Having destroyed the first two tablets, Moses had to make the second ones himself! The commandments were the same, but Moses had to pay a price for his temper. Moses also has to make an ark in order to keep the tablets in them. Perhaps God thought He had better do something to ensure their safety!
So Moses went up the mountain again, and came down with the same commandments, this time safely tucked away in the ark. The Lord had not destroyed the people, and it was still Moses' task to lead them into the Promised Land.
Verses 12 and 13 sum up what the Lord's requirements are. To fear Him, to walk in obedience and to love Him with all that we have. The Lord is to be the complete focus of our being. The commands He gives are for our own good, it is not in our interests to disobey them or ignore them.
The Lord is the Lord of all, the creator of all. Even so, He has set His affections on us. We are to circumcise our hearts. The importance of our hearts being right is not a New Testament concept, but one that is found throughout the Old Testament. It is only through the cross and by the power of the Holy Spirit that we are enabled to do this.
The Israelites had seen the reality if God's promise, for they had already become very numerous. They were to love the foreigners in their land. People sometimes complain about how harsh some of the Old Testament is, but it is equally amazing how "progressive" or "enlightened" other parts are.
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