Immerse: Beginnings Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 295
5:23–6:10
D e u teronom y
283
“But when you heard the voice from the heart of the darkness, while
the mountain was blazing with fire, all your tribal leaders and elders came
to me. They said, ‘Look, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and
greatness, and we have heard his voice from the heart of the fire. Today
we have seen that God can speak to us humans, and yet we live! But now,
why should we risk death again? If the Lord our God speaks to us again,
we will certainly die and be consumed by this awesome fire. Can any living thing hear the voice of the living God from the heart of the fire as we
did and yet survive? Go yourself and listen to what the Lord our God
says. Then come and tell us everything he tells you, and we will listen
and obey.’
“The Lord heard the request you made to me. And he said, ‘I have
heard what the people said to you, and they are right. Oh, that they would
always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands! If they did, they and their descendants would prosper forever. Go
and tell them, “Return to your tents.” But you stand here with me so I can
give you all my commands, decrees, and regulations. You must teach them
to the people so they can obey them in the land I am giving them as their
possession.’”
So Moses told the people, “You must be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God, following his instructions in every detail.
Stay on the path that the Lord your God has commanded you to follow.
Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to
enter and occupy.
“These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your
God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are
about to enter and occupy, and you and your children and grandchildren
must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. Listen closely, Israel, and
be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many
children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the
God of your ancestors, promised you.
“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must
love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your
strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your
children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the
road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to
your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on
the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
“The Lord your God will soon bring you into the land he swore to give
