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This part of Moses’ final address to the Israelites as they prepare to enter and occupy the land is an emphasis on the “Call to Love and Obedience”.
Moses reminds the people that the Lord requires of them the fear of God, living to please God and to love and serve God with all their heart and soul, obeying the commandments and decrees.
God’s choice of Israel among the nations is an expression of his love, hence, Israel should stop being stubborn.
God also showed love to the foreigners living among the Israelites, thus, they are to do similarly to the foreigners.
The second lesson also covers Paul’s preaching in Athens, a city dominated by idol worship.
Paul went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles.
He also debated with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, and he ended up being brought before the council.
Paul used this opportunity to preach again, picking from the inscription “to the unknown god” he had observed on one of their pagan altars.
This “unknown god” is the God who made the world and everything in it and gave life to everything.
“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him”, “for in him we live and move and exist”.
Since this is true, they must cease to see God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold, silver, or stone.
God would not overlook idolatry anymore, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him.
Paul went on to speak about the resurrection of Christ, some laughed and some picked more interest and in the end, some among the council became believers