Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy


What do you see in this book that tells you about the original reader? The children of Israel have left Mt. Sinai and are now on the very brink of entering the promised land. The old generation has died, this new generation has a chance at a brand new start. Moses says; "The Lord heard the request you made to me. And He said, ‘I have heard what the people said to you, and they are right. Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands!" Deuteronomy 5:28. The people were in a good place to begin again!

What do you see in this book that tells you about the author? Most of this book is Moses’ words, his final words, to the generation that will go in and possess the land. He rehearses much of the history from the time of deliverance from Egypt. The book was written around 1406 BC.

Main themes, repeated ideas, and main idea. There are several repeated themes in Deuteronomy; blessing, obedience, disobedience, cursing, victory over enemies, remembering the past and passing on all these things to future generations. The main idea; Moses urging a new generation to move forward with God. SourceView.

What is the primary reason this book was written? Moses challenged Israel to obey the Lord faithfully and reject all forms of idolatry–a call to the new generation to renew formally the earlier covenant with God that their parents had broken. SourceView. "Take to heart all the words of warning I have given you today. Pass them on as a command to your children so they will obey every word of these instructions. These instructions are not empty words–they are your life!" Deuteronomy 32:46.

What does this book show you about God’s redemptive plan for mankind? In Numbers 11 is the account when Moses in his anger struck the rock twice when the Israelites wanted water. It seems that this act violated a foreshadowing of Jesus’ crucifiction and death. And even the pole lifted up with the snake on it fore- shadows His resurrection. In Deuteronomy is part 2 of this event when Moses again asks God for permission to enter the promised land. The reply is heart-rending but one in which we can learn from; "For both of you betrayed me with the Israelites at the waters of Meribah at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. You failed to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel there. So you will see the land from a distance, but you may not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel." Deuteronomy 32:51. How important to God is His word, even the cloaked words that will be understood generations later.

　

Personal application: I relate to this book of a "new beginning. I am always in need of new beginnings myself. In fact, every morning is a new beginning! Yet, I have had significant renewals in my heart and life several times and they were certainly "new beginnings." I am convinced I have been born again at least three times so far! The book of Deuteronomy was familiar territory in that regard. God’s compassion and long suffering was exemplified in Moses song, his final discourse to the children of Israel: "How blessed you are, O Israel! Who else is like You, a people saved by the Lord? He is your protecting shield and your triumphant sword!" Deuteronomy 33:29. While this is written to a nation, it is true of His character today. And His protecting shield and triumphant sword is wielded for us all. It is wielded for me . . .

Point of Passion: My point of passion for the book of Deuteronomy is simply the great desire to thoroughly get the Bible inside me as a work of passion for the remainder of my life.