Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

The text for today’s meditation is Dueteronomy 4: 1-2;6-9

And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.

You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you...

Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?

And what great nation is there, that has statutes and just decrees so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?

"Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children…

"It's simply beyond comparison!" To be beyond comparison is quite a compliment. We might give such a compliment to a fine glass of wine, the moon rising over the mountain casting a reflection on the Tennessee river during October Fest, a musical performance, a Christmas Eve worship service, or the feelings we have for a special someone. But it is not a compliment often given to God. God is not "beyond" comparison. God is "without" comparison. There are always other wines, another moon rising, performances, services, or relationships with which to compare. But there is nothing with which to compare God. 'Who is like God?" No one. And here is why.

God gives us a perfect Law so that we may live as His children. His Law is His blueprint for what Christian living looks like. God's Law is perfect, requiring neither addition nor subtraction. Some would say the Law or Commandments don’t apply to us. They were for the Israelites. They were a covenant between God and the Israelites that Christ fulfilled. They would say the covenant is fulfilled therefore the contract is no longer valid. Christ did fulfill the commandments by living a sinless life. But in Matthew 22:36 through 40 Christ gives us our commandments, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" ³⁷ And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." So what does it look like to love God and love your neighbor? It looks like the Ten Commandments. The commandments are summed up in these two commandments. These two commandments are given to us by Christ in the New Testament. This makes the Ten Commandments given in the Old Testament apply to us in a big way and they are perfect. They need nothing added and nothing taken away.

We as fallen creatures modify the Law. We often add to the Law, as did the Pharisees through their traditions. In last week’s Gospel reading Jesus illustrates how the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law have "let go of the commands of God" by "holding on to the traditions of men." Are there traditions here at Trinity that we are holding on to and have we let go of the commands of God?

We often subtract from the Law by putting it within our grasp. We justify our actions by excusing our offenses of the Law. What about the man or woman that has extra marital affairs.

They justify them by saying they weren’t happy at home and they deserve to be happy. We also subtract from the Law when the consequences affect our desires or make our life difficult. This week Auburn’s center, Reese Dismukes was suspended after being arrested for public intoxication. Some fans are calling the suspension flat out wrong; after all, he wasn’t driving. No, he didn’t endanger anyone’s life behind the wheel but he did break the law. He was intoxicated in public and he is only nineteen and guilty of underage drinking as well. He broke the rules and should suffer the consequences even though it affects the team and the fans.

The special relationship with God can no longer be sustained when God’s holy Law has been violated by either addition or subtraction; Addition to the Law, as in the case of the Pharisees and teachers of the law; Subtraction from the Law, as in the contemporary modifications of God’s holy Law.

The Law by which we were to live condemns us to death. When we are outside the right relationship with God we are no longer encouraged by God’s responsiveness. Instead, the closeness of God feels like a threat and judgment. The threat and judgment are what we deserve and they are right. The penalty for sin is death. When we look at ourselves in the mirror of the Law we see ourselves for what we are. You and I are sinners outside the right relationship with God. You and I have added and subtracted from God’s perfect Law. The death penalty is our just deserve and there is no arguing about it.

God’s Law is perfect. God’s punishment is right and true, death is what we deserve. But God also gives us a perfect Gospel so that we may live again. Just as God was near to the Israelites in the Tabernacle, God is near to us in His Son. He is so near that He became one of us, not changing but fulfilling the Law. He sent His perfect son to live a perfect life. The sinful people on earth could not keep the Law so Christ did it on our behalf. Jesus kept the righteous judgments and defeated temptation. Satan threw all he had at Jesus. Jesus was stronger and Satan was defeated. Jesus took your place; He accepted and assumed your death sentence. He willingly endured torture and death. Jesus even suffered God the Father turning away from Him. When Jesus cried out "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" He was all alone for the first time. God turned His back because he saw the disgrace of your sin. He couldn’t see His own Son anymore just the sin of the world. His death paid your death penalty.

Jesus didn’t remain in the grave. He conquered death and rose from the dead. Jesus' death and resurrection assures us of His eternal presence. He is present here and now. God is near to us now through Word and Sacrament. He is near us when we read scripture. His word comes alive through the Holy Spirit. He is near us through baptism in the water and the word. The Holy Spirit literally takes up residence in your heart in your baptism. Now that is near! As if that isn’t near enough. He is even closer when you come to the communion rail. He is so near you can see, feel, smell, and taste His physical presence when you eat and drink His body and blood in, with, and under the bread and wine. Just as the Israelites needed His presence, we too need it and He is near indeed.

What other people have a God like our God? There is no other God. Is God Beyond comparison? There is none to compare with. God is "without" comparison. God’s people, the church of Jesus Christ comprises a royal priesthood and a holy nation. The royal priesthood, God’s people, can stand as a witness to the world. The world can witness the true God’s nature and qualities through careful observation of His commands. They don’t function as Law but instead as good news for the hearers as they are told what makes the royal priesthood special to God as His children.

There is no one like God, we worship the one true God. We teach and follow this Gospel, and we live. We live as the Royal priesthood a holy nation.

Amen.