Many religions refer to the goal of reaching an enlightened state. This was a common element in the various religions of the Ancient Near East (ANE), as well. The broad culture of the ANE presumed that the ultimate good for human existence is to see things from a higher perspective, to gain a sense of moral clarity that made one a source of moral truth. As always, the terms of such a discussion were symbolic, because it was commonly understood that intellect alone was insufficient. They believed that the intellect could not follow the heart into enlightenment, but would have to learn to obey the heart. How a man might gain such enlightenment varied among the different religions of the ANE, but there was a common element of seeking it from the one or more deities.
So a basic assumption of Old Testament religion was that Jehovah alone could grant a transcendent moral clarity. And it would require a persistent effort to act on the more obvious requirements of the Covenant, but to also contemplate on what those commands meant more broadly. It was expected that one seeking enlightenment from God would begin by trying to personalize the Law, to see through the commandments to the divine moral character of God as a Person. It’s not as if no one young ever received such a wondrous gift, but it was considered typical that it might take most of a person’s life to push aside the self enough to catch a glimpse of the divine. But it was always within reach to anyone who really wanted it.
The Hebrew traditions understood the heart as the seat of commitment and moral identity. You could have a heart committed to the wrong things, for sure, so the language of the Covenant documents are filled with admonitions to commit oneself to Jehovah as Lord and head of the household, and to learn to love Him as adoring children.
This chapter opens with Moses reminding the people, while they yet camped east of the Jordan River, that their whole existence as a nation rested on the Covenant. Look at all the wonders Jehovah performed on your behalf, Israel! This is a part of the Covenant, part of His promises to us. You’ve seen things with your own eyes that other nations only imagine.
And why has God not yet given them that divine enlightenment (v.4)? The implication is that they haven’t persisted in trying to understand what the Covenant really means. Forty years they’ve been led faithfully by God’s servant. Their clothes and sandals didn’t wear out; they’ve lived a very pure nomadic existence without conventional bread or wine. Of course, there is grand symbolism in the reference bread and wine, so don’t miss that. He also defeated King Og of Bashan and added his kingdom of vast grassy ranges to the Promised Land, much to the delight of two-and-a-half cowboy tribes. The point is that His hand has been gentle, but they have been disciplined. Did it do any good? Have they gotten the message?
Not if Moses has to remind them to devote themselves to the Covenant. So let’s review: Every member of the nation was standing before Moses to hear the reminder of the Covenant requirements, as well as every ally hanging out with the nation, because they are under that Covenant even if they don’t embrace full covenant identity. There is no excuse; nothing has been kept secret from anyone. The whole point is that not a single person under covenant obligations can complain that they didn’t get the word.
Turn your heart to the Lord!
Now, surely there will be some smarty pants in the assembly who thinks he can hide in the crowd. Somebody out there is bitter and bears a poisonous attitude, thinking to himself that he won’t stand out. He pretends that a drunk man can walk along with sober men and nobody will notice he’s tipsy. The Lord is watching every heart. Don’t be a fool; God will distinguish between those who intend to obey Him and those who are just playing along for the sake of convenience. Jehovah will pile on this man all the curses individually that are indicated as penalties in the Law for the whole nation.
Can you recall seeing the land of Sodom and Gomorrah near the Dead Sea? Do people not still marvel over the ruins of it today? Elder generations tell the younger folks how the evil of the residents there brought down such destruction upon themselves. Other nations near the ruins tell strangers the same story of how God simply could not tolerate them, even in a fallen world, any longer. And would not the same thing happen to Israel if they forsake the Covenant? Well, it can happen to individuals, too.
God does keep some secrets, but He has been quite generous with revealing the Covenant requirements. We have them in writing; God Himself wrote them down for us. No other deity has granted this much insight to any other nation.
