New Year: Dt 10-12 for Feb 23

The narrative form of Dt 10-11 lays out the obligations of Israel in such a way that as readers, we can't help but see their reasonableness (Deuteronomy 10:12-22). On the other hand, 10:16 points out that there has been a problem needing to be addressed.

Besides the reasonableness of the obligations (10:12), there is the fact that His greatness, mighty hand and outstretched arm were displayed "in the midst of Egypt" (11:3). The previous work is summarized in 11:7: "your own eyes have seen all the great work of the Lord which He did." The conclusion, "You shall therefore keep every commandment which I am commanding you today ..." (Dt 11:8ff), is given as a conclusion to what they saw.

Yet this conclusion is not indicative, but prescriptive. "You shall" is not in the sense "it is true that you will." It is in the sense that the generation Moses is speaking to then, has those obligations.