Deuteronomy

Growing in Christ

"He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." Luke 24:45

Overview of Old Testament or New Testament

Links to observations drawn from other other books of the Bible

Introduction: The Hebrew title of the book is taken from the first verse "words" referring to the words of Moses given to Israel on the plains of Moab before crossing the Jordan into Canaan. This is a crucial time for Israel. Moses is about to die. The people would face war and many changes afterwards as they settled as a nation in the land. Joshua's leadership was untested. The generation he would lead had not known Egypt, Yahweh's deliverance or self-revelation in the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai. The Greek translation (Septuagint) titles the book "Deuteronomy" (Second law-giving) because it repeats laws from earlier in the Pentateuch. Moses desires stability and continuity for Israel in the new circumstances Israel will face.

Deuteronomy is a constitution for the theocracy of Israel. The structure of the book parallels the pattern of a typical near-eastern suzerainty treaty. Of the 27 books of the New Testament, 17 quote from Deuteronomy. In his wilderness temptation Jesus quoted only Deuteronomy.

Practical and Pastoral Observations on the Book of Deuteronomy (please read each chapter slowly and meditatively before reading observations below):

Deuteronomy 1

The Setting: The location where Moses speaks to the people is specified (v.1-2) along with the date (v.3). Moses speaks just after God's victory over the Amorites (v.4) and before the people cross the Jordan.

Israel's Promise and Problem: God's promise of Canaan had been made clear at Sinai (v.6) as well as God's command to go and possess the land (v.7-8). God also made clear how they should rule themselves under God's impartial law (v.12-18). Israel's problem however was they did not believe God.

The Cost of Unbelief: Moses tells the children of those who died in the desert why the tragedy happened. God placed the land before their fathers (v.21) but the majority account of the spies (v.22-24) focused on their opponents (v.28) rather than on the Lord's promise and track record. Because of their fathers' refusal to cross the Jordan (v.26), despite Moses's words of truth (v.29-33), God denied them the land (v.34-35) promising it instead to their children (v.39). When Israel, instead of accepting God's judgement, sought to battle the Amorites in their own strength (v.41-43), they were defeated (v.44). 

The Next Generation: The children of those who died in the desert needed to hear this sad story so as not to make the same mistake of unbelief and loss of courage. May we too learn from history rather than repeat its errors. Deut 1:11: "May the LORD, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you, as he has promised you!" 

Personal Response: I will listen to the stories of my parents and of their mission history and change my behaviour accordingly.

My Prayer: Father, thank you that you promise and warn. Give me now to believe and obey. Your word is not to be taken lightly or spurned. Spare me from the consequences of unbelief.

Deuteronomy 2

38 Years: Moses first 40 years were in the privileged court of Pharoah, the 2nd 40 years until the burning bush, a simple shepherd, and the majority of his last 40 years are here summarized in a single verse (v.1): wandering in the wilderness around Mount Seir until the generation of fighting men, who refused to fight, had died (v.14-16).

Singular Focus: God had not given Israel any of the land of Esau's descendants, the Edomites (v. 2-8), or the land of the descendants of Lot; the Moabites (v.9) or the Ammonites (17). Israel was to maintain good relations with these neighbours, asking only to pass through, paying for food and water. Only the land of Canaanite tribes was given to Israel.

Heshbon was east of the Jordan so Israel made the same offer (v.26-29) but King Sidon attacked (v.32) and was destroyed fully (v.33-35).

History of occupation: World history to this day is the history of land being taken by one people from another. v.10-12 outlines Lot's descendants, the Moabites taking their land from the Emims, and the Edomites, Esau's descendent, taking their land from the Horims. v.20-23 describes the Ammonites, Lot's other branch of descendants, taking their land of the Rephaites, and the Caphtorites from Crete taking the land of Gaza from the Avvites. The Caphtorites in Gaza became known as Philistines. The Caphtorites, from Lower-Egypt, had taken Crete earlier and the Moabites had lost much of their land to Sihon.

