THAT THEY MAY LEARN TO REVERE ME: " 'The fear of
Yahweh' is the beginning of wisdom (Deu 6:2), and this reverential awe is
induced by hearing (Deu 4:2), doing (Deu 5:29), keeping (Deu 6:2), serving (Deu
6:13), and walking (Deu 8:6). Thus it is no inarticulate, superstitious awe of
the unknown, but a respectful, reverential love for One who has revealed Himself
in His Word, and whose goodness has been experienced in our lives"
(GEM).
Deu 4:11
BLACK: Sig absence of light (cp Heb 12:18).
CLOUDS: "Whirlwind". Cp with "tempest" in Heb 12:18.
God speaks out of the whirlwind.
DEEP DARKNESS: "Murky darkness": sig the veiling of
their minds to the gospel (2Co 3:15).
Deu 4:13
ON TWO STONE TABLETS: All 10 commandments were written
twice! All 10 were written on each stone: ie one copy for God and one for
Israel. Both parties to the covenant had a copy (Xd 118:220).
Deu 4:16
DO NOT BECOME CORRUPT AND MAKE FOR YOURSELVES AN IDOL, AN
IMAGE OF ANY SHAPE...: Thus there is little great Heb art or sculpture.
Idolatry: "Any attempt to limit God, by our own definitions... is virtually to
fashion Him into an image of ourselves. We need a stmt of our faith about God,
but God is not confined in it anymore than He was in Solomon's temple" (Xd
118:220).
Deu 4:23
Jewish Christians told not to forsake the assembly, nor to
follow other gods (Heb 10:25; 12:25,29).