Deuteronomy 10:1-22
Monday 29 May 2023
He is the one you should praise; He is your God, who has done great and wonderful things for you, which you have seen with your own eyes. - Deuteronomy 10:21 NCV
Here is a call for praise to the ONE who deserves it— our LORD God! When Moses calls on the people of God to give Him praise, due to Him alone, He recalls God’s dealing with them and of His great deeds on their behalf, A clear reminder for us too! As we glean through our text, what can we gather from Moses’ speech that occasions such praise to Almighty God? HE is…
· God of second chances (Vs.1-11)
Israel had sinned against God when they bowed down to the idol and broken God’s laws. Yet He was willing to forgive and give them a second chance and so provided another set of tablets with His commands written on them. Won’t many of us say the same—that God has given us second chances in life to come back to Him? Has not His mercy and compassion been great towards us when we strayed away from His path and chose other “idols”? Oh His mercy that brought you and me back to His fold! Just as He spoke to Israel God reminds us today: “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul…” That’s His expectation of His children!
· God who is supreme and awesome (Vs.14,17)
To the LORD belongs everything in heaven and on earth! That should remind us of His supremacy over all- even our lives- we don’t own anything- we have only been made stewards. V.17 says: “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.” There is none beside Him who deserves our whole-hearted devotion. His rule is over all! How we need to praise Him for His greatness!
· God who chose you and loves you (V.15)
Moses reminds them how the Lord set His affection on Israel- not because they were better off. He chose them above other nations and loves them as His own. What a privilege! How about us His children?-In Christ we have been chosen (Eph.1:11). How about God’s love upon us? Col. 3:12 points to us: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved…” We are God’s possession, called out of darkness into His marvellous light to declare His praises (1 Peter 2:9).
· God who defends the cause of the weak (V.18)
We can praise God when we understand that He comes to the aid of the defenseless- the fatherless, widows, orphans, the poor, etc. The people of Israel were once aliens and the Lord tells them to care and show concern for the aliens as we too are reminded. The Psalmist calls us to praise God because- “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing;..” (Psalm 68:5-6)
· God who performs great & awesome deeds (V.21)
The deliverance from Egypt was a constant reminder to Israel of the LORD’s great and awesome deeds on their behalf. The witnessed for themselves how God destroyed their enemies and gave them victory. How many great and awesome deeds can we recount today and praise the LORD?
· God who blesses you (V.22)
Moses calls to their mind how God multiplied them in the land of Egypt- the original 70 who had gone to Egypt had now become as numerous as the stars! What a multiplication! Think of the ways God has blessed and multiplied you and thank Him from the bottom of your heart!
Let this day be one, you and I praise God for the numerous ways He has blessed and led us thus far! Hallelujah!
Think on: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” ~ John Piper
Listen: 'Praise my soul'