The Importance of Remembering

In the first part of Deuteronomy 5, Moses called together all Israel to remind them of the critical importance of God's instructions. Moses wanted to declare those instructions to them again to stress the importance of Israel carefully keeping them.

Moses reminded them that God had done something with them that He had not done before. The covenant God gave them at Horeb [Sinai] previously had not been given to anyone else. God spoke to them face to face from the fire on Sinai. Moses stood between God and Israel to affirm God's word to them because they were afraid of God and the situation.

Following was another presentation of the ten commandments that God gave Israel. Three things are called to your attention. First, there was emphasis on the 'cause' or reason for their obedience. God had 'the right' to make this agreement with Israel to obey Him because God brought them out of Egypt and destroyed their slavery. They were not responsible for their departure from Egypt. Yes, they left when they were told to leave. However, permission for them to leave was obtained by God! They were not responsible for ending their slavery. God was! They literally owed their existance to God's acts! Yes, they must learn how to stop thinking like slaves [the slave mentality caused the death of all those who were men when they left Egypt {except Joshua and Caleb}]. Yet, slavery had not ended among them because of anything they achieved. They must never forget, "We are a nation of people instead of a mass of slaves because God acted on our behalf." They literally owed their existance to God! God earned the right to instruct them, and they were not to forget their dependence on God.

Second, they were to hold God in profound respect. Among them, He was never to be one of many gods. He was to be their only God. He alone was the living God! They were to have a profound respect for His name. They would declare their dependence on Him weekly by observing the Sabbath. God demonstrated why they should honor Him. Love for Him in appreciation of what He had done could do nothing less!

Third, a profound respect for Him would be demonstrated in a profound respect for other Israelites. If God valued those people enough to make them a nation, they should value each other enough to show respect and appreciation for each another.

The parallel is obvious. We exist as Christians because of what God did for us in Jesus' death and resurrection. Had God not acted in that death and resurrection, we would not be His people. Regardless of our heritage, we live in that form of mercy, grace, and forgiveness because of what He did for us. We are who and what we are in Christ because of His love for us, not because of our love for Him. He acted on our behalf before we knew enough even to ask Him for help.

Thus we use our entire existence to honor Him. One of the ways we honor Him is by respecting and honoring people. He deserves our obedience! Properly motivated obedience is never an attempt to earn anything. It is an expression of appreciation for God as we declare our dependence on Him. Obedience always has been an expression of appreciation.