What does God require?

And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? – Deuteronomy 10.12-13

There are several places where God says that there are things that He expects His people to do. There is a popular list in Micah where we are told that God expects us to do justly and love mercy and walk humbly with God.

Here is another great list:

Fear the Lord God

Walk in God’s ways

Love Him

Serve the Lord with all your heart

Keep His commandments

God expects His people to act a certain way. The Jews were bound by the Law. We on the other hand, are not bound in the same way. But Jesus said ‘if you love me keep my commandments.’ Our lives should reflect Jesus’s summary of the Law ‘love God and love others.’

The Micah list would suit ‘love your neighbour’ and these suit the ‘love God.’

How don’t know how the phrase is in Hebrew, but right in the middle of this is ‘love God’ and with that at the centre fear Him and walk in His ways and serve Him and keep His commandments all fall into place.

And at the end of the list?

These are for your good. God is good and He alone really knows what is good for us.