Although we commonly suppose that wholehearted allegiance to God, in word and deed, is beyond human capability, today’s reading insists that this is not so: the command of God is not too far away or too hard for us. Instead, it is available: we can read it in the scripture, know it in our hearts and speak it with our mouths (Deuteronomy 30:11-14). The problem is not human inability; it is instead our failure to read or know or speak it.

God offers blessings and life for obedience, and warns of dire consequences for turning away, yet we don’t read or know or speak these things. “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days” (30:19-20). The choice is clear: we could choose loyalty to God, with life and blessing; or we could choose to turn away, with death and curses.

And indeed, “it may be that there is among you a man or woman, or a family or tribe, whose heart is already turning away from the Lord our God to serve the gods of those nations” (29:18). The result of such thinking will be terrible waste and destruction (29:22-23), causing everyone to wonder how such disaster took place; and the answer will be, “It is because they abandoned the covenant of the Lord” (29:25).

Just as much as our ancestors, we are easily led astray. We are slow to dedicate ourselves to knowing and following God. Yet we could do better. We could decide that we will read the word, and set our hearts to follow our Lord, with steadfast obedience. And suppose we did …

* * * * *

Move us beyond the easy excuse-making which we do so well, O Lord, and give us a hunger for your word: give us a longing for communion with you, that our hearts, our voices, and our lives may indeed declare your truth, day by day.