Moses may have included this wider history in his summation to Israel to encourage them, having come from Egypt and backing away from Canaan 38 years earlier, that they too could occupy the land promised them by Yahweh, land currently occupied by worshippers of Chemosh who had taken the land from those before them. God chose the most wicked tribes of the area to be dispossessed by Israel.

Personal Response: I will be meek when called to be meek and courageous when the Lord calls me to courage.

My Prayer: Father, the history of violence to take land is long, continuing to this day, and painful to ponder. When Jesus returns, You will bring justice taking the earth from the wicked. Till then, Lord, I join in a prayer-song of my youth: ""In a troubled world, I pray the Lord to keep, Keep hatred from the mighty and the mighty from the small. Heaven help us all."

Deuteronomy 3

East of the Jordan: Moses reiterates the capture of the 60 walled cities of Bashan (v. 4-5) and Og the king of Bashan and all his people (v.6-7). Og was the last of the giant race of Rephaim which had occupied the territory of the Amorites. His bed (or coffin) was 13.5 long x 6 ft wide (v.11), giving a sense of why the spies first sent by Moses into the promised land brought back a fearful report. But God gave victory.

The Promise of the Two and a Half Tribes: Gad (v.12, Manasseh (v.13) and Reuben (v.16) are given the land of the Amorites east of the Jordan (v.18). Their families begin to settle the land (v.19) while their men of fighting age cross the Jordan with the rest of Israel to take the Promised Land (v.20), before returning to their families. Joshua will lead Israel to the victory the Lord will win for them (v.21).

Denial of Mose's Request: Moses, after the defeat of Sidon and Og (v.21), again asked the Lord permission to cross the Jordan into Canaan and Lebanon. God's answer was firm however, and commanded Moses not to ask again (v.26). Moses had to be satisfied with a visual taste of the promise from a mountain top (v.27) before he died. Moses final energies were to be expended transferring strength and encouragement to Joshua, who would receive God's inheritance to Israel from the Lord's hands (v.28).

Moses' disappointment: Sometimes we have to be satisfied with the Lord's "no". We may or may not know the reason but we do know the Lord knows what we do not about the future and has reasons beyond us we must accept. In that place of disappointment, though forgiven as was Moses, we dwell in a place of peace.

Personal Response: I will accept the Lord's "no" as fully as His "yes." I will not be angry and carry my disappointment in peace until the disappointment fades into trust.

My Prayer: Father, I trust the next generation leaders who take my place and, rather than hold on, bless, encourage and strengthen them, grateful that you call them to lead your people into places I cannot.

Deuteronomy 4

Of Ultimate Importance: Among the nations, through the generations, in all the busyness and challenges of life, what is of ultimate importance? Moses will die (v.21), the people with cross into Canaan without him (v.22). What burns on Moses heart and urges upon the people must not be forgotten (v.9), added to or selected from (v.2, 12:32; Rev.22:18-19) but held to through the generations.

The irreducible basics: God is, there is no god like Him (v.35, 39). He is holy and sets His people apart to be holy; jealous of his rights and moral standards (v.24). God is without form like fire (v.11, 15, 24, 33, 36) and cannot be reduced to any image, male or female (v.16-19). Nothing can represent Him. He speaks (v.12, 33, 36) and makes covenant to bind us to Him (v.13), His own possession (v.20) forever.

Inevitable Consequences: Those who hold fast (v.4) to Him will have a reputation for wisdom and understanding (v.6), righteousness (v.8) and blessing serving a God who is near, answering the call of His people (v.7). Those who reject or ignore Him will be scattered (v.26-27) and destroyed (v.3). Those who return (v.30) will find Him compassionate (v.31) and enjoy generational blessings in the land (v.40).

Deut 4:39 know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.

Personal Response: I will hold fast to the one and only true living God whose I am, who loves and speaks. How can I stay focused, in relationship and on course? Individually, I can read a chapter of the Bible daily, meditate on it, pray and obey. Corporately, I can proactively participate in a community of the Word, prayer, worship and mission.

My Prayer: Father, show me how I can urge this generation to hold fast, be blessed and press in to God our Savior.