Tonight we are exploring Deuteronomy. There are 34 chapters in Deuteronomy. This book will teach us the importance of remembering God and His Word. We are told many times not to forget God or His Word. A specific reference is found in Psalm 78:5-9 which is a reference to Israel’s disobedience to enter the promised land: For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; 6 That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, 7 That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; 8 And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God.
Tonight I hope that you will be challenged to the importance of setting God always before you in your thoughts.
I. The Title
"The name Deuteronomy results from a mistranslation of Deuteronomy 17:18 in the LXX and the Vulgate. For the Hebrew "a copy of this law," the LXX and the Vulgate have terms meaning "the second law" or "a repetition of this law."
The Jews identify the book by its first words-- elleh haddebarim ("These are the words")--or by the phrase in 17:18 cited above, or by "The Book of Admonitions" or reproofs or corrections. It is also known as "The Fifth" or "Fifths of the Law." (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy).
"The Hebrew title is a better description of the book since it is not a ‘second law,’ but rather the record of Moses’ words of explanation concerning the Law" (MacArthur Study Bible).
II. The Author
"Moses has been traditionally recognized as the author of Deuteronomy" (MacArthur Study Bible).
A. The Distinct Claim of the Book Itself is that Moses Wrote It
1. Deut.1:1 - "These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel..."
2. Deut. 1:5 - "...Moses began to explain this law..."
3. Deut 31:9 - So Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.
4. Deut.31:22 - Therefore Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the children of Israel.
5. Deut.31:24 - So it was, when Moses had completed writing the words of this law in a book..."
B. Deuteronomy is the Book of the Law Most Quoted in the New Testament, Being Cited Over 80 Times
III. The Date
"While Deut.32:48-34:12 was added after Moses’ death (probably by Joshua), the rest of the book came from Moses’ hand just before his death in 1405 B.C." (MacArthur Study Bible).
"Deuteronomy was written at the end of the forty years wandering in the wilderness" (Geisler, p.78).
IV. The Audience
"This book was written to the new generation, those under twenty years of age when they came out of Egypt" (Geisler, p.78).
V. The Theme
Genesis - "beginnings"
Exodus - "redemption"
Leviticus - "holiness"
Numbers - "testing"
Deuteronomy - "instruction"
(David R. Shepherd, Deuteronomy, p.5)
VI. The Content (1-34)
"Deuteronomy is a book of sermons. Israel is gathered on the east bank of Jordan, ready to enter the Promised Land. It had taken them thirty-eight years to get there since their rebellion at Kadesh-barnea. Verse 2 indicates that the journey would normally have taken eleven days. But they had wandered in the wilderness, led by a cloud during the day and by a pillar of fire at night. Now Israel is physically ready to enter the land, but Moses realizes that they must also be ready spiritually. The time of year is the Jewish eleventh month, or March according to our calendar" Jerry Falwell, executive editor; Edward E. Hinson and Michael Kroll Woodrow, general editors, KJV Bible commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1994.
A. Chapter 1:1-4:43 Gives Us the First Address of Moses to Israel Reminding Them of the Wilderness Wanderings
1. Chapter 1:1-4 gives us the historical setting (read Deut.1:1-4)
2. Chapter 1:5-18 recounts God’s command to leave "Horeb" (v.6)
Verses 6-7 - "The LORD our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: ’You have dwelt long enough at this mountain. 7 ’Turn and take your journey, and go to the mountains of the Amorites, to all the neighboring places in the plain, in the mountains and in the lowland, in the South and on the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates.
"You have dwelt long enough on this mountain" "is a rhetorical call to national repentance" (KJV Bible Commentary).
a) During this time leaders are appointed to become "leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, leaders of tens, and officers of your tribes" (v.15 [1:9-18])
b) They then arrive at Kadesh Barnea (v.19)
3. Chapter 1:19-46 describes the events that occurred at Kadesh Barnea that led to Israel not being able to possess the Promised Land
a) The spies were sent to spy out the land (1:19-25)
b) Verses 26-46 describes the rebellion and unbelief in God to take possession of the land
(1) Verses 26-27 says they "would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the Lord" and they "murmured in (their) tents."
(2) In verses 30-31 Moses reminded them that the Lord would fight for them "according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes."
(3) Verse 32 says, "Yet, for all that, you did not believe the Lord your God."
c) The chapter ends with Moses reminding them that the rebellious generation would not see the land but only "Caleb" and their "little ones and your children" (vv.36, 39).
4. Chapter 2:1-3:29 recalls Israel’s journey from Kadesh Barnea to the Jordan
a) During this time the Lord gave Sihon King of Heshbon into their hands (2:32-36)
b) And Og, the King of Bashan (3:3)
c) Chapter 3:12-20 gives the division of the land among the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh
d) Chapter 3:21-29 ends with Moses recalling God’s refusal for him to cross the Jordan
He was given the opportunity to see it according to 3:27, which says, "Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift your eyes toward the west, the north, the south, and the east; behold it with your eyes, for you shall not cross over this Joran."
5. Chapter 4:1-43 gives Moses’ call to the new generation to obey "the statutes and the judgments" of the Lord (v.1)
a) Verses 1-14 gives the exhortation to obey the Lord’s commands
b) In verses 15-31 they are told that idolatry is forbidden
c) Verses 32-40 show how they are to acknowledge God
Verse 39 says, "Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other."
d) Verses 41-43 gives the 3 cities that were set aside as cities of refuge "on this side of the Jordan" (v.41)
B. Chapters 4:44-28:68 Gives Moses’ Second Address Reviewing God’s Laws and What They Are to Remember
1. Chapter 4:44-49 gives the setting from which God made His covenant with Israel
"Moses described the content of the covenant as ‘laws,’ literally ‘Torah’ or ‘instruction’ (v.44). Specifically, this instruction contained ‘statutes, decrees, and ordinances’ (v.45), things commanded by God" (Shepherd, p.28).
