"Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers is giving you. You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take anything from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” (vv.1-2)
In our text the Israelites finally enter into the good land God had appointed for them, and as they entered He told them how they could obtain His blessing. He called them to do what every parent since Adam and Eve has called their children to do: listen and obey. And neither God’s desire to bless His children nor the way to obtain that blessing has changed one bit over that period of time; we must listen and obey His word.
God has warned His people that there is great danger in tampering with His word. But it is so difficult to keep on the straight and narrow, isn’t it? Some have decided that because it is so difficult, there must be something wrong with the Bible itself. So they decide to adjust the Word of God to fit their lifestyle, instead of letting the Word of God adjust them.
We all must guard against this temptation to allow ourselves to judge the Word instead of it judging and changing us. How can it change us? When it painfully points to our sins of omission and commission, it forces us into a corner where we have to make a decision. Will we deny our guilt, deaden our conscience, and compromise our integrity? Or will we simply stop, quiet ourselves before the Creator, and once again ask for His forgiveness?
I fear that many in the world today ignore biblical standards and simply do what is right in their own mind. The prevailing philosophy seems to be, "whatever makes you happy," or "whatever makes you feel good," throwing ethics, morals, laws, and even common sense to the wind. Obedience to any authority, let alone God's Word, to them is refutable.
However, in light of who God is, and the sacrifice He gave to redeem us back to Him, obedience to His commands makes perfect sense. It is simply what should be done. We are fools to disobey or count lightly the consequences of a life spent in rebellion to His Word. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'LORD, LORD,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Therefore, it seems reasonable for us to listen and obey.
The Truth: "Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD." (Isaiah 1:18).
