Mobilizing in Moab: Book Review

Notes:

Review, return, and return

vv.1-10: The Curse Reversed

Heart Conversion:

What will happen to the people?

v. 1: Return to senses

v.2: Return to the Lord

v. 3: Listen to his voice

Post-Conversion Blessings

What will the Lord do in response to their repentance?

v.3: Restore your fortunes

Gather you again (‘because the Lord scattered you’)

v.4: Lord will gather those in ‘the uttermost parts of heaven’

He will take you

v. 5: The Lord will bring you into the land.

He will make you more prosperous and numerous than before

Reverse Order:

Deuteronomy 10:11–12 “11 And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise, go on your journey at the head of the people, so that they may go in and possess the land, which I swore to their fathers to give them.’ 12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”

v. 6: The Lord will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring… so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.”

Live and prosper without love, and without a circumcised heart.

v. 7: Lord puts all these curses on your foes

v.8: You shall obey the voice of the Lord and keep all his commandments that I command you today.

v.9: The Lord will make you abundantly prosper, in the fruit of the womb, cattle, and ground.

v. 10: The Lord will delight in prospering you.

vv.11-14: You’ve Got This!

Deuteronomy 30:11–14 “11 “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”

v. 11: Not too Hard!

v. 12: Don’t need to look to heaven for someone to help: “Who will ascend to heaven to us and bring it to us, to help us obey?”

v. 13: Don’t go beyond the sea looking for answers: “Who will go over the sea for us and help us obey?”

v. 14: NO! “The Word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so you can obey!”

- You’ve got everything you need right here!

Christianity isn’t beyond reach…

Because of Christ’s Reach.

Don’t go on pilgrimages for answers.

Christianity: The answers to life’s questions is in the word. We don’t need to search!

vv.15-20: The Choice is Yours (sort of)

Clearest of terms

Life and good verses Death and evil

Obedience and blessing

Unrepentant and cursed

“The matter has come down to a decision that has to be made. God and his ability were not for one moment in question: the responsibility now rested on the people themselves.” Craigie

LIFEWAY:

Deuteronomy 30:16 “by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules…”

DEATHWAY:

Deuteronomy 30:17–18 “But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.”

Need for Jesus!

Choice becomes a command: Deuteronomy 30:19“19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,”