Deuteronomy 11:18 - Meaning and Application

Here, Moses repeats the directions he had already given for helping the people obey God and keep religion alive among them (Deuteronomy 11:18-20). These are much the same as what we saw before (Deuteronomy 6:6, etc.). We should all be guided by the three rules here.

First, let God’s word fill our hearts: “Lay up these words in your heart and soul.” The heart must be the storehouse where God’s word is kept, ready for use at any time. We cannot expect good behavior unless there are good thoughts, good feelings, and good beliefs in the heart.

Second, let our eyes stay fixed on God’s word. “Bind these words as a sign on your hand,” which is always in view (Isaiah 49:16), “and as frontlets between your eyes,” where you cannot help but see them. In other words, let God’s words be so familiar to you, and so constantly before you, as if they were written on your doorposts and seen every time you go out or come in. We must keep God’s judgments before us, always paying attention to them, as the guide for our path and the rule for our work (Psalm 119:30).

Third, let our tongues be busy with God’s word. It should be the subject of our everyday talk, wherever we are. This is especially true with our children, who must be taught that serving God is the one necessary thing, far more important than manners or the trade they will use to earn a living in this world. Great care and effort must be used to teach children early, and to impress God’s word and the wonderful truths of his law on their hearts. Nothing will do more for the health and lasting strength of religion in a nation than the good training of children. If the seed is holy, it is the strength of a land.

Moses also repeats the promises he had already given them, in God’s name, about prosperity and success if they obeyed. First, they would have a settled and happy life (Deuteronomy 11:21). Their days would be many, and when their lives were complete, their children’s days would also be long, as long as the heavens. That is, Canaan would remain secure for them and their descendants, as long as the world stood, if they did not throw themselves out by their own sin.

Second, their enemies would not be able to trouble them or make them uneasy in any way. If they kept God’s commandments and carefully did their duty (Deuteronomy 11:22), God would not only bless the farmer’s labor with plenty from the earth, but he would also bless the greater efforts of the soldiers. Victory would go with their arms. Wherever they turned, God would drive out those nations and give them the land (Deuteronomy 11:23-24). Their borders would reach the full extent of the promise (Genesis 15:18), and all their neighbors would fear them (Deuteronomy 11:25). Nothing makes a nation respected among friends and feared by enemies more than religion ruling in it, for who can stand against those who have God on their side? And God is certainly on the side of those who are truly on his side (Proverbs 14:34).