A Little Exercise in Theology: Five Requirements of God

Irby Wallace

March 13,2025

12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?” – Deuteronomy 10:12-13, ESV.

In Deuteronomy 10:12-13, Moses gives Israel five things that God requires of them. I have heard it said that Moses might have given five so there is one for each finger on a hand. There is no way to know if that is true or not, but it is a handy idea, especially for our children. To train up your children how they should go, using this passage in family worship as a repetitive practice will teach them much about scripture and how God wants us to live. It is short and simple, but it carries the weight of both the teachings of the Old Testament and the New Testament. The following is how we have implemented it into our family worship.

Have the children raise up a fist and ask, “What does the Lord our God require of us?”
Everyone speak together the following while raising one finger for each line:
1. “Fear the Lord.”
2. “Love God.”
3. “Walk in all his ways.”
4. “Serve the Lord.”
5. “Keep his commandments.”