Observe to Do Deuteronomy 5

Deuteronomy 5:2 "The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb."

Moses reminds the children of Israel of the covenant the Lord made with them. He says not just our fathers but with "us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day."

Then he goes over the ten commandments that so frighten our Supreme Court.

-No other gods before me
-No images
-Don't take the Lord's name in vain
-Keep the sabbath
-Honour father and mother
-Thou shalt not kill
-Don't commit adultery
-Don't steal
-Don't bear false witness
-Don't covet

I have paraphrased them. It seems like a lot of don'ts but they are all guidelines for a descent life and even have promises i.e. live long if we honour fathers and mothers.

Then Moses reveals the heart of God starting in verse 29.

"O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments, always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!"

If the desire to do right was in the hearts of the people then there would be no need for the strong discipline to get them to do right. They would want to do right.

Then the Lord told them to go back into their tents and he spoke to Moses concerning the commands. "Observe to do" was the watchword. Why was the Lord so firm that Israel do as he told them v33 "Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess."

Psalm 36:7 "How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings."