Deuteronomy 26:16-19

Deuteronomy 26:16-19

[16] This day  the LORD  thy God  hath commanded  thee to do  these statutes  and judgments:  thou shalt therefore keep  and do  them with all thine heart,  and with all thy soul.  [17] Thou hast avouched  the LORD  this day  to be thy God,  in his ways,  and to keep  his statutes,  and his commandments,  and his judgments,  and to hearken  unto his voice:  [18] And the LORD  hath avouched  thee this day  to be his peculiar  people,  as he hath promised  thee, and that thou shouldest keep  all his commandments;  [19] And to make  thee high  above all nations  which he hath made,  in praise,  and in name,  and in honour;  and that thou mayest be an holy  people  unto the LORD  thy God,  as he hath spoken. 

What does Deuteronomy 26:16-19 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

"The presentation of the commandments and the statutes and ordinances that will guide Israel"s life in the land is over now. Deuteronomy 26:16 serves as a concluding bracket around chapters5-26 , matching Moses" introduction to the whole in Deuteronomy 5:1 as well as his introduction to the section setting forth the statutes and ordinances in Deuteronomy 12:1 ..." [1]
"If we regard the long section Deuteronomy 5:1 to Deuteronomy 26:15 as containing the heart of the covenant law, both in terms of the general principles and of the specific stipulations (even allowing that in the present setting the material is "law preached" rather than "codified law"), we may regard this small pericope as in the nature of an oath of allegiance (cf. Deuteronomy 29:10-15; Exodus 24:7). In form, the pericope looks like a contract in which the two parties bind themselves by means of a solemn declaration. Moses acts as a covenant mediator between Israel, who declares that she will be Yahweh"s people, and Yahweh, who declares that He will be Israel"s God (cf. Exodus 6:7; Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:28). In fact the wording of the pericope makes it clear that both declarations refer to the obligations which must be fulfilled by Israel alone. Yahweh has no obligations to keep, but in grace He has blessings to bestow." [2]
"It is not difficult to see in this utterance the Lord"s missionary goal for Israel in a nutshell." [3]
Obedience to the revealed will of God will result in maximum blessing for God"s people. Moses proceeded to develop this idea further in chapters27-28. This, then, concludes Moses" second address to the Israelites.