moment.. Have you thought about it? Maybe you know, maybe you don’t know. But im going to spend the rest of our time showing what God requires of us.

2000 Years ago, God took on flesh, the second person of the trinity condescended into his own creation, fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah and others. Go with me to Acts 17:30-31. God overlooked, or tolerated, the willful ignorance of man’s idolatry now commands all men everywhere to repent. What does it mean to repent? To repent means to turn away. It means your heading in one direction and you realize your heading in the wrong direction and you turn around. God commands us to repent because we’re all heading in the wrong direction. Psalm 51:5 says Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Romans 3:10-13 says As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. We are born into this world as sinners with a sinful dispostion to sin against God and outside of the grace of God there is no hope for us.

But as we read earlier, God 2000 years ago, sent his only begotten son, to be the atonement for his people. He was the sin offering for us. Jesus of Nazareth, fully God and Fully man, lived the perfect life, kept all of the laws that we could never keep nor could the israelites keep, he kept them all and fulfilled all righteousness. Then he went, by his own choice, to the cross to suffer and die for sinners. You see God, couldn’t just pardon sin because then he wouldn’t be just. He had to punish sin, and yet God is also rich in mercy and and full of grace. So he himself took on flesh and paid the penalty for his own creation. Jesus, took the sin of all his people onto himself and imputed to them his righteousness. He is the propition, or exchange, not for our sins only, but for the whole world.

Thirdly, Jesus calls us now to repent and to believe in him. We are to repent of our sins and our sinful lifestyle and to utterly forsake it and leave it behind, and to turn and follow after Christ. Turn from serving darkness into serving the light. Be willing to do whatever it takes to follow Christ, no matter the cost. And believe in him for your redemption. That through his death on the cross, your sins are forgiven, and through his resurrection from the dead, his sacrifice was accepted.

That is the first and most important thing we can do right now. Obey the gospel.

As Christians, does God require anything from us? Yes and no. Because of Jesus Christ, when God looks at us, he see’s his sons perfect righteousness accredited to us. Its an alien righteousness, its not our own. But God does expect that we follow after him. John 15:14 Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you. and Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? There are many things as Christians that we are commanded to do. Love, forgive, Evangelize.

In Closing I want to spend just a few more minutes on the why however. Like Moses explaining to the Israelites why they should do what the Lord was requiring from them, I want to point to why we should do what were told too.

God is our creator. Not only did he make us physically, but he created us newly in Christ spiritually. Go to 2 Cor 5:17. We were dead in our sins and slaves to unrighteousness Romans says but now go to Eph 2:4-5 . God quickened us. That word means made alive. God made us alive. We were dead spiritually, and he and he alone brought us to life in Christ Jesus. He is our creator.

Gods Character. By now you’ll see that im reusing the same format as Moses haha. Gods character should compel us to be obedient. Go to Rom 5:6-8 . Jesus Christ didn’t die for us when we got our act together, he didnt die for us when we started attending church. Jesus Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. In the thick of your sin, He purchased you. He redeemed you with his blood. Out of every tongue and nation God purchased souls with the blood of his son. Jesus said in John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. And Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:14 that the love of Christ contrains us! We Love God because he first loved us. Thats why we obey him.

God’s faithfulness. I know we can all attest to the faithfulness of God if you’ve been forgiven. We could speak of God’s faithfulness, in spite of our unfaithfulness. We could speak our God’s deliverance from a trial. We could speak of God’s goodness and faithfulness in a blessing he poured out. We Could speak of his faithfulness to answer prayers. God is a faithful God and he has said many times over, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.

So in closing I say this. Why should the Christian Fear the Lord, and walk in all his ways, and Love him. And why should he serve the Lord and keep his commandments? Because he’s our creator, his attributes and charqacter drive us and compel us, and his love and faithfulness fuel our love for his Son and our Lord. Let us pray.