Deuteronomy 10:3

The Bible says in Deuteronomy 10:3-5, “And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in mine hand.[4] And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.[5] And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the LORD commanded me.” Moses put the Ten Commandments in the ark. The ark had a prominent place in front of the children of Israel. They would look at the ark and remember what was inside. And so the Ten Commandments were given an important place to help everyone remember the words that God had written. The first four of the commandments tell us to have true religion. Have no other gods, make no graven image, do not take God’s name in vain, and remember the Sabbath day to make it holy. These four commandments have to do with our relationship with God. And then there is one commandment that has to do with the family, and it tells children to honor their parents. And the last five commandments have to do with man’s relationship with man: do not lie, do not steal, do not murder, to not commit adultery, and do not lust for anything that is thy neighbor’s. Any society, nation, or individual who honors these commandments and does what they can to put them into effect is very wise. Any society or nation or individual who sets these commandments aside is very foolish.

Of course, we want to remember that the Ten Commandments are the focal point of the law of Moses. But we who believe in Jesus are not under law. We are under grace. We have a new covenant: that which was put into effect by the giving of the blood of Christ. Just as the children of Israel needed to remember the central commandments of the law, we need to remember the central promises of grace. The new covenant is based upon grace. Jesus said in Matthew 26:28, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Jesus said in John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.[2] In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.[3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” And for one more of many examples, Jesus said in John 10:28-29, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.[29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.” The believer who does not hold before him the principles of the new covenant will undoubtedly depart from the life of faith.

The Bible says in Deuteronomy 10:6-7, “And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Mosera: there Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest's office in his stead.[7] From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbath, a land of rivers of waters.” After Aaron died, Eleazar took his place. It is a privilege to serve God and to be given a work to do for him. But God can find a replacement for any of us if He sees the need. Of course, God will find a replacement when we die, but God can find one sooner if we do not want to do the Lord’s work. Another thing to notice about Aaron and Moses and other believers in the Bible, is that they kept doing the work of the Lord all the way until they died. No retirement for them. That makes sense. If the Lord gives you something to do and gives you the spiritual gift to do it, then it just might be that the Lord wants you to keep doing it. Jesus said John 9:4, “I must work the works of Him that sent me while it is day. The night cometh when no man can work.”

The Bible says in Deuteronomy 10:8-9, “At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.[9] Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him.” Under the covenant of the law there were a tremendous number of ceremonies and rituals attached to the tabernacle and then the temple. There were animal sacrifices and duties performed by the priests every single day and during the many feast days such as the Feast of Tabernacles and the Passover. Someone had to do all that work and have the time to do it. All the other tribes from the sons of Jacob were given land to take care of, but the sons of Levi were made priests. Of course, the day would come when the priesthood would end and the duties of the Levites would end. That is one of the things that Jesus accomplished. Jesus put to an end the Old Testament priesthood and all their duties. This is explained in great detail in the book of Hebrews. Because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, there is no more need for sacrifices, no more need for a temple, and no more need for the priesthood. Hebrews 7:11-17, “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?[12] For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.[13] For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.[14] For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.[15] And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,[16] Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.[17] For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

Jesus was the last of the priests, and He is a priest forever because He ever makes intercession for us. And Jesus is the constant reminder in heaven that He is our sacrifice. But the Levites do have at least one important symbolism that we can find that exists today. Because they were priests, their lives were dedicated to serving the Lord. Because they were priests, they did not do things the way that others did. They had a unique life and a unique calling. What compares to that today in the age of the New Testament? Every single believer compares to that today. Every single believer should be dedicated to serving the Lord Jesus Christ. Every single believer should have a different life than all the other people in the world. Our lives are characterized by what the Lord has for us to do. It says in Second Peter 2:9-10, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:[10] Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” People who call their religious leaders “priests” do not understand the Bible at all. Jesus is the last of the priests from a ceremonial standpoint, and the New Testament calls every believer a priest because of the calling that we each have.

The Bible says in Deuteronomy 10:10-13, “And I stayed in the mount, according to the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also, and the LORD would not destroy thee.[11] And the LORD said unto me, Arise, take thy journey before the people, that they may go in and possess the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give unto them.[12] 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,[13] To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?” When God saved the Jewish people, and showed them His great mercy, and gave them the land of Canaan, God made it very clear in verse 12 what He required from them. First He asked that they would “fear” God. This word includes the idea of respect, but it is not limited to that. Fear means fear. What is there to fear? God is Judge, and He knows, and He sees, and He acts on that. The person who does not fear is not only foolish, but such a person is in danger of hell-fire.

The Israelites were told to “walk in all his ways.” Every human being develops a philosophy of life, a list of priorities, and a pattern of behavior that they believe in. Of course, God wants us to get all of that from Him and from His Word. That is one of the reasons that He gave us the Bible and the commandments. Be very careful of the philosophies and priorities of the world. They will corrupt and pervert your way, and thus keep you from the straight and narrow way that God wants you to walk in.

The children of Israel were told “to love him.” That is really what God wants from people. He wants our love. If you love someone, then you want them to love you in return. Unrequited love is painful, and how so very much God loves us. The fact that Jesus came to the earth to die for us proves God’s love. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” What do you love and whim do you love? If you do not love God, then you are not giving to God what He really wants from you.

Then there is the question of how much should we love God? Is fifty percent of our heart enough? Is ninety percent enough? God said to the Israelites, “and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” God wants everything. He wants one hundred percent. Jesus died for us so that we would go to heaven instead of hell, so we certainly owe Him everything. We owe Him all of our heart and all of our love. As a matter of fact, you will either give Him everything or you will give Him nothing. Jesus said in Revelation 3:16, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Jesus also said in Revelation 2:4, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”

Of course, it is our duty to serve God, walk in all His ways, and love Him with all our heart. There is a practical benefit to doing this as well as a spiritual benefit. It says in Deuteronomy 10:13, “To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good.” When you do not do things God’s way, you will suffer in this life. When you do things God’s way in this life, you will benefit in this life. Jesus said in John 10:10, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” It is strange that many people think that they will suffer from serving God when the opposite is actually true. Once again this shows that the general attitude of the world is just plain wrong. What they think is right is wrong. What they think is good is evil. What they think is true is false. In other words they are in darkness. In other words they need a Savior. Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world.” If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, today you can bow before Him and receive Him into your heart and life.

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