Deuteronomy 7:1-26
There are seven nations in the land that the Lord is giving the sons of Israel to possess; they were to utterly destroy those nations and not covenant with them, less they serve their gods and kindle the anger of the Lord. The Lord God keeps his covenant and his lovingkindness to a thousandth generation of those who love him and keep his commandments; but he will destroy those who hate him; therefore, Moses says, “keep the commandment and the statutes and the judgments which I am commanding you today, to do them.” If the sons of Israel listen to the Word of the Lord and keep his commandments, then the Lord will bless them in the land above all peoples on the face of the earth. Do not fear the people of the land and think they are to powerful, but remember what the Lord did in Egypt, delivering you out of slavery. Moses said to destroy all the idols in the land and do not covet the silver and gold, nor take it into your homes, given that it was used to make idols, it is an abomination to the Lord; therefore, you shall detest it and utterly abhor the silver and gold used to make idols.
A theme is developing in this great sermon, “Deuteronomy.” The Lord God choose the sons of Israel to be a people of his own possession, out of all the peoples who existed on the face of the earth. Compared to other nations, they were not numerous, nor were they strong. They were slaves in Egypt, but the Lord redeemed them to be a people of his own possession. Moses, who was chosen as their intercessor, between the Lord and the people, gives this great sermon. It is a sermon of warnings and blessings. Warnings for those who do not keep the Lord’s commandments and blessings for those who do all that the Lord commands. The matter comes down to love. Do you love the Lord? Jesus said to his disciples, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” What is the desire of your heart? Do you love the Lord? If you love the Lord, you will serve him, but if you love pleasure more than the Lord, you will serve pleasure. Whomever or whatever a man loves, that will he serve. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.” (Mt 6:24)
