We now get the renewal of the covenant. It starts with a reminder that they had seen all that the Lord had done in Egypt. This is a reference to the nation as a whole. Then we get the crucial statement that the Lord had not given them a mind that understood what had happened. In a sense this is at the heart of the matter of what the rest of the Bible is about. Isaiah talks of them being ever seeing but never perceiving (Isaiah 6:9,10). And Paul talks about their minds being blinded, and the Spirit taking the veil away (2 Corinthians 3:14).
Now someone might object that they could hardly be held responsible if God had not given them a mind that could understand, but we need to remember why they could not understand in the first place. It was because man had turned against God in Eden. Moreover, the offer is open to all to come to Christ and then our minds will be opened.
The purpose of the covenant was so that they would enjoy God's prosperity in the land. It was to be the fulfilment of the promise to Abraham. So we have a fundamental point here. God's plans for us are good. It cannot be emphasised too strongly how important this is. Note how atheists argue so vehemently that God is evil.
Then there are warnings against idolatry, coupled with a warning that if someone commits idolatry but then invokes a blessing on themselves, far from saving themselves they will be in even worse trouble. How easy it is for us to do this. To do something wrong thinking that God will just forgive us. This will not happen unless there is true repentance. Christianity cannot be treated like a lucky charm.
Finally there is the description of what would actually happen. God knew that the nation would turn against Him. Then future generations would see what had happened, and why it had happened.
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