Deuteronomy 10:10
I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights, like the first time, and that time the LORD again listened to me and agreed not to destroy you.
I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights
The phrase "forty days and forty nights" is significant throughout Scripture, often symbolizing a period of testing, trial, or preparation. Moses' time on the mountain parallels the forty days and nights of rain during the flood (Genesis 7:12) and Jesus' fasting in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2). This period emphasizes the completeness and sufficiency of the time spent in God's presence. The mountain, likely Mount Sinai, is a place of divine revelation and covenant, where Moses received the Law.

like the first time
This refers to Moses' initial ascent to receive the Ten Commandments (Exodus 24:18). The repetition underscores the importance of the covenant and God's willingness to renew it despite Israel's sin with the golden calf (Exodus 32). It highlights God's mercy and the opportunity for repentance and restoration.

and that time the LORD again listened to me
Moses' intercession for Israel is a key theme, demonstrating the power of prayer and the role of a mediator. This anticipates the ultimate mediation of Christ (1 Timothy 2:5), who intercedes on behalf of humanity. God's willingness to listen reflects His grace and readiness to forgive, aligning with His character as described in Exodus 34:6-7.

and agreed not to destroy you
This phrase underscores God's mercy and patience. Despite Israel's rebellion, God chooses not to execute judgment, illustrating His covenant faithfulness. This act of divine forbearance is echoed in other instances, such as Jonah's mission to Nineveh (Jonah 3:10). It also foreshadows the ultimate deliverance through Christ, who saves humanity from spiritual destruction (John 3:16-17).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The central figure in this passage, Moses is the leader of the Israelites and the mediator between God and His people. He intercedes on behalf of the Israelites to prevent their destruction.

2. The Mountain (Mount Sinai/Horeb)
The location where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. It is a place of divine revelation and covenant renewal.

3. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who listens to Moses' intercession and shows mercy to the Israelites.

4. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, who are at risk of destruction due to their disobedience and idolatry, specifically the incident of the golden calf.

5. The Forty Days and Forty Nights
A significant period of time in biblical accounts, symbolizing a time of testing, trial, and divine encounter.
Teaching Points
The Power of Intercession
Moses' intercession demonstrates the power and importance of standing in the gap for others. As believers, we are called to pray for others, trusting that God hears and responds to our prayers.

God's Mercy and Patience
Despite the Israelites' repeated failures, God shows mercy. This teaches us about God's patience and willingness to forgive, encouraging us to seek His forgiveness and extend it to others.

The Significance of Time with God
Moses' forty days and nights on the mountain highlight the importance of spending dedicated time with God. We are encouraged to prioritize our relationship with Him through prayer and study of His Word.

The Role of a Mediator
Moses serves as a mediator between God and the Israelites, pointing to the ultimate mediator, Jesus Christ. This underscores the necessity of Christ's intercession for our salvation.

Obedience and Covenant Faithfulness
The Israelites' situation reminds us of the importance of obedience to God's commands and faithfulness to His covenant. Our actions have consequences, but God's grace is available when we repent.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Moses' role as an intercessor in Deuteronomy 10:10 inspire you to pray for others in your life?

2. In what ways can you relate the forty days and nights Moses spent on the mountain to your own spiritual journey and time spent with God?

3. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's mercy and patience. How does this passage encourage you to extend the same to others?

4. How does understanding Jesus as our ultimate mediator enhance your appreciation of Moses' intercession in this passage?

5. What steps can you take to ensure that you remain obedient and faithful to God's covenant in your daily life? Consider connections to other scriptures that emphasize obedience and faithfulness.
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 32-34
These chapters provide the background to Moses' intercession, detailing the sin of the golden calf and God's initial decision to destroy the Israelites.

Numbers 14
Another instance where Moses intercedes for the Israelites after their rebellion, highlighting the recurring theme of intercession and God's mercy.

Psalm 106:23
This verse reflects on Moses' role as an intercessor, emphasizing the importance of his prayer in averting God's wrath.

Hebrews 7:25
This New Testament passage speaks of Jesus as our ultimate intercessor, drawing a parallel to Moses' role in the Old Testament.
Tokens of MercyJ. Orr Deuteronomy 10:1-12
ProgressD. Davies Deuteronomy 10:6-11
New ObedienceR.M. Edgar Deuteronomy 10:10-22
People
Aaron, Eleazar, Jaakanites, Jakan, Levi, Moses
Places
Beeroth Bene-jaakan, Beth-baal-peor, Egypt, Jotbathah, Moserah, Sinai
Topics
Destroy, Destruction, Ears, First-time, Former, Forty, Hearkened, Hearkeneth, Listened, Moreover, Mount, Mountain, Nights, Open, Prayer, Stayed, Stood, Unwilling, Willed, Willing
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Deuteronomy 10:9

     5661   brothers
     5705   inheritance, spiritual

Deuteronomy 10:8-9

     1350   covenant, with Israel's priests

Library
Election and Holiness
Now, this morning it may be that some of you will not approve of what I have to say. You will remember, however, that I do not seek your approbation, that it will be sufficient for me if I have cleared my conscience concerning a grand truth and have preached the gospel faithfully. I am not accountable to you, nor you to me. You are accountable to God, if you reject a truth; I am accountable to Him if I preach an error. I am not afraid to stand before His bar with regard to the great doctrines which
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 6: 1860

