19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (KJV)
The great purpose for life is knowing the Lord and making Him known to others.
The Choices in Life (verse 19)
- The Observation (verse 19a)
The life they lived would be examined by God and scrutinized or inspected by others. Every aspect of our lives is being observed. - The Selection (verse 19a, Proverbs 14:12, Matthew 7:13-14)
- The Admonition (verse 19b)
Following the Lord, through faith in Him alone, would lead to life. Departure from faith in God and His ways would lead to death and suffering, not only for them but for future generations.
The Challenge for Life (verse 20a)
- Their Devotion (verse 20) “That thou mayest love the LORD thy God”
- Their Submission (verse 20) “That thou mayest obey his voice”
- Their Communion (verse 20) “That thou mayest cleave unto him”
Moses also challenged them to cleave unto the Lord. This is the same word God used as He spoke to Adam about cleaving to his wife. It has the idea of clinging to in a persistent way or to be loyal.
The Creator of Life (verse 20b)
- He is our source (verse 20b, John14:6, Colossians 3:4)
- He is our sustainer (verse 20b)
- He is our satisfaction (verse 20b)