The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. Deuteronomy 6:24
We obey God’s decrees so we might prosper. It’s not keeping God’s laws that make us right with God, but rather it’s faith in God’s promises. Faith says God’s laws are worth keeping.
Constable writes in his commentary: “Later Judaism wrongly concluded that covenant keeping was the basis for righteousness rather than an expression of faithful devotion.”
So often we wrongly conclude too. We think that obeying God’s laws makes us right with him. Yet we’re incapable of obeying his laws. Adam and Eve couldn’t even obey one law, and we wouldn’t have fared any better. Solomon, the wisest and smartest king in history wasn’t able to obey, yet we keep on thinking we can. Through the ages, people have consistently tried and failed to obey God’s laws.
As Moses says we keep the laws not to attain righteousness but so “we might always prosper.” We live by faith, believing his laws are for our good.
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” Deuteronomy 10:12-13
Honouring God’s commandments demonstrates our faith. We believe it’s to our advantage to obey. They’re not random or arbitrary instructions but designed for our protection and provision.
Living a godly life is an expression of faithful devotion to God, not the basis of righteousness.
