Read Deuteronomy 4 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
4:1-24 {p} Remember Sinai and the Ten Commandments
4:25-40 {p} That Israel might know that YHVH is God and there is no other
4:41-49 {p} Cities of refuge/ This is the Law
Deu 4:1-40 forms a single Chiastic Structure.
Notice the opening and closing bookends, and the central axis.
In Deuteronomy, the book in which Moses undertook to “explain this Law” before his death (Deu 1:5), God revealed why He wanted His people to obey His commandments, statutes, and judgments, as their father Abraham had (Gen 26:5). It was not to enter into right-standing before Him. It was so that we may have life, health, happiness, and prosperity on this side of heaven. Repetition is a Teaching Tool of Scripture!
“So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them; I am YHVH.” Lev 18:5
“Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, so that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which YHVH, the God of your fathers, is giving you.” Deu 4:1
“So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am giving you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which YHVH your God is giving you for all time.” Deu 4:40
“Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which YHVH your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it, so that you and your son and your grandson might fear YHVH your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. O Israel, you should listen and be careful to do it, that it may be well with you and that you may multiply greatly, just as YHVH, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.” Deu 6:1-3
“So YHVH commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear YHVH our God for our good always and for our survival, as it is today.” Deu 6:24
“And now, Israel, what does YHVH your God require of you, but to fear YHVH your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve YHVH your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of YHVH, which I am commanding you today for your good?” Deu 10:12-13
“Now it shall be, if you diligently obey YHVH your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, YHVH your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey YHVH your God.” Deu 28:1-2
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