What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 10:21? He is your praise • The verse opens by declaring that the LORD Himself is the very substance and source of Israel’s praise. Rather than merely giving praise, the people are reminded that their highest joy and boasting are found in Him. • Psalm 22:3 says, “Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” God inhabits, inspires, and defines true worship. • Psalm 34:1–2 shows the same heartbeat: “I will bless the LORD at all times… My soul will boast in the LORD.” The call is to make God, not circumstance, the centerpiece of celebration. • Practically, this redirects attention from human achievement to divine majesty. Praising God becomes a lifestyle anchored in who He is, not in changing feelings or situations. and He is your God • The statement moves from praise to possession: “He is your God.” It underscores covenant intimacy—He belongs to them, and they belong to Him. • Exodus 20:2: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” The same covenant phrase forms the foundation of the Ten Commandments. • Deuteronomy 6:4–5 reinforces exclusive allegiance: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart…” • This personal ownership insists on trust and obedience. Because He is their God, no rival loyalties are acceptable (Joshua 24:14–15). who has done for you • The focus shifts to action. God is not distant; He intervenes for His people. • Exodus 14:13–14 shows Him fighting for Israel at the Red Sea, and Deuteronomy 4:34 asks, “Has any god tried to take for himself one nation out of another… by trials, signs, wonders…?” The implied answer is no—only the LORD rescues like this. • Remembering His past deeds fuels present faith. If He has acted before, He will act again (Psalm 77:11–12). these great and awesome wonders • Scripture repeatedly calls God’s works “great and awesome.” The phrase emphasizes both magnitude and reverence. • Psalm 145:5–6: “I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty and Your wondrous works. They will proclaim the power of Your awesome deeds.” • Examples Israel would recall: – Plagues in Egypt (Exodus 7–12) – Parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14) – Water from the rock (Exodus 17, Numbers 20) – Manna and quail (Exodus 16) – Jordan River crossing and fall of Jericho (Joshua 3–6) • Such wonders authenticate God’s supremacy and kindness, inviting ongoing awe and gratitude. that your eyes have seen • The verse ends by stressing eyewitness experience. They were not relying on rumors; they saw the miracles firsthand. • Deuteronomy 4:9 warns, “Only be on guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen.” Remembering guards against drift. • 2 Peter 1:16 echoes the same principle for New Testament believers: “We did not follow cleverly devised myths… we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” • Personal testimony strengthens generational faith—what they saw, they were to recount to children and grandchildren (Psalm 78:3–7). summary Deuteronomy 10:21 reminds God’s people that the LORD is both the object of their praise and the covenant God who personally rescued them. By recalling His mighty deeds—wonders they themselves witnessed—they are stirred to exclusive devotion, continual gratitude, and confident obedience. Their identity, worship, and future hope all center on the God who has already proved Himself faithful in great and awesome ways. |
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