5:29Deuteronomy 5:29

After hearing God's voice from the burning mountain the leaders feared they would die if He spoke to them directly, so they asked Moses to hear God for them and bring His words to them, and God approved their request as well spoken.Ms 133, 1899, par. 1–5+2 Their promise to hear and do was good, but without a faithful heart to fear Him continually they soon broke it by worshiping the calf.Ms 75, 1898, par. 11–12+2 The verse is God's longing desire for such a heart in His people, that they would reverence Him and keep all His commandments always.Ms 12, 1904, par. 20–25+2 That continual obedience is for their own lasting good and the good of their children after them, as a protective wall around them and the path to eternal life for all who live till the close of time.Ms 133, 1899, par. 1–5+4 It therefore binds every person today to strictly keep the Sabbath as Creator's sign, to teach it diligently to children, and to prepare by full obedience for the near day of final judgment.7MR 309.1–3+4

The longing cry belongs to the moment when Moses was rehearsing God's holy commandments to Israel before they entered Canaan.21MR 408.1–2 After hearing God's voice out of the midst of darkness while the mountain burned with fire, and after seeing His glory and greatness, all the heads of the tribes and the elders came to Moses declaring they had seen that God talks with man and man lives, yet fearing that this great fire would consume them if they heard God's voice any more.Ms 133, 1899, par. 1–5+2 They asked Moses to go near, hear all that God would say, and speak it to them, promising they would hear it and do it.Ms 133, 1899, par. 1–5+2 God answered that they had well said all that they had spoken, thus approving their request for Moses to hear His words and speak them to the people.Ms 133, 1899, par. 1–5+2

Their shrinking from hearing God's voice directly revealed unbelief, even though His words thrilled them.Ms 131, 1907, par. 29–33+1 Their spoken promise to obey was good in itself, but it was not enough without a faithful heart that would fear God and keep all His commandments continually and always.Ms 75, 1898, par. 11–12+2 That good promise was soon broken when they worshiped a calf, the work of man, in place of sincere devotion to the living God.SG3 279.2–281.1+1 The broken tables of stone represented their breaking of the covenant they had so recently made, showing how far their conduct fell from the heart God desired in them.SG3 279.2–281.1+1

The verse is God's longing wish that His people would have such a heart in them that they would fear Him and keep all His commandments always and continually.Ms 12, 1904, par. 20–25+4 A spoken promise to hear and do is good, but it is not enough without a faithful heart that goes on fearing God and obeying Him without ceasing.Ms 75, 1898, par. 11–12+3

Such obedience is for their own good, that it might be well with them and with their children forever across the generations.Ms 133, 1899, par. 1–5+4 Obedience to God's law is the source of well-being and prosperity, and His statutes and judgments are given as a protective wall around His people.Ms 12, 1904, par. 20–25+2 What God required that Israel might be a holy people to Himself was this reverent, continual obedience.7MR 309.1–3+1 Reverence for God is joined to obedience, and the surrounding commandments are definite requirements to be kept and not forgotten.Lt 112, 1909, par. 22–24+2

God takes no pleasure in punishing the transgressor, but when His righteous laws are trampled He must maintain the honor of His throne.ST May 20, 1880 He delights to bestow blessings on all who will value them.ST May 20, 1880 His wish for obedient hearts covers all who should live on the earth till the close of time, all who come under the mediation of Jesus Christ.ST May 20, 1880 Obedience to God's requirements is the way to eternal life, and the law spoken at the mount, kept in home life and business and taught to children, guides conduct and prepares the obedient to regain the Paradise lost through disobedience.Ms 12, 1904, par. 26+2

The verse binds every person today to take heed and strictly observe the Sabbath day God commands, with obedience passing from parents to children through the generations.Ms 141, 1906, par. 34–37 Keeping the fourth commandment, the Sabbath, is a sign of obedience that entails keeping the other commandments, and it points to God as Creator who made the world in six days and rested on the seventh.Lt 31, 1898, par. 22–25 The commandments are to be kept before the people and taught diligently to their children, and children should be taught to understand this sacred instruction in Deuteronomy.Ms 222, 1902, par. 1+1

The same requirement laid upon ancient Israel to be a holy people applies now, when the day of God's great final review is near and all must stand before the Judge of all the earth to answer for their deeds.7MR 309.1–3 This is the time of investigation when every character will have been investigated and every case decided for eternity, so the words are to be read with profit as preparation for that standing.7MR 309.1–3

The verse belongs to the instruction of Deuteronomy 4-11 that all need to understand concerning God's dealings with His people.STB 628.4–629.2 It is to be read prayerfully by those carrying responsibilities, especially in sanitarium work, and all the directions God has given there, from the greatest to what may seem the least, are to be carefully observed.STB 628.4–629.2 That observance calls for purified souls, consecrated loving service, and an example in word and deportment that leads children and households to desire to serve God.STB 628.4–629.2

The verse is part of God's charge to be read to the people and carefully regarded, carrying a solemn lesson of full surrender and continuing simplicity of obedience to all the Lord's commandments according to His special directions.Lt 42, 1910, par. 6 None of the important things specified in His Word are to be neglected, but there is to be a special interest in doing what is commanded.Lt 42, 1910, par. 6 All are to search the Scriptures for themselves and make the Word the study book lest they be found in rebellion, and every soul is to sanctify himself daily according to the Word so that the Lord is glorified.Lt 42, 1910, par. 6 That sanctification embraces mind, soul, and body in perfect obedience to God's will, for His desire that His people fear Him and keep all His commandments continually for their good and their children's good leaves disobedience without excuse.Lt 42, 1910, par. 6+1

Parents must train their children from infancy to form characters that meet God's approval, taking every precaution to prevent objectionable traits of character from growing up in them.7MR 14.3 They must control themselves for the sake of their Creator and Redeemer and prepare themselves for the present and future life, so that piety, virtue, and godliness are revealed in home life.7MR 14.3 The heart steadfastly fixed upon the Lord will not think slightly of His law nor give it less regard and reverence because of universal disrespect.ST May 20, 1880 In proportion as the law is disregarded and despised by the masses, it becomes precious to the God-fearing and obedient.ST May 20, 1880