Deuteronomy 4:15-40 - Worshiping The True God
15 Be careful! When God spoke to you from the fire, he was invisible. 16 Do not commit the sin of worshiping idols. Do not make idols to be worshiped, whether they are shaped like men, women, 17 animals on the earth, birds that fly in the air, 18 or they are like reptiles that creep on the ground, or fish from the water. 19 Do not be tempted to bow down and worship the sun or moon or stars (the host or army of the heavens). Jehovah put them there a heritage for all the people under the heavens. 20 But you are Jehovah's people! He led you through fiery trials and rescued you from Egypt.
21 Furthermore, Jehovah was angry with me because of you. So Jehovah your God took an oath that I would not cross the Jordan River and enter the good land he is giving you as your property (inheritance) (possession). 22 I am going to die in this land. I will not cross the Jordan River. But you are going to go across and take possession of that good land. 23 Take care of yourselves. Do not forget the covenant of Jehovah your God, which he made with you. Do not make a graven image, or the likeness of anything, which Jehovah your God has forbidden. 24 For Jehovah your God is a consuming fire, even a totally demanding zealous God. (He requires exclusive devotion!)
25 When you have children, and grandchildren, and you have remained in the land a long time do not corrupt yourselves. If you make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and do evil in the sight of Jehovah your God, you will provoke him to anger: 26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day that you will soon utterly perish from off the land you possess the other side of the Jordan. You will not prolong your days upon it, but will be destroyed. 27 Jehovah will scatter you among the nations. You will become few in number among the heathen, where Jehovah will lead you. 28 You will serve gods that are the work of men's hands. Made of wood and stone. They cannot see, hear, eat or smell. 29 From there you will seek Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your being. And you will find him! 30 When you are in trouble (distress) and all these things happen to you in the latter days, turn to Jehovah your God and obey his voice. 31 Jehovah your God is a merciful God. He will not forsake you. He will not destroy you, nor forget the covenant he made with your fathers.
32 Ask about the days from the past. A time that came before you, since the day that God created man upon the earth. And ask from one side of heaven to the other whether there has ever been anything like this great thing, or anything like it has been heard? 33 Did people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the middle of the fire, as you have heard, and live? 34 Has God attempted to take a nation from the middle of another nation? Has he done this by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by great terrors? Yes, and by the use of his great power! Jehovah your God did all this for you in Egypt before your very eyes! 35 This was shown to you that you might know that JEHOVAH IS GOD! THERE IS NO ONE BESIDES HIM! 36 He made you hear his voice out of heaven. That way he could instruct (teach) (correct) (discipline) you. He showed you his great fire on the earth. You heard his words from the middle of the fire. 37 He loved your fathers. Therefore he chose their descendants. In fact he watched over you and he brought you out of Egypt with his mighty power. 38 He drove out nations far greater than you so that he could bring you in and give you their land as an inheritance as it is today. 39 Know this and consider it in your heart today: JEHOVAH IS GOD in heaven above, and on the earth beneath: THERE IS NO ONE ELSE! 40 You must keep the regulations and commandments I commanded you today. Then all will go well with you and with your children after you. You may prolong your days on the earth that Jehovah your God gives you for all time.