This small group Deuteronomy 10 Bible study guide contains commentary, discussion questions, cross-references, and application to encourage life change. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.
Deuteronomy 10 Bible Study And Questions – Circumcise Your Heart
Outline
I. Moses receives new tablets of stone (1-11)
II. Circumcise your heart (12-22)
I. Moses receives new tablets of stone (1-11)
Discussion Questions
• What is the key event in this passage?
• What does God giving new stones show about His character?
• How might this have encouraged the people who sinned against Him?
• How can this passage encourage you if you have stumbled?
• Did God change His rules to accommodate their weakness?
• What does the fact that God gave the same Ten Commandments again show about His character?
• How does this passage challenge us if we have stumbled?
Cross-References
2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
2 Chronicles 7:14 – If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. He wrote on the tablets the same writing as before –
Here we learn two key lessons.
A. God is gracious and forgives – After their sin, God did not cast them out. He did not abandon them or forsake them.
Deuteronomy 31:6 – Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
God is not just waiting for us to mess up so that He can judge us. The people had committed a serious national sin by creating and worshiping an idol. He would have been completely within His rights to say, “You have broken the covenant. You failed. I’m done.”
He did not do this. Instead, He gave them another chance. Giving another set of stones with the Ten Commandments is a clear picture of God’s faithfulness. God would still fulfill His promises. He was willing to restore and forgive them. He would keep His side of the covenant and give them another chance to do the same.
Application – The Lord compassionately seeks to pick up those who have fallen. You may have committed an egregious sin in God’s sight. It might have left you filled with shame, guilt, and regret. You may think that it has permanently cut you off from God. Others may tell you the same thing. This passage should encourage you. God is willing to restore you. You can be filled with joy and peace again. He can pick up the pieces of your broken life and put it together again.
That does not mean that all consequences of your sin will be erased. It does mean that you can have fellowship with God again.
If you have committed sin, do not despair. Confess it to the Lord and be restored.
Psalms 32:5 – I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
B. God does not change or lower His standards in response to our failures –
While God was willing to forgive and restore them, He did not adjust His standard. The Ten Commandments were given again, exactly the same as they were before. They were not watered down. They were not adjusted in order to accommodate the weakness of the people.
God’s character was unchanged. His requirements for His people were unchanged.
Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Modern-day culture and churches often water down the commandments in Scripture in order to be more “relevant” to less committed Christians. That goes against the very nature of God, which does not change.
Neither does it help. It creates a race to the bottom. When the church compromises with the world to win people from the world, what it wins them to is not different from the world. That type of religion does not transform people. It only creates false security and makes people feel good about themselves without changing their hearts.
The way Jesus dealt with the woman caught in adultery is a very good model for us today. It also reflects what we see of God’s character here in Deuteronomy 10.
Jesus offered grace to the woman. He did not condemn her as the crowds did, instead offering her a way back to Himself. At the same time, He still maintained God’s righteous standard. He clearly said her actions were sin and told her not to do it anymore.
John 8:10-11 – Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
Application – Do not lower God’s standards to alleviate guilt or in an attempt to make the Bible more relevant to culture. God’s standards come from His pure and righteous character. We cannot alter them. The Ten Commandments are set in stone. One reason for that is so that they won’t be erased and changed as society changes. Stand on the clear truth of God’s Word and don’t be swayed by modern criticism of it.
Here are some examples of sins that are against God’s standard but accepted in modern-day culture.
• Premarital sex.
• Divorce and remarriage (with a specific exception).
• Homosexuality.
Reflect – What are other examples of areas where the church has compromised with the world?
2. The Lord set apart the tribe of Levi – The tribe of Levi responded quickly to Moses’ appeal after the golden calf incident. They were chosen as the priestly tribe as a result of their quick repentance and spiritual zeal.
They did not receive a tribal allotment of land as the others did for “the Lord is his inheritance.” They were blessed with something far greater than earthly possessions. It was their privilege to serve the Lord, teach the people, and mediate for them.
