If you have a child in your life, you are very familiar with the question, “Why?” This question particularly emerges when children are given instructions. They want to know why they can’t have a second dessert or why they have to wear their jacket when it is freezing cold outside. The truth is, there is a purpose behind every instruction given by good parents who only want the best for their children. The same is true with God, our Heavenly Father. There is a purpose behind every single instruction in Scripture that is given from Him. He gives us instructions because He knows that if we obey Him, we will reap the benefits of following His instructions to us.
As Solomon finished describing His search for satisfaction in the book of Ecclesiastes, He concluded in Ecclesiastes 12, “Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey His commands” (verse 3). Earlier in our Bible study together, we focused on the first part of this command: “Fear God.” Today, we will focus on the second part of this command: “Obey His commands.” We can find all of God’s commands throughout Scripture. When Solomon wrote these commands, the people of Israel did not have the New Testament, so the commandments from God that would have been on his mind as he wrote would likely have been the 10 Commandments found in Deuteronomy chapter 5. This list of commandments includes instructions such as do not have idols, do not lie, do not murder, and more. As we read this list of instructions, it is clear that if we follow them, not only will God be honored, but we will also live satisfied, peaceful, and harmonious lives with God and with the people around us. These rules are given first and foremost, so that we will glorify and honor God, but also so that we can live satisfied lives as we follow and obey Him.
It is clear from our Scripture reading today that we have a God who desires for us to live joyful and satisfied lives in Him. When we obey, we walk on the path toward this kind of life that God desires for us. What a wise and loving God that we serve, that He would take the time to help us understand how to live lives that are fully satisfied and fulfilled in Him!
What is one instruction God has placed on your heart to obey? Take a moment to think about the benefits of obeying that instruction. Yes, most importantly, you will honor God, but you will also benefit from obedience. Write down the instruction that God has called you to obey, as well as the benefit of obedience. Then, commit to taking that step of obedience, knowing the good that will come from obeying Him.
Prayer Prompt: Use this prompt to guide you as you pray.
“God, Your word leads me on the path that leads to life. I praise you for…”
1Moses called all the people of Israel together and said, “Listen carefully, Israel. Hear the decrees and regulations I am giving you today, so you may learn them and obey them!
2 “The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Mount Sinai. 3 The Lord did not make this covenant with our ancestors, but with all of us who are alive today. 4 At the mountain the Lord spoke to you face to face from the heart of the fire. 5 I stood as an intermediary between you and the Lord, for you were afraid of the fire and did not want to approach the mountain. He spoke to me, and I passed his words on to you. This is what he said:
6 “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.
7 “You must not have any other god but me.
8 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind, or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 9 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 10 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
11 “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
12 “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. 13 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your oxen and donkeys and other livestock, and any foreigners living among you. All your male and female servants must rest as you do. 15 Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, but the Lord your God brought you out with his strong hand and powerful arm. That is why the Lord your God has commanded you to rest on the Sabbath day.
16 “Honor your father and mother, as the Lord your God commanded you. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
17 “You must not murder.
18 “You must not commit adultery.
19 “You must not steal.
20 “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
21 “You must not covet your neighbor’s wife. You must not covet your neighbor’s house or land, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.
22 “The Lord spoke these words to all of you assembled there at the foot of the mountain. He spoke with a loud voice from the heart of the fire, surrounded by clouds and deep darkness. This was all he said at that time, and he wrote his words on two stone tablets and gave them to me.
23 “But when you heard the voice from the heart of the darkness, while the mountain was blazing with fire, all your tribal leaders and elders came to me. 24 They said, ‘Look, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice from the heart of the fire. Today we have seen that God can speak to us humans, and yet we live! 25 But now, why should we risk death again? If the Lord our God speaks to us again, we will certainly die and be consumed by this awesome fire. 26 Can any living thing hear the voice of the living God from the heart of the fire as we did and yet survive? 27 Go yourself and listen to what the Lord our God says. Then come and tell us everything he tells you, and we will listen and obey.’
28 “The Lord heard the request you made to me. And he said, ‘I have heard what the people said to you, and they are right. 29 Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands! If they did, they and their descendants would prosper forever. 30 Go and tell them, “Return to your tents.” 31 But you stand here with me so I can give you all my commands, decrees, and regulations. You must teach them to the people so they can obey them in the land I am giving them as their possession.’”
32 So Moses told the people, “You must be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God, following his instructions in every detail. 33 Stay on the path that the Lord your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy.
