Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

The fifth of the “five scrolls” of the Pentateuch was named in the Greek Old Testament, Deuteronomy, “the second law.”

This name was derived from the fact that Moses repeated the Law just before His death.

Some Rabbis called Deuteronomy “The book of Exhortations,” but most referred to it by the first key, “Words.”

The importance of Deuteronomy can be seen in the frequency with which it was quoted in the Dead Sea Scrolls and in the New Testament.

When Jesus was tempted, He responded to the Devil in each instance with a quotation from Deuteronomy.

When Jesus was asked which was the first and greatest commandment, He cited .

He referred to specific points of the Law as stated in Deuteronomy on several occasions.

Truly, the book of Deuteronomy is worth our time and study.

Discussion:

The Purpose of the Book:

An Application of the Law: , , .

The review of the law was necessary because the previous generation had perished in the wilderness and a new generation was ready to enter Canaan.

It was not a new law or a mere repetition of the law given at Mount Sinai, but rather an application of the the law in view of the circumstances Israel would meet in Canaan.

The Purpose was two-fold:

First, to call the younger generation to “remember all the way which the Lord God led them forty years in the wilderness, to humble them, and to test them” ().

Second, to lead them to obedience and to warn them against disobedience.

Obedience is the way of life and blessing, while disobedience is the way of curse and death (; ).

A New Crisis:

The history of Israel is largely a record of their many crises, most of which were the results of their doubt and disobedience.

God now instructs Moses to prepare them for the crisis of entering the land of “milk and honey.”

Their life was about to be changed from wandering in the wilderness to dwelling in cities and villages, and from dependence on manna to plowing the fields.

They would be tempted everywhere by the most seductive forms of idolatry.

Especially as farmers, they would be tempted to worship Baal, the god of the lands and crops of Canaan.

The Love of God: ; .

In Deuteronomy, God revealed a new dimension for law and obedience.

It is the expression here of His Divine love.

In chapters 1-4, we learn of God’s love in the past.

In chapters 5-26, we learn of His love in the present.

In chapters 27-34, we learn of the assurance of His love for His people in the future.

God’s laws are an expression of His love.

He governs us because He love us and wants to save us.

Man’s obedience is an expression of his love for God.

We obey God because we love Him and want to please Him (; ).

An Understanding of the Book:

Key Words: Remember, Obey, and Covenant.

Key Phrase & Theme: “You shall love the Lord, Your God:” , .

Deuteronomy is the exposition of the great commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might” ().

Jesus called this the first and greatest commandment and in it He summarized the whole Law ().

The appeal of this book is to know God, to love God, and to obey God.

Key Verses: , , , .

Consider , “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!”

God looks upon the heart, and will accept no service or worship that is not rendered from the heart.

Only they who do his will from the heart (Eph.

6:6) really fear and keep his commandments

God looks upon the heart, and will accept no service or worship that is not rendered from the heart.

Only they who do his will from the heart () really fear and keep his commandments

God looks on the heart, and will accept service or worship that is not from the heart.

Only those who do his will from the heart, really fear and keep his commandments

Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.).

(1909).

Deuteronomy (p.

86).

London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.

The people were required to “walk in all the way” that the Lord commanded if they were to prosper in the land they were about to possess.

Read with me , ““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 and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?”

The Lord mercifully renewed the covenant and allowed the Israelites to enter into the land rather than destroying them.

In light of this, Moses urges the Israelites to obey the Lord and to adopt a right attitude of the heart rather than blindly obeying Yahweh’s commands.

To make this point, Moses uses the image of the heart.

He desired for their actions and thoughts to reflect the same kind of obedience

Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016).

Faithlife Study Bible ().

Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Consider , ““The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

By secret things, here, some understand this to be “hidden sins,” which are known only to God, and which He will punish.

But the meaning rather is, things in God’s purpose known only to himself: these things belong to Him, are His affair, and may be left with him.

Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.).

(1909).

Deuteronomy (p.

449).

London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.

On the other hand, the things revealed are the things made known by God to man in his Word.

Therefore, to the Jew of this day, they were to focus only on the Law given and nothing else.

Finally, read with me, , “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

Moses concludes in his proclamation of the Law and in his preaching, good and evil, life and death, to love and serve the Lord which is life, and to shun apostacy and disobedience which are death.

Why?

To love the Lord is really to live the true life, the higher life.

Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.).

(1909).

Deuteronomy (p.

464).

London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.

Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.).

(1909).

Deuteronomy (p.

464).

London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.

Key Chapters: Chapters 27-29.

The formal ratification of the law of Moses in chapter 27, marks the renewal of the covenant by the younger generation as they prepare to enter the land of Canaan.

Here Moses, the priest, the Levites speak to the people stating, “Take heed and listen, O Israel: This day you have become the people of the Lord your God.”

In chapter 28 & 29, Moses appeals to Israel to choose the way of obedience and blessing, life and good, and he warns them of the fearful consequences of disobedience.

Relation to Books of the Pentateuch: Man sins, but God delivers His people to make them holy and guide them, if they would just obey Him.

The relation of Deuteronomy to the four previous books is seen in the dominant theme of each book.

In Genesis, the main thought is man’s choice and his sin.

In Exodus, God’s deliverance of His people.

In Leviticus: Holiness.

In Numbers: Guidance.

In Deuteronomy: Obedience.

Therefore, when you put it all together, “Man sins, but God delivers His people to make them holy and guide them, if they would just obey Him.”

Christ Revealed in the Book:

The Coming Prophet: ,

Consider , ““The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren.

Him you shall hear.”

In , Peter proclaimed that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy: “For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren.

Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.

And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’”

The Curse of Crucifixion: , .