"When your sons in times to come ask, what is the testimony of the statues and the judgments that Yahweh had commanded? Then you shall say to your son,"1
God gives the witness of the Mosaic covenant. This word for testimony speaks to laws as divine testimonies or solemn charges or witness. The statues are a prescribed action, enactment, decree, ordinance, conditions of deed of purchase. The judgments speaks of justice or the act of deciding a case; process, procedure, litigation before judges: sentence, decision of judgment: execution of judgment. The statues are the requirements of God's righteousness, the judgment is consequences of not meeting them and the witness speaks to such. Moses had authority to judge and dispense the statues of God. Lets look at the witness or testimony of the Law.
"Then you shall say to your son, ‘We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and Yahweh brought us from Egypt with a mighty hand..."3 Great Wonders and Signs of affliction were shown against Pharaoh.4 God hardened the heart of Pharaoh so as to established the fear of God in the heart of the people. He brought them out to bring them into the land promised to their forefathers, to fulfill promise. "So Yahweh commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear Yahweh our God for our good always and for our survival, as it is today. “It will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all this commandment before Yahweh our God, just as He commanded us."5 Righteousness was found in meeting the requirements.
Remember where you came from, God will deliver you from your enemies. he is faithful and will fulfill his promises, If you do good and obey his statues. We see such was conditional. And we see the glory of the Mosaic covenant. Obedience came through fear, as fear has to do with torment. Obey and one is rewarded, disobey and one is punished, there can be no mercy, no grace, such would be a seed of weakness. Fear was to deter disobedience. God's wrath was poured out against those who do not fear him nor obey. However He rewards and protects those who fear him and obey. Such can be summed up in one verse, "The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge, wisdom and instruction fools despise."6
The decree that God gave Israel was they must diligently teach their children these things so they will obey and be rewarded for obedience. If they did not meet these requirements the witness states they would be punished for disobedience. If they did what was right and good then it would be well. We see the motivation. “You shall fear only the LORD your God" and we see the conditions "You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you."6 We see the proclamation of the witness; if you do good you shall go in and possess the land of milk and honey, if you do bad, you shall experience the wrath of God as Pharaoh and Egypt had.
"Now I will shortly pour out My wrath on you and spend My anger against you; judge you according to your ways and bring on you all your abominations. ‘My eye will show no pity nor will I spare. I will repay you according to your ways, while your abominations are in your midst; then you will know that I, Yahweh, do the smiting."7
God gives the witness of the Mosaic covenant. This word for testimony speaks to laws as divine testimonies or solemn charges or witness. The statues are a prescribed action, enactment, decree, ordinance, conditions of deed of purchase. The judgments speaks of justice or the act of deciding a case; process, procedure, litigation before judges: sentence, decision of judgment: execution of judgment. The statues are the requirements of God's righteousness, the judgment is consequences of not meeting them and the witness speaks to such. Moses had authority to judge and dispense the statues of God. Lets look at the witness or testimony of the Law.
"Then you shall say to your son, ‘We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and Yahweh brought us from Egypt with a mighty hand..."3 Great Wonders and Signs of affliction were shown against Pharaoh.4 God hardened the heart of Pharaoh so as to established the fear of God in the heart of the people. He brought them out to bring them into the land promised to their forefathers, to fulfill promise. "So Yahweh commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear Yahweh our God for our good always and for our survival, as it is today. “It will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all this commandment before Yahweh our God, just as He commanded us."5 Righteousness was found in meeting the requirements.
Remember where you came from, God will deliver you from your enemies. he is faithful and will fulfill his promises, If you do good and obey his statues. We see such was conditional. And we see the glory of the Mosaic covenant. Obedience came through fear, as fear has to do with torment. Obey and one is rewarded, disobey and one is punished, there can be no mercy, no grace, such would be a seed of weakness. Fear was to deter disobedience. God's wrath was poured out against those who do not fear him nor obey. However He rewards and protects those who fear him and obey. Such can be summed up in one verse, "The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge, wisdom and instruction fools despise."6
The decree that God gave Israel was they must diligently teach their children these things so they will obey and be rewarded for obedience. If they did not meet these requirements the witness states they would be punished for disobedience. If they did what was right and good then it would be well. We see the motivation. “You shall fear only the LORD your God" and we see the conditions "You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you."6 We see the proclamation of the witness; if you do good you shall go in and possess the land of milk and honey, if you do bad, you shall experience the wrath of God as Pharaoh and Egypt had.
"Now I will shortly pour out My wrath on you and spend My anger against you; judge you according to your ways and bring on you all your abominations. ‘My eye will show no pity nor will I spare. I will repay you according to your ways, while your abominations are in your midst; then you will know that I, Yahweh, do the smiting."7