4:39-40 - Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time.

With the affirmations of vv35-38, Moses now summons Israel to respond. The pattern of this summon parallels his affirmation:

Affirmation: A. You were shown these things so that
you may know (yd'), v.35a,

B. that Yahweh, he is God, v.35b,

C. besides him there is no other, v.36,

D. He brought you out . . . to bring you
into their land to give (ntn) it to you
as it is today (kywm), v.38.

Summon: A'. Acknowledge (yd') and take to
heart, v.39a,

B'. that Yahweh is God, v.39b,

C'. There is no other, v.39c,

D'. Keep his decrees and commands,
which I am commanding you today
(hywm) . . . so you may live long in
the land Yahweh your God gives
(ntn) you for all days (kl-hymym),
v.40.

Just as Moses has affirmed that Israel was shown these things that she may know (yd'), so the proper response is for Israel now to "acknowledge (yd') and take to heart today" that Yahweh is God. And if Israel has searched the whole of heaven and earth and has found no god who had done the great things that Yahweh has done, that only demonstrates that Yahweh is God "in heaven above and on the earth below." "There is no other" even if there are claims to the contrary. The proper response then is for Israel to keep the decrees and commands he is giving them. The urgency for Israel to so respond to Yahweh is stressed by the repetition of today as the time for decision. That such a decision will lead to long days in the land that Yahweh gives Israel for all days is added motivation for faithfulness to Yahweh. Moses' arguments for commitment to Yahweh cannot be simpler or more cogent and compelling. (If only we preachers are more like this in our sermons!)