Book iii. The Ascent: from the River Jordan to the Mount of Transfiguration.
{hebrew} In every passage of Scripture where thou findest the Majesty of God, thou also findest close by His Condescension (Humility). So it is written down in the Law [Deut. x. 17, followed by verse 18], repeated in the Prophets [Is. lvii. 15], and reiterated in the Hagiographa [Ps. lxviii. 4, followed by verse 5].' - Megill 31 a.
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

a survey of the third and closing discourse of the prophet
We shall now, in conclusion, give a survey of the third and closing discourse of the prophet. After an introduction in vi. 1, 2, where the mountains serve only to give greater solemnity to the scene (in the fundamental passages Deut. xxxii. 1, and in Is. 1, 2, "heaven and earth" are mentioned for the same purposes, inasmuch as they are the most venerable parts of creation; "contend with the mountains" by taking them in and applying to [Pg 522] them as hearers), the prophet reminds the people of
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Commerce
The remarkable change which we have noticed in the views of Jewish authorities, from contempt to almost affectation of manual labour, could certainly not have been arbitrary. But as we fail to discover here any religious motive, we can only account for it on the score of altered political and social circumstances. So long as the people were, at least nominally, independent, and in possession of their own land, constant engagement in a trade would probably mark an inferior social stage, and imply
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Sanctification.
I. I will remind you of some points that have been settled in this course of study. 1. The true intent and meaning of the law of God has been, as I trust, ascertained in the lectures on moral government. Let this point if need be, be examined by reference to those lectures. 2. We have also seen, in those lectures, what is not, and what is implied in entire obedience to the moral law. 3. In those lectures, and also in the lectures on justification and repentance, it has been shown that nothing is
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

Parable of the Importunate Widow.
^C Luke XVIII. 1-8. ^c 1 And he spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 saying, There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, and regarded not man [an utterly abandoned character]: 3 and there was a widow in that city; and she came oft unto him, saying, Avenge me of [rather, Do justice to me as to] mine adversary. [In Scripture language widowhood is symbolic of defenselessness (Ex. xxii. 22-24; Deut. x. 18; xxvii. 19; Mal. iii. 5; Mark xii. 40),
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Covenanting a Duty.
The exercise of Covenanting with God is enjoined by Him as the Supreme Moral Governor of all. That his Covenant should be acceded to, by men in every age and condition, is ordained as a law, sanctioned by his high authority,--recorded in his law of perpetual moral obligation on men, as a statute decreed by him, and in virtue of his underived sovereignty, promulgated by his command. "He hath commanded his covenant for ever."[171] The exercise is inculcated according to the will of God, as King and
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Thirtieth Lesson. An Holy Priesthood;'
An holy priesthood;' Or, The Ministry of Intercession. An holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.'--I Peter ii. 5. Ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord.'--Isaiah lxi. 6. THE Spirit of the Lord God is upon me: because the Lord hath anointed me.' These are the words of Jesus in Isaiah. As the fruit of His work all redeemed ones are priests, fellow-partakers with Him of His anointing with the Spirit as High Priest. Like the precious ointment upon
Andrew Murray—With Christ in the School of Prayer

Covenanting Confers Obligation.
As it has been shown that all duty, and that alone, ought to be vowed to God in covenant, it is manifest that what is lawfully engaged to in swearing by the name of God is enjoined in the moral law, and, because of the authority of that law, ought to be performed as a duty. But it is now to be proved that what is promised to God by vow or oath, ought to be performed also because of the act of Covenanting. The performance of that exercise is commanded, and the same law which enjoins that the duties
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Kadesh. Rekam, and that Double. Inquiry is Made, Whether the Doubling it in the Maps is Well Done.
The readers of the eastern interpreters will observe, that Kadesh is rendered by all Rekam, or in a sound very near it. In the Chaldee, it is 'Rekam': in the Syriac, 'Rekem': in the Arabic, 'Rakim'... There are two places noted by the name Rekam in the very bounds of the land,--to wit, the southern and eastern: that is, a double Kadesh. I. Of Kadesh, or Rekam, in the south part, there is no doubt. II. Of it, in the eastern part, there is this mention: "From Rekam to the east, and Rekam is as the
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

An Appendix to the Beatitudes
His commandments are not grievous 1 John 5:3 You have seen what Christ calls for poverty of spirit, pureness of heart, meekness, mercifulness, cheerfulness in suffering persecution, etc. Now that none may hesitate or be troubled at these commands of Christ, I thought good (as a closure to the former discourse) to take off the surmises and prejudices in men's spirits by this sweet, mollifying Scripture, His commandments are not grievous.' The censuring world objects against religion that it is difficult
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Jesus Attends the First Passover of his Ministry.
(Jerusalem, April 9, a.d. 27.) Subdivision B. Jesus Talks with Nicodemus. ^D John III. 1-21. ^d 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. [Nicodemus is mentioned only by John. His character is marked by a prudence amounting almost to timidity. At John vii. 50-52 he defends Jesus, but without committing himself as in any way interested in him: at John xix. 38, 39 he brought spices for the body of Jesus, but only after Joseph of Arimathæa had secured the body.
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Deuteronomy
Owing to the comparatively loose nature of the connection between consecutive passages in the legislative section, it is difficult to present an adequate summary of the book of Deuteronomy. In the first section, i.-iv. 40, Moses, after reviewing the recent history of the people, and showing how it reveals Jehovah's love for Israel, earnestly urges upon them the duty of keeping His laws, reminding them of His spirituality and absoluteness. Then follows the appointment, iv. 41-43--here irrelevant (cf.
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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