Deuteronomy Chapter 5 – Special Words for a Special People
We are certainly special in God’s eyes, “a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth” (7:6-8; 1 Pet 2:9). Therefore, He has given us special words not given to others (4:8), especially the “ten words”, as the 10 commandments are called in the Hebrew Bible.
The Decalogue is special in that it signifies a closeness to God not experienced by other communities (4:7), for the people were within the hearing range of the voice of God who not only wrote the 10 commandments with His very finger but spoke them into their ears (5:22-23), a “face-to-face” encounter (5:4). God had decided to show His people His glory and His greatness, yet preserving them alive (5:24), a privilege that cannot be taken for granted (5:25-26; 4:33).
The desire of God was to bless His people with these “ten words”, for they were words of life that will ensure the well-being of the obedient (5:29,33; 30:16). But alas, as Paul the apostle would say thousands of years later: “And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death” (Rom 7:10).
The congregation at the burning mountain instinctively smelt death, as they knew within themselves their propensity to sin, to choose death rather than life (30:15-19). So they feared to draw near to God, choosing to stand afar and declining to hear God’s voice again (5:25; Ex 20:19:18-19), instead of becoming that intended special people, a kingdom of priests (Ex 19:6).
Today, the Lord likewise set before us two clear options, as distinct as two mountains, Gerizim and Ebal (11:26-29). And He still calls out to us: “choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (30:19).
