Deuteronomy 6:16-19

5. GOD NOT TO BE TEMPTED (Deuteronomy 6:16-19)

16 Ye shall not tempt Jehovah your God, as ye tempted him in Massah. 17 Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of Jehovah your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee. 18 And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of Jehovah; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which Jehovah sware unto thy fathers, 19 to thrust out all thine enemies from before thee, as Jehovah hath spoken.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 6:16-19

147.

Didn-'t Gideon tempt God with God's approval? Cf. Judges 6:36-40. Explain.

148.

Read Exodus 17:1-7 to understand the word Massah.

149.

There seems to be some distinction between commandments and the testimonies and statues is there? Discuss.

150.

Is right and good always exciting and interesting? Can it be? How? Why not?

151.

How did certain men become the enemies of both Jehovah and Israel? Irrevocably so?

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 6:16-19

16 You shall not tempt and try the Lord your God, as you tempted and tried Him in Massah. [Exodus 17:7.]

17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and His exhortations, and His statutes, which He commanded you.
18 And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers,

19 To cast out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has promised.

COMMENT 6:16-19

YE SHALL NOT TEMPT JEHOVAH (Deuteronomy 6:16)The Hebrew word Nasah means to try, to prove or tempt God when they doubt as to his power and aid, Exodus 17:2; Exodus 17:7; Deuteronomy 6:16; Psalms 78:18; Psalms 78:41; Psalms 78:56; Isaiah 17:12, -I will not ask, neither will I tempt Jehovah-'Gesenius. So in 1 Corinthians 10:9 we have, Neither let us make trial (ekpeirazomen) of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. See how Christ used the above phrase in Matthew 4:5-7.

AS YE TEMPTED HIM IN MASSAH (Deuteronomy 6:16)As recorded in Exodus 17:1-7. Massah is Hebrew for temptation, trials (Gesenius) or, tempting, proving (Margin, Exodus 17:7). It was so called because they tempted Jehovah, saying, Is Jehovah among us, or not?