26:16 「耶和華─你的上帝今日吩咐你行這些律例典章,所以你要盡心盡性謹守遵行。
26:17 你今日認耶和華為你的上帝,應許遵行他的道,謹守他的律例、誡命、典章,聽從他的話。
26:18 耶和華今日照他所應許你的,也認你為他的子民,使你謹守他的一切誡命,
26:19 又使你得稱讚、美名、尊榮,超乎他所造的萬民之上,並照他所應許的使你歸耶和華─你上帝為聖潔的民。」
16 The Lord your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. 17 You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him. 18 And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands. 19 He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised.
***********
以色列人成為上帝的子民是出於「應許」,也就是上帝的承諾,祂在創世以先就已經預定在基督裡揀選了,然後在基督來到世界以後就顯明了!正如《以弗所書》1章4-6節:「就如上帝從創立世界以前,在基督裡揀選了我們,使我們在他面前成為聖潔,無有瑕疵;又因愛我們,就按著自己的意旨所喜悅的,預定我們藉著耶穌基督得兒子的名分,使他榮耀的恩典得著稱讚;這恩典是他在愛子裡所賜給我們的。」
既然知道我們能夠成為上帝的兒女,是出於上帝的恩典,就像摩西對以色列人所說:「耶和華今日照他所應許你的,也認你為他的子民,使你謹守他的一切誡命,又使你得稱讚、美名、尊榮,超乎他所造的萬民之上,並照他所應許的使你歸耶和華─你上帝為聖潔的民。」
因此,我們是存這感恩的心來遵守上帝的一切誡命,不是害怕被懲罰,而是因為上帝施恩於我們,所以我們必須遵守!我們不是因為害怕懲罰所以遵行律法,而是因為上帝在基督裡的恩典,所以我們要靠恩典來守誡命與尊行律法。正如我們禮拜,是因為上帝的恩典,是存感謝主的恩典的心,來敬拜上帝!