Deuteronomy 10
1 At that time the Lord told me: Carve two stone tablets, just like the first ones, and hike up the mountain to me. Construct a wooden chest as well. 2 I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets—the ones you smashed—then you will place them in the chest.
3 So I built a chest out of acacia wood and carved two stone tablets just like the first ones. Then I hiked up the mountain holding the two tablets in my hands. 4 God wrote on the new tablets what had been written on the first set: the Ten Commandments that the Lord spoke to you on the mountain, from the very fire itself, on the day we assembled there. Then the Lord gave them to me.
5 So I came back down the mountain. I put the tablets in the chest that I’d made, and that’s where they are now, exactly as the Lord commanded me.
(6 Now, the Israelites had set out from Beeroth-bene-jaakan to Moserah. It was there that Aaron died and was buried. His son Eleazar succeeded him in the priestly role. 7 From there the Israelites traveled to Gudgodah, then from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, which is a land with flowing streams. 8 At that time, the Lord selected the tribe of Levi to carry the chest containing the Lord’s covenant, to minister before the Lord, to serve him, and to offer blessings in his name. That’s the way things are right now. 9 That’s why the Levites don’t have a stake or inheritance with the rest of their relatives. The Lord is the Levites’ inheritance, just as the Lord your God promised them.)
10 Just as the first time, I remained on the mountain forty days and nights. And the Lord listened to me again in this instance. The Lord wasn’t willing to destroy you. 11 Then the Lord told me: Get going. Lead the people so they can enter and take possession of the land that I promised I’d give to their ancestors.
12 Now in light of all that, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you? Only this: to revere the Lord your God by walking in all his ways, by loving him, by serving the Lord your God with all your heart and being, 13 and by keeping the Lord’s commandments and his regulations that I’m commanding you right now. It’s for your own good!
14 Clearly, the Lord owns the sky, the highest heavens, the earth, and everything in it. 15 But the Lord adored your ancestors, loving them and choosing the descendants that followed them—you!—from all other people. That’s how things still stand now. 16 So circumcise your hearts and stop being so stubborn, 17 because the Lord your God is the God of all gods and Lord of all lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God who doesn’t play favorites and doesn’t take bribes. 18 He enacts justice for orphans and widows, and he loves immigrants, giving them food and clothing. 19 That means you must also love immigrants because you were immigrants in Egypt. 20 Revere the Lord your God, serve him, cling to him, swear by his name alone! 21 He is your praise, and he is your God—the one who performed these great and awesome acts that you witnessed with your very own eyes. 22 Your ancestors went down to Egypt with a total of seventy people, but now look! The Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the nighttime sky!
Deuteronomy 10 Meaning
Deuteronomy 10 is a chapter that highlights the significance of the Ten Commandments and God’s covenant with His people, Israel. It emphasizes the call for obedience, reverence, and love towards God. The chapter also reminds the Israelites of God’s faithfulness and their responsibility to show kindness and justice towards others.
Deuteronomy 10 Commentary and Explanation
Deuteronomy 10 provides us with a profound message about the character of God and our relationship with Him. This chapter starts with a reminder of the importance of the Ark of the Covenant, a symbol of God’s presence among us. Moses recounts how he was commanded to make a new set of tablets for the Ten Commandments after the first ones were broken in anger. This act symbolizes God’s mercy and willingness to give us a second chance, even when we fail to obey His commands.
In verse 3, Moses mentions that God also instructed him to make an ark of wood, a clear indication that God values both the written law (the stone tablets) and the heart of obedience (the wooden ark). This aligns with the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament, emphasizing the importance of both external and internal righteousness (Matthew 23:25-26).
As we continue through the chapter, we see how Moses reminds us of God’s love for the fatherless, widows, and strangers. This reflects God’s compassionate nature, and it echoes similar sentiments found in the Psalms (Psalm 68:5) and the teachings of the prophets (Isaiah 1:17). It’s a call for us to emulate God’s character by showing kindness and mercy to those in need.
