(REFLECTIONS ON Deuteronomy 10:12-22)

12 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?

Moses was clear what the Lord their God required of them. They were to fear God, walk in obedience to Him, love Him, serve Him, and observe His commands and decrees. Although the instructions were clear, it required a circumcision, not of the flesh, but of the hearts, because they were and would continue to be a stiff-necked people.

Unfortunately, nothing has changed since the times of Moses. Today we also need to circumcise our hearts, because by nature we are a stiff-necked people. By nature we refuse to fear the Lord our God, to obey, love, serve, and observe His commands and decrees.

The fear of the Lord, Scriptures tells us in Proverbs 9:10 is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Fear of the Lord isn’t talking about being afraid or being in terror in the traditional sense. Rather, fear of the Lord in the Old Testament refers to our relational posture towards God.

Do we place the world or ourselves above God? Do we worship Him or worship others? Fear of the Lord means we worship God, are in awe of God, know who He is, and because of who He is, submit, obey, and trust in His ways.

Fear of the Lord is relational and that is why it is the beginning of wisdom, because it is a relationship with God, and a relationship with God leads to understanding.

Who is the Lord that Israel is to fear, walk in obedience, love, and serve Him? Who is the Lord that we should do the same?

Moses writes,

14 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. 15 Yet the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today. 16 Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.

Who is the Lord that we should fear Him? He is the beginning and the end, the Creator, the God that owns the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. This great God, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-mighty, loves us and chose us, as He did Israel, to be His own.

Who is the Lord that we should fear Him? He is God and He is ours, and we are His.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy 10