Keep all my commands always
Deuteronomy 5:29 - Although the original commandments are obsolete, they are still a guide for living a life pleasing to God.
“Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!”
Deuteronomy 5:29 NIV
Chapters 1 - 30 of Old Testament book of Deuteronomy (“second law”) is comprised of three sections, all of which are sermons delivered by Moses to the Israelites just before they are to enter the Promised Land. The first sermon is a recounting by Moses of the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness by the Chosen People, with an admonition to follow the laws passed down by God on the stone tablets.
The second sermon reminds the Israelites that they must follow Yahweh and His teachings or they will lose the land they are about to enter. The third and final sermon tells the nation of Israel that if they are unfaithful and lose the land, they can repent and it will be restored to them.
Today’s verse is near the end of chapter 5, in which Moses recounts how God gave him the Ten Commandments verbally, then wrote them on two stone tablets that were given to Moses to take to the people. This is God talking in this verse — He is expressing His hope that His people will respect Him and keep His commandments, so that “it might go well with them and their children forever!” God is truly showing His love for the Israelites at this point, desiring that they never fail to live up to His law.
The Lord begins by expressing His desire for Israel to possess a heart revering and respecting Him. The Bible usually refers to the “heart” as the core of one’s being, all mind, will, and emotion. By hoping for the Israelites to “fear” Him, God does not want them to be afraid, but to show a deep respect and awe for His holiness and authority. As we find out throughout the Old Testament, Israel’s heart wasn’t always given to God, as they repeatedly disobeyed Him and then had to repent.
God’s call to keep His commandments is at the heart of the First Covenant. The commandments were designed by Yahweh to guide Israel to live a life pleasing to Him that would differentiate Israel from other nations. When He says “always”, God is emphasizing His sincere desire to have Israel’s obedience at all times, not just when things are good or the people feel like it. Throughout the Bible, there are references to showing true love for God by being obedient. John 14:15 is the perfect example of this love, as Jesus says “If you love me, keep my commands”.
In saying “that it might go well with them”, God is reminding Moses that with obedience comes blessing. If Israel was obedient, they would be blessed with peace, prosperity, and protection. This isn’t just a physical blessing for the nation; it is spiritual as well, covering all aspects of daily life. God just required one thing of His people to receive the blessing — being faithful.
God extends His promise to all generations in closing this verse. He wasn’t laying out the responsibilities and blessings of His covenant just for the current generation; God wanted this information to be passed down to succeeding generations as well. That’s another Biblical principle highlighted here in Deuteronomy — generational faithfulness, where parents are instructed to teach their children about God, His Laws, and His deeds (“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” - Deuteronomy 6:6-7, emphasis is mine).
God uses the word “forever” to emphasize the enduring nature of His promises and the idea of an everlasting covenant relationship between Himself and His people. This was fulfilled in the New Covenant through Jesus Christ (read Hebrews 8:6-13 for a refresher on the Old and New Covenants).
Although the original commandments are obsolete (Hebrews 8:13), they are still a guide for living a life pleasing to God.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Father in Heaven, I thank You that You have still not ended your covenant with Your people Israel, which assures me that Your promises to the new covenant church will never fail. Nothing can ever separate me from Your love, and for this I praise You forever and ever. AMEN.