Deuteronomy 10:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What do the words mean when it states, ‘The Lord your God is this God of gods and the Lord of lords’ (Deuteronomy 10:17)? In this context, Moses is referring to judges when he mentions gods. He instructs, ‘Thou shalt not speak evil against the gods, and thou shalt not speak evil to the prince of thy people’ (Exodus 22:28). In the rendering by the Seventy, it expresses, ‘Thou shalt bring him into the judgement’ (Exodus 21:6), while Aquila and Symmachus translate it as ‘thou shalt bring him before the gods,’ indicating that these gods refer to the judges. Moses designates Him as God in relation to these judges, not to false deities. This point has been clarified on numerous occasions already.

The prophets frequently proclaim, "Your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords," emphasizing His greatness, strength, and majesty. This is not to suggest that these beings are genuine deities, but rather to convey through Scripture that the one true God, the Creator of all, reigns over the false gods and lords of this world. To illustrate this, the Holy Spirit spoke through St. David, stating that the deities of the nations, revered as gods, are merely idols of demons, devoid of true divinity (Ps. 95:5; see also 1 Chr. 16:26). Additionally, a warning is given to those who create and worship such false idols (see Ps. 113:4, 8).

For whom was this magnificent act, the incarnation of the Son of God, undertaken? For whose benefit did He enter the world, take on human form, endure suffering, and ultimately face death? It was for you, for me, and for every person. God "does not look at faces" (Luke 20:21); instead, for the sake of each individual, including you and me, as well as all humanity, He sent His Son into the world, that by His grace, salvation might be offered to all. There is indeed hope for us sinners, for God "looks not on faces," extending His mercy and salvation equally to every repentant heart. His gaze is not upon appearances but rather on the sincerity of our hearts and our faith.

The encouragement to remain faithful and obedient to God in the preceding verse is bolstered by Moses’ reminder of the Lord's majesty. The Israelites are to recognize that their God is the Supreme Being, exalted above all so-called deities, both the false gods worshipped by the nations and the earthly powers that are erroneously termed gods (Psalm 81:1-2). He is the Sovereign over all sovereigns, and in His presence, every dominion, ruler, and authority—essentially every heavenly force that carries out the will of the Almighty—submit to His reign. This includes all earthly powers, even those that stand in opposition to Him, yet are suppressed and humbled by His righteous wrath.