Deu 26:16-19 | MHM | STEP | Deuteronomy 26:16-19: Israel Reminded of the Covenant In these verses, Moses reminds Israel about the importance of keeping God’s laws. He tells the people that these commands come directly from God, not from human ideas. Moses also explains that their relationship with God is like a covenant, or a special promise, between them and God. Both sides have responsibilities: Israel must obey God, and God promises to make them His special people. Obeying God brings honor and blessing, and God wants Israel to be holy and different from other nations (Deuteronomy 26:16-19 ). v. 16 : Moses says that the laws he has given are God’s commands . The people should obey them with all their heart and soul, because God is their King and has the right to be obeyed. They are not just suggestions, but must be followed fully and sincerely.

‏ Deuteronomy 26:16-19

Deuteronomy 26:16-19: Israel Reminded of the Covenant

In these verses, Moses reminds Israel about the importance of keeping God’s laws. He tells the people that these commands come directly from God, not from human ideas. Moses also explains that their relationship with God is like a covenant, or a special promise, between them and God. Both sides have responsibilities: Israel must obey God, and God promises to make them His special people. Obeying God brings honor and blessing, and God wants Israel to be holy and different from other nations (Deuteronomy 26:16-19 ^a).

v. 16: Moses says that the laws he has given are God’s commands . The people should obey them with all their heart and soul, because God is their King and has the right to be obeyed. They are not just suggestions, but must be followed fully and sincerely.

v. 17: The people of Israel have promised that Lord will be their God . By agreeing to this covenant, they are committing themselves to obey God’s laws. This is like a promise or oath that they must keep faithfully (Exodus 24:1-8 ^b).

v. 18: God, in turn, has chosen Israel to be His special people, just as He promised. Their obedience is both the condition for staying in this special relationship and the reason God chose them, so that they would keep His commandments (Deuteronomy 26:18; 1 Peter 1:2 ^c; Ephesians 1:4; Titus 2:14 ^d).

v. 19: God’s goal is to make Israel great—high in praise, in reputation, and in honor above all nations. But most of all, God wants them to be a holy people who belong to Him and live for Him. True honor comes from holiness and obedience to God (Deuteronomy 26:19; Romans 2:29 ^e; Zephaniah 3:19-20; Jeremiah 13:11 ^f).