Deuteronomy 5:33

The call for obedience that Moses gave is clear and strong in the opening verses of Deuteronomy 5. Notice the four verbs in the first verse — "Hear," "learn," "keep," "do." We are not under the law but under grace. Even so, we may well take these four verbs as marking how we should meet the many instructions that fill the New Testament. Verbs one to three are there for the sake of verb four. All the truth made known through the faith of Christ, and given to us, is meant to govern our lives in this world while we wait for the Saviour, and to show itself in what we do.

Here we have, right in front of us, the special mark of the whole book of Deuteronomy. "Listen," and "do," so that you may "live" and "possess." This is a universal and lasting principle. It was true for Israel, and it is true for us. The path of life and the true secret of possession is simple obedience to the holy commandments of God. We see this all through the inspired book, from cover to cover. God has given us His word, not so that we may speculate about it or discuss it, but so that we may obey it.

They were to listen and to do. Hearing and doing stand in the foreground of this section. The result of obedience is life and possession of the land. "That you may live" does not mean the possession of eternal life, but a long earthly life in the promised land.

The law did speak of life for man. But he was to enter that life on the principle of obedience, or practical righteousness. Moses told the people to walk in all the ways God had commanded them, so that they might live (Deut. 5:33). The man who did those things was to find life in doing them. But man did not find life in the law. He found death there. Why? Because he did not keep the law; he broke it. He could not justify himself by it, and since he could not, he found in it no rescue from death.

The LORD said to Israel, Do this and you will live (see Deut. 5:33, Gal. 3:12). But God's children are urged to obey because they are children. "Obey and live" means life is kept up only as long as obedience is given. "Obey because you are a child" means godly living that flows out of a relationship that already exists. To innocent man the word was, in effect, Disobey, and you will die. To man under the law it was, Obey, and you will live. Now to the children it is, You are living already, so your privilege is to obey.

Obedience is always the creature's holy duty and exalted privilege — simple, unhesitating, unqualified obedience to the word of the Lord. This is an unspeakable mercy for which we may well praise our God, day and night.

Walking in the way of God's commandments was all for their real good and their deep, full blessing. The path of whole-hearted obedience is the only path of true happiness. And blessed be God, those who love the Lord can always walk it.