Deuteronomy

Title: Deuteronomy comes from two Greek words meaning "second law," and is so called from the fact that it records the repetition of the laws given at Sinai.

Theme: Moses has fulfilled his mission. He has led Israel from Egypt to the borders of the Promised Land. Now that the time of his departure is at hand, he reviews before the new generation, in a series of discourses, Israel's past history and upon this review he bases the warnings and exhortations that make Deuteronomy one great exhortatory sermon to Israel. He exhorts them to remember the Lord's love toward them during the wilderness wanderings, in order that they may rest assured of His continued care of them when they enter Canaan. He admonishes them to observe the law in order that they might prosper. He reminds them of their past backslidings and rebellions, and warns them of the consequences of future disobedience. The message of Deuteronomy may be summed up in three exhortations: Remember! Obey! Take heed!

Author: Moses.

Scope: Two months on the plains of Moab, 1451 B. C.

CONTENTS

We shall outline Deuteronomy according to the three exhortations mentioned in our theme

I. Remember! - Review of the Wanderings (Chapters 1-4).

II. Obey! - Review of the Law (Chapters 5-27).

III. Take Heed! - Prophecy of Israel's Future (Chapters 28-34).

I. Remember! - Review of Israel's Wanderings (1-4)

Since the events recorded in the following chapters are simply a repetition for the most part of those given in Numbers, we shall not dwell on

them. We may divide the section into two parts:

1. Moses reviews Israel's wanderings (1-3), and

2. Makes that review a basis for a warning (4).

Where do we find Israel at the beginning of this book (1:5)?

What prophecy had been partially fulfilled in Israel (v. 10 and Genesis 15:5)?

In what one instance was Moses' prayer refused (3:25-28)?

What was to be Israel's attitude toward the Word of GOD (4:2)?

What was the law to Israel (4:6)?

Concerning what days does Moses prophesy in 4:25-30?

To what book written by himself does Moses indirectly refer (4:32)?

II. Obey! - Review of the Law (5-27)

1. The Ten Commandments (5-6).

2. Warnings and exhortations (7-12).

3. False prophets (13).

4. Ceremonial laws (14-16).

5. A future king and a future Prophet (17-18).

6. Civil laws (19-26).

7. Blessings and cursings of the Law (27).

What was GOD's earnest desire for His people (5:29)?

Will it ever be realized (Ezekiel 36:26)?

What is the one great commandment of the Law (6:4, 5)?

Was Israel chosen because of their greatness or righteousness (7:7; 9:4)?

For what two reasons were they chosen (7:8)?

What was one of the purposes of GOD's leading Israel through the wilderness (8:2-5, 16)?

What was all that GOD required of Israel (10:12)?

What was to be the difference between Israel's conduct in the wilderness and that in the Land of Promise (12:8)?

Where were sacrifices only to be offered (12:13, 14)?

Do miracles necessarily prove the genuineness of a prophet (13:1,2; II Thessalonians 2:9)?

What is the test (13:2; Matthew 7:15-23)?

What did Moses foresee (17:14-16; compare I Samuel 8:5, 10-18)?

What great prophecy did Moses utter in 18:15-19?

Note that the law of retribution in 19:21 was given to be enforced by the judges and not by ordinary individuals.

With what does the review of the Law end (27:26)?

What is our relation to it (Galatians 3:13)?

III. Take Heed! - Prophecies of Israel's Future (28-34).

1. Blessings and cursings (28).

2. The Palestinian covenant (29, 30).

3. Moses' last counsels to the priests, Levites and Joshua (31).

4. The song of Moses (32).

5. The blessing of the tribes (33).

6. The death of Moses (34).

Chapter 28, together with Leviticus 26, should be remembered as the two great prophetic chapters of the Pentateuch. Verses 1-14 would have been fulfilled if Israel had been obedient but they will find their ultimate fulfillment during the Millennium. Verses 14-36 were fulfilled in Israel's apostasy under the Kings, which culminated in the Babylonian captivity (II Chronicles 36:15-20). Verses 37-68 were fulfilled during the destruction of Jerusalem, 70 A. D. and the period following (Luke 21:20-24). Josephus, a Jewish general and historian who lived during those days, gives some vivid accounts of the terrible sufferings of the Jews at that time, which indicate how literally the foregoing verses were fulfi11ed.

As a commentary on verse 53, we cite the following incident taken from the history of the siege.

During the period of greatest famine in Jerusalem, a party of armed marauders were wandering through the streets in search of food. They smelled the odor of roasting flesh from a near-by house. Entering, they commanded the woman there to give them food. Whereupon, to their horror, she uncovered the roasted body of her infant! It will be plain to anyone who has some knowledge of the Jewish people how the prophecies of verses 37-68 have been made history.

Chapters 29 and 30 record what is known as the Palestinian covenant; that is, an agreement between the Lord and Israel as to the conditions of their possessing Palestine. It should be carefully noted that there are two covenants which relate to Israel's possession of the land. The first is the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 17:7,8). This covenant was unconditional; that is, Israel's conduct would not effect its fulfillment. (See Jeremiah 31:35-37; Romans 11:26-29). But GOD saw that Israel would sin, so He put them under another covenant - the Palestinian. This covenant is conditional upon Israel's obedience, and enables the Lord to punish them with temporary banishment from the land without casting them off forever. To use a crude illustration; the Abrahamic covenant was the inheritance laid up for an obedient Israel; the Palestinian covenant was the whip to bring Israel to that place of obedience. Dr. Scofield furnishes an excellent analysis of the last named covenant. It made provision for:

1. Israel's dispersion for disobedience (30:1).

2. Future repentance of Israel (verse 2).

3. The return of the Lord (verse 3).

4. Restoration to Palestine (verse 5).

5. National conversion (verse 6).

6. Judgment of Israel's oppressors (verse 7).

7. National prosperity (verse 9).

How often was the Law to be read to the people (31:10-13)?

What did the Lord warn Moses of (31:16)?

In view of this, what was Moses to do (verses 19-21)?

What did Moses know (verse 29)?

The song of Moses, contained in chapter 32, may be considered as a summary of the whole book of Deuteronomy. It may be summed up in the three words of our theme - remember, obey, heed. It was written in the form of a song so as to be more easily remembered by the people.

What is said concerning GOD's character in 32:4? Israel's character (verses 5, 6)?

What country did the Lord make the center of all nations (verse 8)?

What is said concerning the Lord's care of Israel (verses 10-14)? Was Israel grateful (verses 15-18)?

Who was to provoke Israel to jealousy (verse 21; cf. Romans 11:11)?

How would the Lord punish them (vv.22-26)?

What would prevent the Lord from making a full end of them (verse 27)?

What was His desire for them (verse 29)?

When will He return to them (verse 36)?

Who will finally rejoice with Israel (verse 43)? When?

Moses' blessing of the tribes should be compared with that of Jacob found in Genesis 49.

What is a probable reason why the location of Moses' tomb was never revealed (cf. Numbers 21:8 and II Kings 18:4)?

What other scripture mentions his burial (Jude 9)?

What was his physical condition at death? What did Israel do at Moses' death that they ought to have done during his lifetime (verse 8)?

Did ever a prophet arise in Israel like Moses (cf. verse 10 and chapter 18:15)?