Deuteronomy 8:1

This verse agrees with the kind of instruction given by God to Moses, recorded in Numbers. ALL God’s commandments were/are to be obeyed, straight away.

The commands were given so that the Hebrews could live, have children, and keep them from harm, diseases, and enemy attacks. This is national peace.

Furthermore, by keeping God’s commands (such as the Decalogue and the Levitical commandments – over 600 in total) the Hebrews would eventually enter Canaan, the land of milk and honey, a land promised to their forefathers even before the people were enslaved in Egypt, to be enjoyed for all of time.

This same promise, found within God’s command, is for us today. Scripture says the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Without this fear we cannot know truth or obedience: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” (Psalm 111:10).  God is the fount of all existence, so to praise, love and fear Him is a ‘given’, if we wish to retain His attention and care. This content is inherent in Deuteronomy 8:1.

Fear also gives us the start of a heart founded on God. When we fear and gain wisdom, we go on to also gain in knowledge. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10). Thus, our growth in spiritual things depends on us fearing God and doing what He says.

The same law (for every word of God is law) is found in the New Testament (Ephesians 5:21); the sign that we belong to God and obey, is seen in our fear of the Almighty. In this we see the necessity of husbands and wives submitting lovingly to each other, always treating the other with utmost respect and care - love. This is how we should look at God, giving Him our very best at all times, to acknowledge what He has done for us in and through Christ Jesus.

05 July-2024

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