Deuteronomy 30:9-14 (NRSV)
Read Deuteronomy 30:9-14 on biblegateway.com
Verse 9and the Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all your undertakings, in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your soil. For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, just as he delighted in prospering your ancestors, Verse 10when you obey the Lord your God by observing his commandments and decrees that are written in this book of the law, because you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Verse 11Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. Verse 12It is not in heaven, that you should say, "Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?" Verse 13Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, "Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?" Verse 14No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.
Devotion
In the verses that precede our text, our author hopes that years in exile have had many positive effects. God is about to bring Israel back to their homeland. There he will bless them in field, flock and family. They in turn will love the Lord and obey his commandments as they promised at Sinai.
Our covenant relationship with God began when we were baptized. After that, is anything expected of us? If so, are these expectations clear? Do our misdeeds have consequences? Do we not sometimes go into exile, too? Positively, do God’s blessings evoke our thankfulness and love, including keeping the commandments? As to Israel in Babylon, God offers us new life and a fresh start every day with his forgiveness.
Prayer
Lord, we know that you are faithful in keeping your commitments to us. Help us to be faithful also to you. Amen.