Deuteronomy Chapters 5-9

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Deuteronomy 5-9

October 27, 2024

Launching into Deuteronomy 5, we see Moses reciting the Ten Words given to the nation at Sinai—this is the second iteration. He begins by telling them that these words “needed to be learned, kept, and to do them.” Then he repeats the first command, saying:

6 “I am YAHAVAH thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”
7 “Thou shalt have none other gods before me.”

We’ve truly emphasized this point because it was crucial to them then and is equally crucial to us today.

From here, the rest of the commandments remain about the same. It can feel almost neglectful to pass over such powerful passages, but we are on a specific mission here—like going to a remote island to collect rare sea snails for their medicinal properties, while leaving behind scattered diamonds.

At verse 8, we read:

8 “Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:”
9 “Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I YAHAVAH thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,”
10 “And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.”

This command expands upon the second command from Sinai, forbidding the making of graven images. The second amplification is on the fourth commandment, where Moses says at verse 12:

12 “Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as YAHAVAH thy God hath commanded thee.”
13 “Six days thou shalt labor, and do all thy work:”
14 “But the seventh day is the sabbath of YAHAVAH thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.”
15 “And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that YAHAVAH thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched-out arm: therefore YAHAVAH thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.”

In Christ, we all have our Sabbath as we find our rest in Him, which is spiritual.

Moses’ Rehearsal of Sinai Events

Moses continues to recount the events at Sinai. Before leaving Chapter 5, Moses reminds them in verses 28-29:

28 “And YAHAVAH heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and YAHAVAH said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken.”
29 “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!”

Today, we might hear YAHAVAH saying something similar:

29 “O that there were such a heart in my creations, that they would seek me, and pursue me in faith and love always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!”

The Great Shema

In Chapter 6, we reach a passage known as the Great Shema—one of the most significant lines in the Old Testament for those who call themselves Jews. It begins in Deuteronomy 6:1:

1 “Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which YAHAVAH your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:”
2 “That thou mightest fear YAHAVAH thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.”
3 “Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as YAHAVAH God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.”

Moses then writes:

4 “Hear, O Israel: YAHAVAH our God is one YAHAVAH:”
5 “And thou shalt love YAHAVAH thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

The word “hear” is translated as shema in Hebrew, directed toward Israel. Then, Moses adds:

6 “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:”
7 “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

The Importance of the Shema

The Great Shema is a prayer affirming the oneness of God. Traditionally, it’s recited twice a day—morning and evening—and is a central part of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. It consists of passages from Deuteronomy (6:4–9 and 11:13-21) and Numbers (15:37-41).

For many, this opening verse is the ultimate affirmation of monotheism. Though the Israelites may have originally practiced monolatry, acknowledging other gods but exclusively worshipping YAHAVAH, today the verse is seen as promoting universal monotheism.

The Shema also contains a threefold directive for loving YAHAVAH with all one’s heart (leiv), soul (nephesh), and might (me’od), a summary of how much His people are to love Him.

Material Expression of the Shema

Moses reminds them in verse 8:

8 “And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.”
9 “And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”

Even today, we see Orthodox Jews bind this text to their hands and foreheads and place mezuzahs on doorposts. The mezuzah serves as a declaration of their commitment to God, symbolizing the dedication of their homes to His love.

Moses’ Warning on Material Blessings

Speaking of materialism, Moses continues at verse 10:

10 “And it shall be, when YAHAVAH thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,”
11 “And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;”
12 “Then beware lest thou forget YAHAVAH, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”

While we labor to tend and keep what God has given, we are reminded that it’s not truly ours.

On Swearing by His Name

In verse 13, we read:

Deuteronomy 6:13 “Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.”

This concept of swearing by YAHAVAH’s name is discussed in other passages such as Leviticus 19:12, Deuteronomy 10:20, Isaiah 48:1, and Jeremiah 12:16. When we reach the Apostolic Record, we see Yeshua’s teaching in Matthew 5:33-37 and James 5:12, instructing us to let our “yes” be yes and “no” be no.

Does this change the directives of the Old Testament? It’s something to ponder.

YAHAVAH’s Commands to Israel in Chapter 7

In Chapter 7, YAHAVAH reiterates His instructions as He brings Israel into the Promised Land. The nation is to cast out and destroy the seven nations that are mightier than they. At verse 6, YAHAVAH says:

6 “For thou art an holy people unto YAHAVAH thy God: YAHAVAH thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.”
7 “YAHAVAH did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:”
8 “But because YAHAVAH loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath YAHAVAH brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand

of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

Deuteronomy 8: Why Trials and Testing Exist

Chapter 8 opens with more of the same reminders but includes an exceptional passage that I believe speaks to why YAHAVAH allows certain things to happen. Beginning at verse 2, we read:

2 “And thou shalt remember all the way which YAHAVAH thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness,”
To humble thee,
To prove thee,
To know what was in thine heart,
Whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of YAHAVAH doth man live.

This passage provides a “why” list for God’s intentions, including humbling, proving, and loving correction.

Final Admonition in Chapter 8

At verse 14, we find a warning:

14 “Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget YAHAVAH thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”

The chapter concludes with YAHAVAH telling them in verses 19-20 that they will perish if they turn away from Him. “Perish” here implies suffering loss, not annihilation.

Deuteronomy 9: Entering the Promised Land

Chapter 9 opens with YAHAVAH’s directive to Israel to enter the Promised Land, conquer its inhabitants, and subdue it.

3 “Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face.”
4 “Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.”

From verses 7 to 23, Moses recounts Israel’s rebelliousness, then summarizes in verse 24:

24 “Ye have been rebellious against YAHAVAH from the day that I knew you.”

Despite their rebellion, YAHAVAH remains merciful as Moses pleads for His promise to their forefathers.

And we’ll pick it up in Chapter 10 next week, Lord willing.

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