In this portion, as Israel stood before God, it says they were to keep the words of their covenant with God; namely, their relationship with God. Notice it mentions men, women, children, and even those with lowly positions like carrying water. They were renewing their relationship with God. Perhaps some had not done that because they were not alive when Israel first did that. Each person is responsible for their relationship with God and must decide one way or another whether they will follow God's commandments. It was God’s intention that they become a people who were dedicated to do what is right and be blessed.

 

They saw the terrible lifestyle of the Egyptians and of those who they passed by on their way to Canaan. They were to understand that their lives would be cursed just like these other people if they did not follow God’s commandments. Deuteronomy 29:18 NKJV says, "So that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood." Following other gods or even concepts of living can make people bitter towards God. Wormwood refers to a bitter drink. We should not be bitter towards God (see Revelation 8:10-11).  

 

It goes on to say, they may think everything will go well if they just do what they want to instead of God's way. Deuteronomy 29:19-20 NKJV says, "He blesses himself in his heart, saying, 'I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart' – as though the drunkard could be included with the sober. The LORD would not spare him; for then the anger of the LORD and His jealousy would burn against that man." The word drunkard is an idiom of thirsty which can be an idiom for being out of control.