Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 (NRSV)
Read Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 4So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. Verse 2You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God with which I am charging you. Verse 6You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!" Verse 7For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is whenever we call to him? Verse 8And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today? Verse 9But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children's children-
Devotion
What is the point of following God’s command? Simple: life and the living of it. Simple ... but not easy. It is a gift given by God to frame order out of chaos. Moses speaks these commands, but these words were passed on from children to their children to their children’s children. The words were written down to carry the people of God through many years and miles from slavery to freedom, and exile to homecoming. Yet these words are written for us, pointing us to right living for the sake of life, for the benefit of all.
Prayer
God of our ancestors, you gave your people words to live by so that they would be wise and discerning. Shape us by your teaching and give us wisdom and courage to keep your words in mind all the days of our lives. Through Jesus Christ, who has occupied flesh and come near to bring us into your promise. Amen.