Verses 12-13 emphasize our responsibility to fear and obey the Lord, to walk in His ways, love Him, serve Him, and keep His commandments. This echoes the great commandment Jesus gave in the New Testament, to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37-38). It’s a reminder that our relationship with God should be characterized by reverence and obedience.
Moses goes on to remind us of God’s sovereignty over all creation, from the heavens to the earth, highlighting that everything belongs to Him (verses 14-16). This aligns with other passages in the Bible that emphasize God’s kingship and ownership, such as Psalm 24:1.
In verses 17-19, we see God’s impartiality and His care for the foreigners, as He loves them and commands us to do the same. This resonates with the teachings of the New Testament, where Jesus emphasizes loving our neighbors, which includes those from different backgrounds (Luke 10:25-37).
The chapter concludes with an admonition to circumcise our hearts, removing any hardness or stubbornness, and yielding ourselves fully to God. This spiritual circumcision concept is reiterated in the New Testament, where we are called to have a circumcised heart through faith in Christ (Romans 2:28-29).
Deuteronomy 10 reminds us of God’s graciousness in giving us a second chance, His compassionate heart for the vulnerable, the importance of reverent obedience, and our call to love both God and our neighbors. It emphasizes the need for inner transformation and a heart fully devoted to God, principles that resonate throughout the entire Bible.
Also Read: Deuteronomy 28:68 Meaning and Commentary
Context of Deuteronomy 10
Deuteronomy is a book of the Bible that encompasses Moses’ farewell address to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. In this speech, Moses recounts their journey in the wilderness, reiterates the laws and commandments given by God, and exhorts them to honor and obey God. Chapter 10 specifically focuses on the significance of the tablets of the Ten Commandments and the Israelites’ response to God’s covenant.
Breaking Down the Key Parts of Deuteronomy 10
Fear God: The fear of God is not about being afraid of punishment but about having a deep reverence and awe for Him. It involves acknowledging His holiness, sovereignty, and authority over all creation.
Walk in His ways: This means living according to God’s principles and following His guidance in every aspect of life. It calls for a commitment to righteousness, integrity, and obedience.
Love Him: Loving God goes beyond mere emotions; it is an active choice to prioritize Him above all else and to demonstrate that love through our actions and attitudes.
Serve Him with all your heart and soul: True service to God requires wholehearted devotion. It involves offering ourselves completely to God, surrendering our desires, and aligning our will with His.
Keep His commandments: Obedience is a reflection of our love for God. It demonstrates our trust in His wisdom and our willingness to submit to His authority.
Bible Study on Deuteronomy 10
This passage encourages us to examine the state of our relationship with God. Do we genuinely fear Him, love Him, and serve Him with all our hearts? Are we walking in His ways and keeping His commandments?
To fear God means acknowledging His majesty, holiness, and power, and responding with reverence and awe. It is a reminder that He is our Creator and deserves our worship and obedience. As we grow in our understanding of God’s character and His love for us, our fear of Him should deepen.
Walking in God’s ways involves aligning our lives with His principles as revealed in His Word. It means seeking His guidance and following His leading in all that we do. In daily decisions and choices, we can ask ourselves, “Is this aligning with God’s ways?”
Loving God requires a wholehearted commitment. It means prioritizing our relationship with Him above all else and allowing His love to flow through us towards others. Love is not just a feeling but an action – a choice to act in kindness, mercy, and compassion towards others.
Serving God with all our heart and soul involves offering ourselves as living sacrifices, dedicating our time, talents, and resources to His service. It means surrendering our own desires and submitting to God’s will for our lives.
Keeping God’s commandments is not about legalism or earning salvation but about living in obedience out of gratitude for what Christ has done for us. Our obedience is an expression of our love for God and a willingness to align ourselves with His perfect will.
Final Thoughts
Deuteronomy 10 emphasizes the importance of a genuine relationship with God. It reminds us to fear Him, walk in His ways, love Him, serve Him wholeheartedly, and keep His commandments. Let us prayerfully reflect on these verses and ask God to help us grow in our devotion to Him.
May we seek to cultivate a genuine love for God and faithfully obey Him in all areas of our lives.