Deuteronomy chapter 5

vs 23

My reaction would have been to hide under my bed. But hey, that's what leaders are for - sending to greet the voice in the dark!

vs 24

That seems like a really reasonable attitude to have to the whole thing. Wow, they've really been touched by this reaching out of God to their people.

vs 25

And then it all falls down. They are afraid. Now, fearing God is great. It's a good attitude to have. But if God has spoken to them already, why do they suddenly think the next word is going to be their downfall?

I might be being too hard on them. Someone could say that they are being humble and saying that they are not worthy to hear the voice of God anymore. But does that sound like it to you? To me, it sounds like they just don't want to die. I think perhaps they also don't want to hear the voice any longer. It pains them.

vs 26

Well, they all have. Presumably Abraham did. Doesn't that show them the prestigious status they have? The mercy of God in letting them live?

vs 27

Unfortunately, as you probably know as well as I do second-hand information never has the same punch as first-hand. You meet the PM, and you're like "Wow." You have someone tell you what he said, and it's suddenly "Eh." This promise to obey could have even been a matter of convenience just to take the responsibility off them.

vs 28

The thing is, of course, that this is exactly God's plan. He wants to have a mediator between himself and the people. That's why he selects Moses. That's why he separates the Levites. That's why he sends Jesus. Everything the Israelites say is in fact good. God isn't lying there. But are their motivations also good? Or is God holding them to what they said because it was a good sentiment, regardless of their motives?

As I said, I might be judging them too hard, but the OT writers generally didn't make editorial comment, and left it to us to get a feel for what was happening. Our feelings are of course often eisegetical, because we don't have the cultural background of 3500 years ago. So I don't think what I say is out and out rejectable. Of course, I never do.

vs 29

See, I would read this as God knowing their hearts, and seeing that it's not all flowers and sunshine. Of course, you could also read it as simply that their hearts are now in the right spot, but won't be soon.

vs 30

Which is really what they wanted. So either God is rewarding them for their faithfulness in being afraid, or he's just giving them what he wants anyway.

vs 31

Moses then is the one that will be the intercessor. And he takes that role seriously - many times from that point he interceded with God for his people. I guess I don't think about the giving and maintaining of the law as such an intercession, but obviously it is.

vs 32

Why? Because God commanded Moses to tell them these things. Like I've said, even one level of middle management can make the message weaker, but since they know the source is not bogus (their parents shook with fear at that mountain) they should treat what Moses says with respect.

vs 33

That is the promise - follow the laws, obey the commands, and live long in the land that is about to be given into their hands, a foretaste of which they've already had on this side of the Jordan. This is one reason we don't follow all the more crazy laws - because they are part of the land covenant, which we don't need to follow.