Deuteronomy 5:9-10

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments (NIV).

Ha’azinu (Hear)

Deuteronomy 32:1-43, words of remembrance of 2012 and words of reflection for 2013.

Why Obedience?

In Deuteronomy 5:33, Moses writes, “Walk in obedience to all that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.”

How does this apply to today’s world?   It seems that striving for personal holiness can become selfish and hollow, but striving for social justice can generate sinful feelings of superiority.

Perhaps if our first impuse is obedience to Jesus and the Spirit, not a desire to please other people or ourselves, then we’re on the path toward godly, biblical obedience.