Deuteronomy
Notes
Transcript
Overview
Overview
Things had not gone exactly as planned for Israel. Despite God’s wonderful deliverance from Egypt and miraculous provisions in the desert, Israel had failed to obey him. The people had refused to enter the promised land and rebelled against God’s leadership. As a result, the trip from Egypt to Canaan took nearly 40 yrs instead of a few months. Now a generation later, Israel was finally in the plains of Moab ready to cross the Jordan river and claim the promises of God.
But Moses was not allowed to enter the land with his people, he had acted in anger at Kadesh (), and had to pass the baton of leadership to someone else. Furthermore, this generation needed to claim the covenant and its promises for themselves. (Encountering the Old testament Arnold/Beyer Page 114)
This is the 5th book of the bible, and the last book in the torah. After the Exodus from Egypt, Israel was at Mt Sinai for one year entering into a covenant with their God. The Israelites then wandered the wilderness, this generation would disqualify themselves from entering into the promised land. So Deuteronomy begins with Moses standing in front of this new generation , explaining the Torah. Its here where the design and purpose of the book unfolds. Deuteronomy is a series of speeches from Moses, where he is calling this generation of people to be faithful to the covenant with their God. At the center of the book is a collection of laws which are the terms of the covenant between God and Israel. Some of the laws are new, but many are repeated from the laws given earlier at Mt Sinai.
It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea. In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the people of Israel according to all that the Lord had given him in commandment to them,
Deuteronomy 1:2
It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea.
It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea. In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the people of Israel according to all that the Lord had given him in commandment to them,
Deu
This is where the book gets its name in the Greek is means “a second law”
The time is here, its time to cross into the promised land! But first Moses makes 3 speeches
The time is coming
Prior to studying this book in depth, I will admit that I thought of it as a boring, long winded book, alot of it seemed to be in previous books of the bible. But its important to note that Moses was talking to a new generation of Israelites, and was reaffirming what surely they would have heard sitting on their parents laps, as they were told of “The God of Israel” and his great works. Surely over years they would have heard about God’s faithfulness to their people, how he freed them from Egypt, how they were able to cross the red sea, the manna from heaven, the quail etc…
Chapter 1-11.
Moses tells of how the previous generation was rebellious, in contrast to Gods great grace and provision in the wilderness. God did bring justice on them, but he did not abandon his covenant with them..
The time is coming
Moses calls on them to remain more faithful them their parents were to the covenant. He reminds them of the 10 commandments. the center piece of this section is a famous piece called “THE SHEMA”
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-
The word “hear” also translated “listen”, means much more than just hearing, it means to OBEY, the word LOVE also is much more than just an emotion, more of a decision to a devotion to God.
In this verse “The Lord is one” is very important, many nations around them worshipped multiple gods. They are getting ready to go into Canaan , where they worshipped idol gods that represent different aspects of creation, the sun, the weather, sex, war. Moses is saying that worshipping the one true God, who is the creator and redeemer will lead to life and blessing.
Chapters 12-16
In these chapters we come a large collections of laws, that are arranged by topic. The first section is about Israels worship of God, they were to have one temple, where ONE God would be worshipped. Moses continues to reiterate that God should alone be worshipped, and only him. Israelites were to set aside 1/10 of their annual income to be given to the temple, and then 1/10 was to be set aside every 3 years to be given to the poor. these are the kind of laws, that put Israel on the cutting edge of justice in comparison to their ancient neighbors.
Chapters 16-18
These chapters speak of the character qualities of the leaders of Israel, the elders, the priests, the kings. There put under the authority of the covenant laws, which God said he would enforce by sending prophets to keep the leaders accountable.
so in contrast to Israel’s neighbors, kings were thought of as divine and a law unto themselves. Israels leaders were subordinate to the law and the prophets.
Chapters 19-26
This is a section on civil laws Marriage, Family and business. its also about social justice, about their legal system and how to protect the widow, orphan and immigrants. and it concludes about more laws about worship.
TIPS:
1.) These laws are the terms of the Sinai covenant given to ancient Israel. Living in a culture very different than that of today.
2.) Don’t compare them to modern laws. These laws were given to set Israel apart from their neighbors. God is pushing Israel to a higher standard.