Reflect – Would you rather have material possessions or opportunities to serve God?
Serving God sometimes comes with a financial cost. It might mean giving up on a promotion or career. It likely does mean spending time and energy for things that don’t give a physical reward (James 1:27) when you could be in the office earning an overtime paycheck. It definitely does mean holding our finances to God with an open hand and giving Him tithes and offerings, money that could have been used to buy something we want. All of this is worth it.
John 6:27 – Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.
II. Circumcise your heart (12-22)
Discussion Questions
• Moving forward from their failure, what did God want from the people? (12)
• Why did God give them these commandments?
• How is it helpful to know that God’s commandments are “for your good?”
• What does Satan want to tell us about God’s commandments?
• What is the connection between verses 14 and 15?
• What does it mean that the Lord “set His heart in love” on their fathers?
• What does it mean to circumcise your heart?
• What do verses 17 and 18 tell us of God’s character?
• What are some practical ways that the church can apply the principles in verse 18 today?
• Why is the command “love the sojourner” especially important for Israel to follow?
• What can we learn about providence from verse 22?
• Compare your life now to the past. What blessings from the Lord have you experienced?
Cross-References
Proverbs 14:27 – The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.
Psalms 111:10 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
Romans 2:28-29 -For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
1 Corinthians 7:19 – For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.
Galatians 5:6 – For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Fear the Lord your God and walk in His ways –
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 – And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord.
The people expressed repentance. God’s standard had not changed. What were they supposed to do after confessing their sin?
They were supposed to do the same thing that God had called them to do already. They were to fear, love, serve, and obey God.
Though God was gracious, they should not take that grace for granted. They should not presume upon His mercy. They should fear God. That respect of God’s holy and righteous nature would be a foundation to build off of.
The fear of God is the death of every other fear; like a mighty lion, it chases all other fears before it. – Charles Spurgeon
2. God owns everything but still loves you –
Deuteronomy 10:14-15 – Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.
Verse 14 emphasizes God’s sovereign position over the entire universe, which is His creation. It was important for Israel to understand that God’s forgiveness did not mean that He was somehow a peer who was like them. They needed to be reminded of His transcendence.
At the same time, this amazing God purposed to love and choose them. It was not something they deserved. It was purely His sovereign purpose.
These verses are similar to David’s in Psalm 8.
Psalms 8:1, 3-5 – O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
People are literally made from dust. Without God, we are nothing. Yet He gives us value. He loves and cares for us.
Application – The world is obsessed with self-esteem. There are countless books, articles, and videos on how to think more highly of yourselves. This psychological mumbo-jumbo is dangerous because it generally puts man at the center of the universe. It inflates peoples’ ego and encourages narcissism. On the other side of the spectrum, some believers throw pity parties for themselves, talking about their sins all the time. They view themselves as worthless.
The truth is we have great value. But that value is not inherent in and of ourselves. It has been assigned to us by God. He chooses to value us. He chose to put His image in us. Anything good we are is in Him. Our esteem cannot be divorced from a proper understanding of God and our relationship to Him. Rather than focusing on self-love, let us look at ourselves through the eyes of God, remembering that we are sinners but have great worth in His sight. Apart from Him we are nothing.
3. Circumcise your heart –
All the Jewish men would have been circumcised physically according to the law. This was a mark of their obedience to the covenant. However, we have seen throughout the book of Deuteronomy that the heart is more important than external rituals. The Lord wanted more than external obedience. He wanted them to love and serve Him from the heart.
Having a right relationship with God has always been more important than religious ritual, even in the Old Testament.
Throughout history, people have gravitated toward religious rituals as a way to draw close to God.
Many in the church have turned to rituals as a way to seek salvation.
But religion does not bring us to God. Martin Luther discovered that.
