בס”ד
Moses fears and warns the Israelites about what will happen in the future when they dwell in their inherited land. The passage of time since the Giving of the Torah and the miracles of the desert, combined with their focus on worldly matters, could lead the nation to materialism. This, in turn, would lead to forgetting the miracles Hashem made for them..
To prevent all of this, Moses asks the people to constantly contemplate all the wondrous miracles that G-d performed for Israel: by taking them out of Egypt, by His unique revelation to them at Mount Sinai, and by the wonders that accompanied them in the desert and on the eve of their entry into the land. When they contemplate all these things, they will come to love and revere G-d, and consequently, serve Him properly and merit to inherit the Land securely and forever.
The danger of spiritual erosion in the service of G-d exists always, for both Jews and Noahides. To avoid this danger, we are obligated to always contemplate G-d’s kindness towards us and show our gratitude. Similarly, we are obligated to contemplate G-d’s infinite greatness and the immense privilege of serving the infinite Creator. This contemplation prevents spiritual erosion and ensures that G-d’s commandments are seen by us as new each and every day.
To further prevent spiritual erosion, joy is an indispensable tool. A deep-seated sense of joy and optimism acts as a powerful antidote to the mundane, transforming routine observance into a vibrant, heartfelt experience. By maintaining an inner state of happiness, one can better appreciate the immense privilege of serving G-d, making the divine commandments feel not like a burden but a new and exciting opportunity each day. This vitality, renewed through joy, strengthens one’s connection to G-d’s infinite greatness and helps maintain the freshness required to fulfill our obligations with renewed enthusiasm.
Source: Deuteronomy 4:25.
By Rabbi Moshe Bernstein
If you want more questions for contemplation, SEE THE OTHER BLOGS FROM RABBI MOSHE BERNSTEIN
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