I can’t help but think about our great nation, and the laws that have set us apart from our neighbors. For one in the judicial system you are innocent until proven guilty. And instead of being beheaded or killed, you are sent away to prison, upon completion of your time you are once again a citizen of the nation with almost all of your rights.
3.) Discern the core principle underlying the law
Chapters 27-34
Moses final speech and death
Here Moses issues a final challenge to the Israelites. They should listen and love their God.
He first issues a warning and a ultimatum. If they listen and obey their God, things will go great, they will get the diving blessing, but if not and they rebel, their will be devastation and ultimately exile from the land.
“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 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. 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, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
The promise to many people of Israel receiving the promised land, and of being a great nation was coming to be finally.
Remember back in Chapter 1, it was suppose to be a quick journey to the promised land
It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea. In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the people of Israel according to all that the Lord had given him in commandment to them,
remember back in Chap
It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea. In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the people of Israel according to all that the Lord had given him in commandment to them,
Deu
but the peoples rebellion caused many many days to elapse prior to receiving the promised land.
Yes I know its not good to look back on things you cant change if you would have done things different, but Moses has now spoke to this new generation about the 10 commandments and about serving the one true God, he so desperately wants the people to choose the right way, wishing he can make sure that they follow God and receive the blessings their parents choose not to.
Anyone here that is a parent can surely relate, you want your child to listen to you, not to take the paths you took. Knowing that there is coming a day that it is surely out of your hands and up to your child to do the right thing.
In Chapter 31 Joshua is commissioned to lead Israel, as Moses time is coming to a close.
And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers. Then this people will rise and whore after the foreign gods among them in the land that they are entering, and they will forsake me and break my covenant that I have made with them. Then my anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide my face from them, and they will be devoured. And many evils and troubles will come upon them, so that they will say in that day, ‘Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?’ And I will surely hide my face in that day because of all the evil that they have done, because they have turned to other gods.
Deuteronomy 31:
and then
Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to witness against them. For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way that I have commanded you. And in the days to come evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger through the work of your hands.”
Deuteronomy 31:28-
“Take this Book of the Law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against you. For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Behold, even today while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lord. How much more after my death! Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to witness against them. For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way that I have commanded you. And in the days to come evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger through the work of your hands.”
Deuteronomy 31:26-
The people are going to rebel against God, yet he is keeping his promises, hes given them the promised land.
God and Moses both know that the people are going to continue being rebellious and whore after other Gods
Chapter 34 is where Moses dies, he goes to mount Nebo to the top of Pisgah, where in the distance he can see the promised land.
And the Lord said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord, and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day.
Deuteronomy 34:4-
And the Lord said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord, and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day.
Deuteronomy 34:4-
And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
Deuteronomy 34:10-
This is but a glimpse of the gracious God we serve, he took great care of his people. They rebelled as much as possible, they worshipped other gods, yet God was so faithful to his promise.
So why is this book part of the bible?
1.) This book shows us that God keeps his promise ALWAYS!! He will never let you down, nor forsake you, you can be in the midst of running away from him, and he will be right behind you with arms opened wide, waiting for you to return to him.
2.) This books shows us that the world, outside influences will easily lead us astray.
3.) This book shows us that it doesn’t matter what/how our parents believed or acted, we can stop the cycle of unbelief or rebellion and start a new chapter.
4.) Finally this book shows us that God gives many chances not wanting anyone to perish.
For those that our believers sitting here today, maybe today is the day, the day that you return unto the Lord, like the prodigal son who was easily distracted with money and being rebellious. His father was so ready to receive him back into the family, that is how God is with his children when we return to him from being astray. Maybe you are here every week and are unsure of your relationship with God, the verse that we all know
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
God loves you, and just like the Israelites, he wants a relationship with you, but you have to choose to accept him, he wont make you love him, there is nothing that is to bad to forgive, your sitting here today and he is waiting for the invitation to enter into your heart.
Think of ancient Israel, the young child on grandma’s lap hearing stories about how their people were saved crossing the red sea, how they were fed manna from heaven and that they were promised a promised land.
Well we were promised eternal life with our father, all those who believe
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 peter 5:10-
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Romans
We are promise the holy spirit in this life as a believer, the moment we believe.
We are promise the holy spirit in this life as a believer, the moment we believe.
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
The holy spirit will comfort us, convict us, and lead us in our daily walk.
close with invitation.