Deuteronomy 4:1-13
One solitary case of disobedience prevented Moses from entering the good land promised by the LORD. He is, therefore, in a better position than anyone to exhort the people to obey the LORD’s commands "so that," he says, you may go in and possess the land" (v. 1). It is as if he were saying to them: "Don’t let what happened to me happen to you as well; listen to and carry out the LORD’s commandments properly!" "For this is your wisdom and your understanding" insists the man of God (v. 6). By obeying the will of God we put our own will aside, we give place to the wisdom which is from above which replaces our own (James 3:17). It follows that to keep the Word means at the same time to "keep thy soul diligently" (v. 9).
The authority of this divine Word is confirmed. Moses recollects under what circumstances and with what solemnity it was communicated.
"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it" (v. 2). Many people who call themselves Christians add to Scripture traditions, superstitions and the human viewpoint. Others take out pages which annoy them or which they do not understand. One is just as guilty as the other (read Revelation 22:18-19).