Verse 12 (of Deuteronomy chapter 10) uses an interesting string of words, an independent clause actually.
“And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God REQUIRE of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?” Verse 11 is also included in the quote here.
I can only think of one other places such a question is asked, using essentially the same words. Beautiful, Amos 6:8, so succinct too! “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD REQUIRE of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Amos 6:8
God longs for obedience on the part of His children!
Wow!
And in case you feel “poor” today, verse 14 thunders of our Lord … “Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.” And Paul says we who are saved are “heirs” with this omni-wealthy God! I have been written “into His Will!” (No wonder Paul will later write: “For all things are yours,” 1st Corinthians 3:21.
Another rather dramatic Mosaic clause: “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.” Verse 16, quite picturesque. Cut away all the “fleshly” desires of your heart! Here’s heart surgery prior to the invention of so-called modern medicine! (Notice how the heart controls the neck, precisely one’s emotions and thoughts overcoming his or her will, his stubbornness!)
And in verse 17 our Master is called “God of gods!” There is none like Him! I can only find this specific Title for God in 3 other Bible locations! All idols fall in His Presence!
And verse 19 cautions Israel about “foreigners.” God commanding: “Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Legislation is fine, illegality is (of course) always dangerous. But mistreating a “stranger” is not acceptable!
Lastly, today … the 21st verse calls God a beautiful Name: “He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.” He IS our PRAISE! Oh, that we might all properly adore Him today!
Well, this too. Deuteronomy chapter 10 closes at verse 22 with some statistics. “Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.” Do the math, remembering the census shortly after Israel left Egypt.
From a “family” of 70 people … to a “nation” of 2,000,000 at least!
Israel, the “apple of God’s Eye!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell