◄ Deuteronomy 12:28 ►
Be careful to obey all these things I command you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the LORD your God.
Study Bible
Be careful to obey all these things I command you
This phrase emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commandments. In the context of Deuteronomy, Moses is reiterating the laws given to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The call to obedience is a recurring theme throughout the Pentateuch, highlighting the covenant relationship between God and His people. Obedience is not just a legalistic requirement but a response to God's grace and faithfulness. This mirrors the New Testament teaching in John 14:15, where Jesus says, "If you love me, keep my commands."

so that it may always go well with you and your children after you
The promise of well-being and prosperity is contingent upon obedience. This reflects the covenant blessings and curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28. The idea of generational blessing underscores the communal and familial nature of God's covenant, where the faithfulness of one generation impacts the next. This principle is echoed in Proverbs 22:6, which speaks to the long-term benefits of raising children in the ways of the Lord.

because you will be doing what is good and right
This phrase highlights the moral and ethical dimensions of the law. The Israelites are called to live in a way that reflects God's character, which is inherently good and right. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative that God's laws are designed for human flourishing and justice. Micah 6:8 encapsulates this call to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

in the eyes of the LORD your God
The ultimate standard for what is good and right is God's perspective, not human opinion. This phrase reminds the Israelites that their actions are always before God, who sees and judges righteously. It emphasizes the personal relationship between God and His people, where obedience is an act of worship and reverence. This is consistent with the teaching in 1 Samuel 16:7, where God looks at the heart rather than outward appearances.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's commandments to the Israelites.

2. Israelites
The chosen people of God, receiving instructions on how to live in the Promised Land.

3. Promised Land
The land of Canaan, which God promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

4. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who commands His people to live according to His statutes.

5. Covenant
The agreement between God and Israel, where obedience leads to blessings.
Teaching Points
Obedience as a Path to Blessing
Obedience to God's commands is directly linked to the well-being of individuals and their descendants. This principle is timeless and applicable to all believers.

Generational Impact
The verse underscores the importance of living a life that sets a godly example for future generations. Our actions today can influence the spiritual legacy we leave behind.

Doing What is Good and Right
The call to do what is "good and right" in God's eyes requires discernment and alignment with His word. This involves a heart posture of seeking to please God above all.

The Role of God's Word
Regular engagement with Scripture is essential for understanding and obeying God's commands. It is through His word that we discern what is good and right.

Covenant Relationship
The verse reminds us of the covenant relationship between God and His people. Obedience is not just about following rules but about maintaining a loving relationship with God.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Deuteronomy 12:28 emphasize the importance of obedience in the life of a believer?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our actions are "good and right in the eyes of the LORD" in today's context?

3. How can we practically pass on a legacy of faith and obedience to the next generation?

4. What role does regular Bible study and meditation play in helping us obey God's commands?

5. How does understanding our covenant relationship with God influence our daily decisions and actions?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 6:3
Emphasizes the importance of obedience for prosperity and well-being in the Promised Land.

Joshua 1:8
Highlights the necessity of meditating on God's law for success and prosperity.

Psalm 1:1-3
Describes the blessedness of those who delight in the law of the Lord.

James 1:22-25
Encourages believers to be doers of the word, not just hearers, for a blessed life.

Matthew 7:24-27
Jesus' teaching on the wise and foolish builders, illustrating the importance of putting His words into practice.
Sermons
Blessings for the ObedientSpurgeon, Charles HaddonDeuteronomy 12:28
Care for PosterityJ. Parker, D. D.Deuteronomy 12:28
Characteristic Signs of Jehovah's WorshipD. Davies Deuteronomy 12:5-28
The Central SanctuaryJ. Orr Deuteronomy 12:6-29
The Sanctity of BloodR.M. Edgar Deuteronomy 12:20-28
People
Levites, Moses
Places
Beth-baal-peor, Jordan River
Topics
Age, Always, Attention, Careful, Command, Commanding, Doest, Forever, Giving, Hast, Heed, Listen, Note, Obey, Obeyed, Observe, Order, Orders, Regulations, Sight, Sons
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Deuteronomy 12:20-28

     7241   Jerusalem, significance

Library
The Eating of the Peace-Offering
'But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.'--DEUT. xii. 18. There were three bloody sacrifices, the sin-offering, the burnt- offering, and the peace-offering. In all three expiation was the first idea, but in the second of them the act …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Exposition of the Moral Law.
1. The Law was committed to writing, in order that it might teach more fully and perfectly that knowledge, both of God and of ourselves, which the law of nature teaches meagrely and obscurely. Proof of this, from an enumeration of the principal parts of the Moral Law; and also from the dictate of natural law, written on the hearts of all, and, in a manner, effaced by sin. 2. Certain general maxims. 1. From the knowledge of God, furnished by the Law, we learn that God is our Father and Ruler. Righteousness …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Promise in 2 Samuel, Chap. vii.
The Messianic prophecy, as we have seen, began at a time long anterior to that of David. Even in Genesis, we perceived [Pg 131] it, increasing more and more in distinctness. There is at first only the general promise that the seed of the woman should obtain the victory over the kingdom of the evil one;--then, that the salvation should come through the descendants of Shem;--then, from among them Abraham is marked out,--of his sons, Isaac,--from among his sons, Jacob,--and from among the twelve sons …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The King --Continued.
The second event recorded as important in the bright early years is the great promise of the perpetuity of the kingdom in David's house. As soon as the king was firmly established and free from war, he remembered the ancient word which said, "When He giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety, then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause His name to dwell there" (Deut. xii. 10, 11). His own ease rebukes him; he regards his tranquillity …
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
THE FALL OF NINEVEH AND THE RISE OF THE CHALDAEAN AND MEDIAN EMPIRES--THE XXVIth EGYPTIAN DYNASTY: CYAXARES, ALYATTES, AND NEBUCHADREZZAR. The legendary history of the kings of Media and the first contact of the Medes with the Assyrians: the alleged Iranian migrations of the Avesta--Media-proper, its fauna and flora; Phraortes and the beginning of the Median empire--Persia proper and the Persians; conquest of Persia by the Medes--The last monuments of Assur-bani-pal: the library of Kouyunjik--Phraortes …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8

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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