Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
6/11 Reading Portions: Deuteronomy 16; Psalm 103; Isaiah 43; Revelation 13
Deuteronomy 16:12
“You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt; and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.”
OBSERVATION
The King James Version renders the verse in this way:
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.
Both the ESV and the KJV are worthy translations of the original Hebrew. Yet how can we apply this verse to our lives as sinners saved by God’s grace? We must take it to Christ’s cross to glean meaning through the truth of gospel grace. Since the Passover Feast and the Feast of Weeks were fulfilled in Christ’s sacrifice at Passover and His sending the Holy Spirit seven weeks later at Pentecost, we must understand that our observation of the feasts is a spiritual one. For what sacrifice need be brought by our feeble hands when our Lord’s was all-sufficient? Moreover, you and I were not literal slaves in Egypt, as Israel had been. Therefore, our observation of these statutes and our performance of them must be, first, a transforming spiritual reality within, which affects our behavior in daily life. When we are careful to observe (ESV), or when we observe and do (KJV), we are guarding, protecting, preserving, and even cherishing its truth (be careful to observe); and the effective result of this protection is gospel behavior and gospel works produced from our lives (observe and do). We don’t do good work in order to be forgiven. Good, gospel work flows from our lives because we’ve been forgiven. Faith by God’s grace in Christ that doesn’t transform our lives…
…is dead, being alone. James 2:17, KJV
Our verse today foreshadows the reality of God’s grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It basically says, “Remember your deliverance from Egypt’s bondage; and as a result, you will guard the truth and live accordingly.” Paul says the same thing in a different way:
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, [that is, because God has saved you mercifully in Christ, therefore, this would be your resultant life] to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1, [bracketed exposition added]
Hallelujah! What a Savior!