Deuteronomy 4 - A More Beautiful Point of View

The sentimental tone that I noticed at the very outset of Deuteronomy seems to intensify in Chapter 4. Moses is pleading at this point that his fellow Israelites follow the Commandments and do not fall again into idolatry. Many things from Exodus and Numbers are repeated in this chapter, but as it says in my commentary, it is relayed with "a more beautiful point of view." Moses, now at the end of his life, is exhorting the people gently, with almost a sadness in his voice (for, possibly he knows that they will ultimately fail in keeping God's commands). Chapter 4 reads almost like an inspirational speech. And this becomes especially poignant when one imagines the setting. Moses is speaking to the people, behind him is all of the Promised Land, from the flowing waters of the Jordan across the hills and valleys all the way to the sparkling and vast Mediterranean! The people no doubt are bursting with excitement over the prospect of calling such a beautiful place home. But, Moses, being the great prophet that he is, knows better. He knows that even though a beautiful land awaits them, the people could easily lose it if they fall back to their old sinful ways. A few verses capture this idea vividly. In fact, these verses read almost like an actual prophecy (which in all likelihood they are), for we know now that the people did lose the Promised Land during the Babylonian Captivity, and, again, during the 1st century Diaspora. And, just as is indicated in verse 31, God in His Mercy allowed the Jews to return to the Promised Land after their captivity just as He will allow their eventual conversion and redemption at the end of the world. Here are the verses in full:

"I call this day heaven and earth to witness, that you shall quickly perish out of the land, which, when you have passed over the Jordan, you shall possess. You shall not dwell therein long, but the Lord will destroy you,
And scatter you among all nations, and you shall remain a few among the nations, to which the Lord shall lead you.
And there you shall serve gods, that were framed with men's hands; wood and stone, that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
And when thou shalt seek there the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him: yet so, if thou seek him with all thy heart, and all the affliction of thy soul.
After all the things aforesaid shall find thee, in the latter time thou shalt return to the Lord thy God, and shalt hear his voice:
Because the Lord thy God, is a merciful God: he will not leave thee, nor altogether destroy thee, nor forget the covenant, by which he swore to thy fathers." (Deuteronomy 4:26-31)

The significance and profound vision contained in these verses should be obvious, as it continues to hold relevance for the Jews even today.