"Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, “Be silent and listen, O Israel! This day you have become a people for the Lord your God. ‘You shall therefore obey the Lord your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today.”’ (v.9-10)
Hearing God’s Law was important for Israel but it wasn’t all that was needed--obedience had to follow. Here in chapter 27 Moses delivers his third sermon. In this new sermon he wanted to impress upon the Israelites the seriousness of their commitment--the benefits, responsibilities, and consequences of their covenant relationship with God. This was to be reinforced with memorial stones inscribed with the Law and a special altar on Mt. Ebal. There, the people would make fellowship offerings, and hold worship feasts to rejoice in their special relationship with God (vv.1-8).
Much of the book of Deuteronomy is written after the same pattern as ancient agreements between kings and their subjects. Here, the idea is clear: God is the king, and the people of Israel are His subjects. He has told them what He expects of them, and what they may expect from Him. Now that the agreement was settled, and it could be said to Israel, “you have become the people of the LORD your God.” The contract was signed, and Israel willingly submitted itself to the Lord God, recognizing Him as their king. Then Moses, and all the leadership of Israel simply declared a fact that was obvious to everyone saying, "And if the LORD is our king, then it is fitting that we obey the voice of the LORD our God, and observe His commandments and His statutes" (v.10).
We, like the children of Israel, need to “be silent and listen” too. We need to spend time in God’s Word and allow Him to write His laws on our hearts and minds. And by so doing, we reinforce our walk and our relationship with Him in which obedience will then become a natural byproduct.
The Truth: “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’” (Jeremiah 7:23)
