INTRODUCTION

1 And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: “Hear, O Israel,

the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today,

that you may learn them and be careful to observe them.

2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.

3 The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers,

but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive.

4 The Lord talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire.

5 I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord;

for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain. Deuteronomy 5:1-5

1. The Sinaitic Covenant

a) A historic moment

b) A truly special covenant given to Israel

2. The Ten Commandments

a) These were given by God Himself

b) This was a summary of God’s Moral Law

3. These were recalled by Moses

a) The original word is found in Exodus 19-20

b) This was a recapitulation of that glorious and historic day

 

GREAT FEAR FELT

23 “So it was, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness,

while the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders.

24 And you said: ‘Surely the Lord our God has shown us His glory and His greatness,

and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire. We have seen this day that God speaks with man; yet he still lives.

25 Now therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us;

if we hear the voice of the Lord our God anymore, then we shall die.

26 For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?

27 You go near and hear all that the Lord our God may say,

and tell us all that the Lord our God says to you, and we will hear and do it.’ Deuteronomy 5:23-27

1. The children of Israel heard God speaking to them

2. The heads of the tribes and elders approached Moses with a request

a) They were afraid that they would die if they were to have God speak to them directly

b) They were afraid of God’s “great fire”

c) They asked Moses to hear what God wanted to say to them

d) Moses could relay God’s message

e) They would hear and comply

 

GOD’S RESPONSE

28 “Then the Lord heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me:

‘I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken.

29 Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments,

that it might be well with them and with their children forever!

30 Go and say to them, “Return to your tents.”

31 But as for you, stand here by Me, and I will speak to you all the commandments, the statutes,

and the judgments which you shall teach them, that they may observe them in the land which I am giving them to possess.

32 “Therefore you shall be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

33 You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you,

and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess. Deuteronomy 5:28-33

1. God acceded to the request of the children of Israel

2. He responded with these words (Deuteronomy 5:29)

a) “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me”

i) To have a heart that would fear God

ii) This is a heart that God would accept

b) “And always keep all My commandments”

i) The fear of God must result in keeping His commandments

ii) This compliance is meant to be for life

c) “That it might be well with them and with their children forever!”

i) This would result in God’s blessings

ii) These blessings would extend to the next generation

3. The responsibility

a) This would fall upon the shoulders of Moses

b) He would have to draw near to God

c) He must listen and learn well

d) He must be committed to teaching the Word of God

 

OUR CHALLENGES

1. To cultivate a fear of God

2. To comply with obedience to God

3. To commit ourselves to walk with God for all life