"You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name.

"but you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.

When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.

Yet the LORD testified against Israel and against Judah, by all of His prophets, every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments [and] My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets."

So they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, made for themselves a molded image [and] two calves, made a wooden image and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.

Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.

"which I commanded your fathers in the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, 'Obey My voice, and do according to all that I command you; so shall you be My people, and I will be your God,'

" If you love Me, keep My commandments.

"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."

"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

"You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.