Deuteronomy 30:11-20

Deuteronomy 30:11-20

[11] For this commandment  which I command  thee this day,  it is not hidden  from thee, neither is it far off.  [12] It is not in heaven,  that thou shouldest say,  Who shall go up  for us to heaven,  and bring  it unto us, that we may hear  it, and do  it? [13] Neither is it beyond  the sea,  that thou shouldest say,  Who shall go  over  the sea  for us, and bring  it unto us, that we may hear  it, and do  it? [14] But the word  is very  nigh  unto thee, in thy mouth,  and in thy heart,  that thou mayest do  it. [15] See,  I have set  before  thee this day  life  and good,  and death  and evil;  [16] In that I command  thee this day  to love  the LORD  thy God,  in his ways,  and to keep  his commandments  and his statutes  and his judgments,  that thou mayest live  and multiply:  and the LORD  thy God  shall bless  thee in the land  whither thou goest  to possess  [17] But if thine heart  turn away,  so that thou wilt not hear,  but shalt be drawn away,  and worship  other  gods,  and serve  [18] I denounce  unto you this day,  that ye shall surely  and that ye shall not prolong  your days  upon the land,  whither thou passest over  Jordan  to go  to possess  it. [19] heaven  and earth  to record  this day  against you, that I have set  before  you life  and death,  blessing  and cursing:  therefore choose  life,  that both thou and thy seed  may live:  [20] That thou mayest love  the LORD  thy God,  and that thou mayest obey  his voice,  and that thou mayest cleave  unto him: for he is thy life,  and the length  of thy days:  that thou mayest dwell  in the land  which the LORD  sware  unto thy fathers,  to Abraham,  to Isaac,  and to Jacob,  to give  them.

What does Deuteronomy 30:11-20 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Obeying did not lie beyond the average Israelite"s ability if he or she turned to Yahweh wholeheartedly ( Deuteronomy 30:15-189). God was not asking something impossible of His people ( Deuteronomy 30:11-15; cf. Romans 10:6-8). He had given them the Mosaic Law so they could obey Him.
"The point at issue here was not the ease or even possibility of keeping the word of the Lord ... but of even knowing what it was. Contrary to the inscrutable and enigmatic ways of the pagan gods, the Lord"s purposes and will for his people are crystal clear. They are not "too difficult" (lo" niple"t, lit. "not too wonderful," i.e, beyond comprehension) or beyond reach ( Deuteronomy 30:11). That Isaiah , they can be understood by the human mind despite its limitations." [1]
The choice before the Israelites was ultimately one of life or death ( 1714612836_11; cf. Genesis 1:28; Genesis 2:9; Genesis 3:22-24; Genesis 3:8; Genesis 2:17; Genesis 5:22-24; Genesis 6:9; Genesis 17:1). [2] Moses called the permanent, unchanging heaven and earth to witness the making of this covenant ( Deuteronomy 30:19). Those who made ancient Near Eastern treaties commonly called witnesses to attest them, as God did here. God also urged the people to look at the consequences of their choice and to choose life and obedience deliberately ( Deuteronomy 30:19-20). The highest motive, love for God, would enable the Israelites to obey the Lord steadfastly. They would consequently "live in the land" God had promised the patriarchs ( Deuteronomy 30:20).
"The notion of choice, with its implication of freedom to determine one"s own actions or mode of life, is one which is characteristic of Deuteronomy. God chooses, but human beings also have that freedom." [3]
"Participants in Israel"s liturgies of covenant renewal, listeners to the word of the Lord and the words of Moses, readers of Deuteronomy then and now are all confronted with one of the most explicit calls for a decision that the Bible presents." [4]
This final exhortation lifted Moses" third major address to the people to an emotional climax (cf. Deuteronomy 4:32-40).
"This decision to love or not to love God is one of life"s major decisions." [5]
"The opening words of Moses" first address were "See, I have set before you the land; go in and take possession" ( Deuteronomy 1:8). Now, as his speaking comes to an end, those words are echoed: "See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil ... therefore choose life" ( Deuteronomy 30:15). Between those two addresses is all the teaching of the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances. And therein lies the theological structure of Deuteronomy in a nutshell." [4]