Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: 2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.

Moses’ Commission From God to Teach Israel

Moses was commission by God to teach Israel the commandments, statutes and judgments of God. These were given to Moses beginning with the 10 commandments but ultimately incorporated over 600 laws and principles that incorporated everything that would impact and shape God’s nation. The Law of God would shape, form and define the people of God.

Moses said There were three purposes of the giving of the law.

First, that Israel might “do them” when they came into the promised land of Canann. The commandments and statutes were to be the rule of law, the common practices of the nation once they began to live in the land after they had conquered it. They were not just words written and then forgotten but they were the guidelines for the life of a nation and they were to be lived by.

Secondly, the law was given that they would know the fear of God. This word fear comes from the Hebrew word יָרֵא yârê’which means to fear; to revere. The law was to teach God’s people the  fear of God that they would reverence God. Through the law, they would glimpse the character of God. Jehovah was holy, righteous, just and true. His law was exactly the same.

The third purpose of the law was that the people might know the blessings of God. Moses tells them, “that thy days may be prolonged.” He is speaking of the days, the span of life for those who heard him and for all future generations. “Thou, thy son, and thy son’s son.” If the nation of Israel want the future generations to be blessed by God then they must keep the law given by God. What was true of their families in turn was also true of their nation, because the strength of a nation is built on the strength of its families. Weak families make a weak nation, strong families make a strong nation.

The Law’s Purpose Still Applies Today

Following God, Fearing God and Finding the blessing of God are still core values for the people of God today.

No, we are not Israel and some of the laws, like the laws of food and marriage within the nation of Israel no longer apply. They were for Israel, not for the world. But the moral law of God, those basics, foundational laws given in the Ten Commandments of God did not get canceled in the New Testament.

The Ten Commandments – Exodus 20:3-17

Thou shall have no other gods before me.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images.

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

Honor your father and mother.

Thou shalt not murder.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shall not bear false witness.

Thou shall not covet your neighbor.

The Purpose of the Law - Galatians 3:21-24 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

We can’t keep the law in order to be saved, but we must understand that the Law reveals the righteousness of God and my sinfulness. I dare not ignore it, or try to destroy it. Instead, by the working of grace and the Holy Spirit in me, I understand that Jesus fulfilled the law, that I could not and only in and through Him can I be saved.

The law could never save me, but the law can absolutely tell me and tell a nation what is right and wrong according to God who created all things.

The same principles of the purpose of God’s moral laws still apply, we strive to do them because they are right. We keep them knowing that God blesses those obey Him and he punishes those who do not. And we do them so that we and our children and grandchildren might have a good and a long life and through them our nation may be blessed and prosper.

I could at this point bring up statistics, studies and case histories that would show the truth of what Moses told the people of Israel that day. Those groups of people who best keep God’s moral law have good lives and those who ignore God’s laws suffer in this life. Their families suffer and many individuals will physically die before they should have because they ignored God and His will as it was revealed in the moral law.

Want to see the highest death rate for any group in the world? Do you want to see the least life expectancy? Do you want to see the worst dysfunctional families? All you have to do is look at those groups which hate God, his Word and His law the most. There you will see terrible lives, broken families and early deaths. The second most in those categories will be those who may not hate God’s law, but they simply choose to ignore it. No outdated morality for them. No Old Testament God of wrath for their kids. Just write it all off and try and find your own way. They are their own arbitrators of good and evil and then suffer the consequences of their own failed godhood. For only God can define what is right and will bless and what is sinful and will bring death.

Moses received the Law from God. He passed it on to the nation of Israel that they might do God’s will, honor and fear God and be blessed by God and live along with their generations a prosperous, long life.