Deuteronomy 10:14–15

For God to dwell with men on earth would need an astounding act of grace, for the heavens and the heaven of heavens cannot contain God. He is infinite, without limits, and present everywhere at all times. We cannot understand the greatness of His being. Nothing can hold Him, yet in a very real sense He lived in the temple, in the most holy place, though in thick darkness. This is a paradox in which we may rejoice.

Moses goes on to show that the Lord had perfect title to Israel's obedience, for heaven and earth belong to God (v.14). More than that, God had shown true delight in the fathers of Israel — Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — choosing them and their descendants above all other nations (v.15).

Jehovah speaks through Moses and reminds His people of Himself and His Love and what He requires of them... What a marvellous call to fear and serve such a Lord! What He required of them was a loving obedience, to fear Him, to walk in all His ways, to love Him and to serve Him.

What a marvellous privilege to be chosen and loved by the Possessor of heaven and earth! What an honour to be called to serve and obey Him!... They were joined to the Most High God and called by His Name. They were His own people, His special possession, the people of His choice. He set them apart from all the nations of the earth to be the servants of Jehovah and His witnesses.

First, then, it is the earthly part of revelation, as the New Testament is the heavenly part. It is addressed to the earthly people, and even at its widest reach of prophecy it gives an earthly outlook. Nowhere does the law promise a heavenly portion, even on condition; it promises an earthly one... "The heavens are the heavens of the Lord; the earth He has given to the children of men."

Let us not refuse the wholesome word "obligation" as though it had a legal ring about it. Far from it. Nothing could be further from any thought of legality than the obligations that flow out of the Christian's position... They all rest on privileges given to us by the sovereign grace of God, through the precious blood of Christ.

God reveals His love when and as He will. So in the Old Testament He spoke of it, but only in connection with Israel. He never even mentioned it in any divine message that has come down to us until the closing days of Moses, the great lawgiver. Then in the Book of Deuteronomy (Deut. 4:37; 7:7; 10:15; 23:5) it is first disclosed. He had loved their fathers. He loved them too... Constantly showing His love, God did not speak of it to them until Moses in his dying charge revealed it. God speaks of His love to act, if possible, on those to whom He reveals it... It was a love that never faltered, as Malachi made clear (Mal. 1:2).

What a marvellous privilege to be chosen and loved by the Possessor of heaven and earth! What an honour to be called to serve and obey Him! Surely nothing in all this world could be higher or better. To be identified and associated with the Most High God! To have His Name called upon them, to be His special people, His special possession, the people of His choice! To be set apart from all the nations of the earth as the servants of the LORD and His witnesses! What could exceed this, except the calling given to the church of God and to the individual believer?

Moses proceeds to show how the LORD had perfect title to Israel's obedience, for heaven and earth belong to God (v.14). Even more, God had shown true delight in the fathers of Israel — Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He chose them and their descendants above all other nations (v.15).

The answer is that God made choice of them in His sovereign wisdom. We read in Deuteronomy 7-8 that the LORD did not choose them because they outnumbered other nations. In fact, they were the fewest. No, the only reason that God could give for His choice was that He loved them. There was nothing in them to draw out His love in contrast with others. The reason lay in His own nature. Here lies the solid foundation of the blessing into which the Lord brings His people.

Israel, as a nation, had a special place in the ways of God. He loved them and set them apart from the nations. Even so, He wanted them to know His attitude to the strangers who lived among them. In the chapter where Moses said, "the LORD set His heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them," he also said, "He... loves the stranger, in giving him food and clothing. Love the stranger therefore, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt" (Deut. 10:15, 18-19).

Therefore he tells them to circumcise the foreskin of their heart. That is, cut off the selfish, fleshly desires of their heart, and "be stiff-necked no longer" (v.16). Being stiff-necked refers to the stubbornness of wanting our own way. But would Israel be corrected by being told this? Sadly, no! Only the New Testament shows the way of proper correction.

The message of Malachi begins with the sublime statement, "I have loved you, says the LORD." It is the message to Israel. This love is written large on every page of their history... And this generation, brought back through His mercy from Babylon... could brazenly answer back, "How have You loved us?" How deep they had sunk! Even worse is the deadness of a Christianity that is Christian in name only. It rejects, yes, despises, the great love with which He has loved us in the gift of His Son.