In the monastery, Martin Luther was driven to find acceptance with God through his works. He wrote: “I tortured myself with prayer, fasting, vigils, and freezing; the frost alone might have killed me.”
Elsewhere he recalled: “When I was a monk, I wearied myself greatly for almost fifteen years with the daily sacrifice, tortured myself with fastings, vigils, prayers, and other very rigorous works.
I earnestly thought to acquire righteousness by my works.”
Later, Luther traveled to Rome and ascended the Scala Sancta, supposedly the same steps Jesus climbed when he appeared before Pontius Pilate. Luther crawled up on his knees and kissed each step, saying the Lord’s Prayer at every step. When he arrived at the top, he said, “Who knows whether this is true?” It didn’t make him feel any closer to God.
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/fortress-truth-martin-luther
Application – Circumcision of the heart means that we should be mindful of our heart motivations.
• For every decision we make, we should evaluate our motivations. You should ask yourself if you are making a decision because others expect you to or pressure you or because that is what God is calling you to do.
• Are you buying a house because this is the best way to please God by being a good steward or because everyone around you, including your parents-in-law, wants you to?
• Are you pursuing a higher degree because of pressure from family or because you want to please God?
• Are you going to a prayer meeting because you are expected to or because that is what you believe God wants you to do?
• Do you sing loudly during worship to make a joyful noise to God or because your wife looks at you funny if you aren’t singing?
• Do you go to church because that is expected of you on Sunday? Because it is a habit?
This doesn’t mean that we are to be prideful or lone rangers off doing our own thing without listening to counsel. We should be humble in how we relate to others.
But you should develop your own convictions. If you don’t have a solid root and convictions based on God’s Word, you will be like a leaf floating on a river, going wherever the current pushes it.
Proverbs 4:23 – Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
4. God’s character (verse 18) –
Deuteronomy 10:18 – He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.
There is a tender spot in God’s heart for the oppressed and outcast. He loves those whom the world does not. Jesus demonstrated the same compassion for the weak by spending time with “tax collectors and sinners” (Luke 15:1).
God’s morals are far different than the world’s. Charles Darwin popularized the concept of “survival of the fittest.” Humankind was already prone to trample on those who couldn’t defend themselves. This demonic philosophy exacerbated that problem. Many of the worst atrocities against people were committed by people who were heavily influenced by Darwinism, including Hitler and the architects of the evil so-called “Final Solution,” which targeted Jews, the mentally handicapped, and the elderly for extinction.
The world often despises those who can’t or don’t protect themselves. God reaches out and cares for them. He wants us to do the same.
Application – How can you get involved in ministering to the weak or oppressed? Share some practical ways that you and your church can represent God’s compassionate nature to the unloved.
James 1:27 – Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
5. Love the sojourner –
Deuteronomy 10:19 – Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
The Jews were foreigners in Egypt for hundreds of years. There they were trodden on by the locals. The Lord did not want them to bitterly follow this example by ill-treating the foreigners who would sojourn in their land. He called them to be different. Their memories of how they were ill-treated should encourage them to be different.
Reflect – How can you “love the sojourner?”
Application – Rise above your past experiences. Do not use them as an excuse for sin. Here is an example of a practical way to apply this principle.
• Your father was absent from the home and didn’t love you. When you have a family of your own, let those memories motivate you to be different so that your child does not have to go through that.
Reflect – Can you think of other practical examples?
6. Count your blessings –
Deuteronomy 10:22 – Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.
Israel was reminded of how far they had come. They were a small clan of only seventy people. God multiplied them, making them a great nation as numerous as the stars of heaven.
Take note of where that happened. Most of that multiplication took place in Egypt, the place of their worst afflictions as a nation. God often works through adversity.
Application – When you are tempted to be discouraged, look back at God’s blessings in your life. Consider how far you have come. Think about even how He has used difficulties in your life to shape and grow you.
“Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it may surprise you what the Lord has done.” – Johnson Oatman Jr.
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