Choose Life
"The word is very near you"
Two things you can tap
- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Read
What does it say?
This is a plain-language guide, not a translation. Check it against the Bible text any time.
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
The whole passage, in shortThe main points of the whole passage, in a few sentences.
In his farewell message, Moses told God's people that God's word was not far away in heaven or across the sea, but very near, in their mouths and hearts. He set before them life and death, blessing and cursing, and urged them, "Therefore choose life," by loving the LORD, obeying him, and holding fast to him, "for He is your life."
Where it is in the Bible: Deuteronomy 30:9-20
All the sections at a glanceA map of the passage, with the verses for each section.
Map of the Message
| Section | Verses | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. God Will Delight in You | 30:9-10 | God loves to bless his people |
| 2. The Word Is Near | 30:11-14 | God's word isn't far away |
| 3. Life and Death | 30:15-18 | Two paths |
| 4. Choose Life | 30:19-20 | Moses urges them to choose God |
Before You Read
Who is speaking. Moses, giving his final message to God's people before they enter the promised land.
What comes before. Moses has told them what will happen if they turn from God: disaster and exile. But even then, God will bring them back if they return to him (30:1-3).
What this passage is. Moses's closing call. He lays two paths in front of them, life and death, and urges them to choose life.
How to read it. Notice how close Moses says God's word is.
Section by Section
Section 1 of 4God Will Delight in You
God will bless their work, their families, their animals, and their crops.
"Indeed, the LORD will again delight in your goodness" (30:9).
God isn't looking for reasons to punish. He loves to bless.
Section 2 of 4The Word Is Near
"For this commandment I give you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach" (30:11).
It isn't up in heaven, so you'd need someone to fly up and get it. It isn't across the sea, so you'd need someone to sail and bring it back.
"But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart" (30:14).
Section 3 of 4Life and Death
"See, I have set before you today life and goodness, as well as death and disaster" (30:15).
Loving God and walking in his ways leads to life and blessing.
Turning away to other gods leads to death.
Section 4 of 4Choose Life
Moses calls heaven and earth as witnesses.
"I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live" (30:19).
How? "That you may love the LORD your God, obey Him, and hold fast to Him. For He is your life" (30:20).
God isn't just the way to life. God is life.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "The LORD will again delight in your goodness" (30:9) | God loves to bless his people. |
| "Not too difficult for you or beyond your reach" (30:11) | God's word isn't hidden or far away. |
| "The word is very near you" (30:14) | God has made his word close and clear. |
| "Life and goodness... death and disaster" (30:15) | There are two very different paths. |
| "Therefore choose life" (30:19) | Choose God. |
| "For He is your life" (30:20) | Life is found in God himself. |
Back Then
Witnesses made a promise official. Moses calls heaven and earth as witnesses, because they last for generations.
Moses died soon after. He saw the promised land from a mountain, then died. Joshua led the people in (34:1-9).
The people did turn away later, and were exiled. But God brought them back, just as Moses said (30:3).
Literal Reader Alert
Can we choose God on our own? Moses calls the people to choose. Lutherans believe that God's word and Spirit create the faith that chooses him. Even our choosing is God's gift.
Is God's law easy? Moses says it's near and clear, not hidden. But no one keeps it perfectly. That's why we need Jesus.
If bad things happen, did I choose wrong? Not necessarily. Bad things happen to faithful people too. This passage is about turning toward or away from God himself.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Moses | Urgent | He was saying goodbye (30:19) |
| The people | Facing a choice | Two paths lay before them (30:15) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What does "choose life" mean for you today? Tap one.
Hold fast to God
Stay close to him. He is your life.
His word is near
It's not hard to find. Open a Bible today.
I've chosen wrong
God brought his people back. He'll bring you back too.
I'm struggling
If you ever feel like life isn't worth living, please tell a trusted adult right away.
You Might Have Heard
"God's will is a mystery you'll never figure out."
What's true: God is beyond our understanding in many ways.
What the passage is mainly about: God's word is not far away or impossible to understand. It's near, in your mouth and heart. God sets life before us and says, "Choose life."
Where Jesus is: Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6). He is the life Moses was pointing to.
Good News
God set life before his people and said, "Choose it."
"For He is your life" (30:20).
God's word is near. In Jesus, life itself came near to us. He holds on to us even when we let go.
God set life and death before his people and said, "Choose life." God himself is our life, and his word is very near.
Big Idea
God's word is very near, in your mouth and heart. He sets life and death before us and says, "Choose life," because he is our life.
If this passage brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther taught that God's word is never far away. It comes to us in preaching, in baptism, and in the Lord's Supper. We don't have to climb to heaven to find God.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year A, it reads Deuteronomy 30:15-20 on the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany. In Year C, it reads Deuteronomy 30:9-14 in July (Lectionary 15) and Deuteronomy 30:15-20 in September (Lectionary 23).
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live
How did that feel?
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany Year AFirst reading, Deuteronomy 30:15–20 or Sirach 15:15–20
- Lectionary 15 Year CFirst reading, Deuteronomy 30:9–14
- Lectionary 23 Year CFirst reading, Deuteronomy 30:15–20
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Choose Life, explained in plain words. Moses sets two paths before God's people and urges them to choose life. About 8 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/choose-life/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church