The first five chapters of Deuteronomy form the context for God's foundation command He gave to Israel. This command was of such enormous importance to Israel that in many ages Israelites recited it every morning and evening. Jesus spoke of the phylacteries worn by the Pharisees (Matthew 23:5). These were small leather boxes worn on the left arm and forehead during specific religious occasions in compliance with Deuteronomy 6:8. These boxes contained written scripture. One of the scriptures contained in these boxes was this command.
Deuteronomy chapters one through five are a brief review of Israel's history from the time they left Mount Sinai (Horeb) until they were to cross the Jordan River into Canaan. In this section Moses prepared Israel's minds and hearts for yielding to God's commandments. Soon they would enter Canaan. In Canaan they must not forget God's commandments.
Consider the context of this command. Deuteronomy 1-5 focus on Israel's experiences after they left the mountain [Sinai or Horeb] (1:6). Israel rebelled against God's first command to possess Canaan (1:36). They distrusted the motives of the God who provided their daily guidance (1:27,32-33). When they realized they had sinned against God (1:41), they rebelled again and acted presumptuously (1:43). As a consequence, they wandered in the wilderness encountering severe struggles (2,3). Through difficult experiences, they learned the urgency of obediently trusting God (4). Their confidence in their future was in God's compassion and greatness. God is the only God anywhere (4:39). Chapter 5 repeats the ten commandments and reminded Israel of their fearful reaction when they heard God declare these commands. God's desire is declared:
Deuteronomy 5:29, Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!
In spite of the fact that Israel experienced God's deliverance from Egypt, in spite of the fact that Israel experienced God's rejection when they refused to enter Canaan when God gave them their first opportunity, in spite of the fact that the generation who rebelled died, Israel would be plagued by a heart problem. All of Israel's future problems would rise from their inability to love God.
Given Israel's experiences and given God's great desire to accept them, the foundation command is given to Israel:
Deuteronomy 6:4-6, Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.
The foundation of obedience to God is love for God. Love for God is a consuming love. That love consumes the whole person of the one in love with God. If love does not place God's instructions in a person's heart, that person limits his or her obedience. Consuming love enables a person to exist in consuming trust. The combination of consuming love and consuming trust yields to God totally.
Hundreds of years later, Jesus said this was the greatest of all of God's commandments (Matthew 22:36-40). Loving God with one's whole being and loving one's neighbor as oneself was the foundation of everything God said to Israel.
A realization worthy of deep thought: God's own Son identified the greatest command God ever gave as the command to love God with the entire being.
Emphasis on the importance of a heart response to God:
Their hearts should not say of the nations in Canaan, "These nations are bigger and more powerful than we are. They are established. We cannot drive them away." Instead, they should remember what God did to Pharaoh. They should remember God's power and not be afraid of those nations.
God kept them in the wilderness to humble them, testing them, to know what was in their hearts. God wanted to know if their hearts would obey Him. Their hearts should know that God was disciplining them.
If their hearts became proud they would forget the Lord God who brought them out of Egypt and ended their slavery.
They should never say in their hearts, "We produced our wealth by our power . Our strength produced it." God was the source of the power to gain wealth. If they forgot God, they as certainly would be destroyed by God as the nations who then lived in Canaan.
They should not say God gave them Canaan because they were so righteous. God gave them Canaan for these two reasons: (1) the nations who then lived in Canaan were so wicked God could not longer endure their wickedness; and (2) God was keeping an oath He made to Abraham.
God required of them these things: (1) to reverence Him; (2) to live their every day lives in His ways; (3) to love Him; (4) to give God whole hearted, whole being service.
Israel should circumcise their hearts. Note external responses must originate from internal realities.
Israel should listen obediently to God. In love for God they should render whole being service to God.
They must not harden their hearts against poor Israelites. They should freely, generously help Israelites in need.
God would restore them when they obediently returned to God. When they turned to God to keep God's commandments with all their heart and soul, God would restore them. Note their return to God must include internal realities as well as external acts.
Emphasis on the love response to God:
God would be faithful to those who loved Him and obeyed Him.
God required of them (1) reverence; (2) the willingness to live their daily lives in His ways; (3) love; (4) whole being service; and (5) keeping God's commands.
They should respond to God with love, always keeping His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commands. The combination of these words stress Israel must be committed to living by the complete teachings from God. God's full teachings need to be in charge of and direct their lives.
God would give them rain, pasture for their livestock, and food in abundance (He would take care of them physically).
God would give them Canaan. All the nations then living in Canaan would be dispossessed--even those nations larger and stronger than Israel.
They would live. (Note the circumcised heart could love God totally.)
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 2