Moses tells Israel to serve the Lord with all their heart and soul because God desires complete devotion, not partial loyalty. Serving God is not merely about outward obedience but involves the full engagement of one’s inner life: affections, will, and desires. True service flows from love and reverence.
“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 and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 10:12)
This call to wholehearted service is a covenantal response. God had redeemed them, sustained them, and given them His law. Their entire being was to be committed to Him. Heart and soul represents the totality of a person’s being… there is no room for divided allegiance.
Later, Moses repeats the call:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5)
Serving God in this way is not burdensome; it is the rightful response to His mercy and greatness. It includes worship, obedience, trust, and loyalty. Anything less than full-hearted devotion is unacceptable to a holy God.