2. Chapter 5:1-11:32 gives the principles of the covenant or the statutes and decrees that Israel was to obey in the land
a) In chapter 5:1-33 the Ten Commandments are restated with the instruction to "be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you...you shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you..." (vv.32-33)
b) Chapter 6:1-25 continues with the theme as Moses instructs the people to love God and keep His commandments
Verses 4-6 says, ""Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart."
c) Part of loving God is to not associate with other gods (7:1-26)
"The dangers which the false gods of Canaan held for ancient Israel were very real. Moses foresaw that the everyday contact which Israel would have with the Canaanites would draw God’s people away from Him. For this reason, Israel was commanded not to intermarry with the Canaanites and to destroy the objects of pagan religious worship which they found in Canaan" (Shepherd, p.33).
d) Chapter 8:1-20 Continues with Moses instructing the people not to forget the Lord who has provided for you all "these forty years" (v.4)
The word "remember" occurs 14 times in Deuteronomy (QV). At least 3 times they are told "not to forget" (QV)
The greatest way to prevent forgetting the Lord is to continually "delight" in His "statutes" - Ps.119:16, "I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word."
e) In chapter 9:1-10:11 Moses warns the new generation against infidelity against the Lord by reminding them of how they "provoked the Lord to wrath" (9:8) at Horeb with the worship of the Golden Calf
This incident caused Moses to destroy the two tablets of the 10 commandments
f) Chapter 10:12-11:32 is a restating of the exhortation for Israel to love God and keep His commandments
"If Israel would love God with a circumcised heart (10:16) and ‘hold fast’ (12:20) to Him, the result would be a transformed society" (Shepherd, p.38).
(10:12-13) - "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, 13 "and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?
3. Chapter 12:1-26:19 gives the specific ceremonial and civic obligations of Israel
a) Chapter 12:1-32 records the instruction concerning worship
"Moses began and ended this section with a command to avoid the religious practices of the Canaanites" (Shepherd, p.41).
(1) They were to "utterly destroy all the places where the nations...serve their gods" (vv.3-4)
(2) They were not to "worship the Lord God with such things" (v.4) but was to "seek the place where the Lord your God chooses" (v.5)
(3) They were not to worship other gods (v.30) but to "be careful to observe...whatever I command you" (v.32)
"The bulk of Deuteronomy 12 focuses on the centralization of Israel’s worship" (Shepherd, p.42).
b) Chapters 13:1-14:21 records matters relating to apostates and clean and unclean foods
(1) Chapter 13 again warns Israel against being enticed "to go after other gods" to "serve them" (v.2) whether it comes from "a prophet or a dreamer of dreams" (v.1) or a relative or a "friend" (v.6)
Verses 8-9 says, ""you shall not consent to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him; 9 "but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people."
(2) Chapter 14 addresses clean and unclean foods
Verses 2-3 says, ""For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 3 "You shall not eat any detestable thing."
c) Chapters 14:22-:16-17 records matters relating to time related activities that Israel was to keep
(1) Chapter 14:22-29 records the law of the tithe
"The tithe, one-tenth of a person’s yearly produce, was to be set aside to support the Levites" (Sheperd, p.45).
(2) Chapter 15:1-11 records the treatment of the poor and needy
"Moses...provided that those who owed indebtedness, whether monetary (15:2-3) or through indentured servitude (15:12-14) were to be ‘released’ (15:1) every seven years" (Shepherd, p.45).
(3) Chapter 15:12-18 records the release of servants
(4) Chapter 15:19-23 records the dedication of firstborn animals
"Moses commanded Israel to dedicate the firstborn animals from their flocks and herds to God by eating them in a family celebration" (Shepherd, p.46).
"Moses also gave specific instructions governing Israel’s three great pilgrimage festivals."
(5) They are told to observe the Passover (16:1-8), the Feast of Weeks (16:9-12), and the Feast of Tabernacles (16:13-17)
d) Chapters 16:18-19:21 gives the explanation of civil laws
(1) Chapter 16:18-20 address the appointing of judges and officers in every town and that these men judge the people fairly
(2) Chapter 16:19-20 warns Israel against setting up "wooden images"
(3) God wanted only the best to be sacrificed to Him (17:1)
(4) Chapter 17:8-13 records the establishing of a high court of Levitical priests to decide cases which were too difficult for the local judges
(5) Chapter 17:14-20 closes with Moses instructing the people regarding kingship
"Moses recognized that once Israel had entered Canaan, they would want a king to be ‘like all the nations around (them)’ (v.14), so he gave them instructions concerning kingship."
(6) Chapter 18:1-22 addresses the shares for the priests and Levites as well as the detestable practices of the Canaanites that was to be avoided. The chapter closes with further instructions concerning a prophet
(7) Chapter 19:1-14 again addresses the 3 cities of refuge and the command not to "remove your neighbors landmark" (v.14)
(8) While the remainder of chapter 19:15-21 gives instructions concerning the treatment of witnesses — true and false
e) Chapter 20:1-20 gives principles regarding warfare
Verse 1 says, ""When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.
f) Chapters 21:1-26:19 gives the explanation of social laws
(1) Chapter 21:1-9 gives instructions concerning "the guilt of innocent blood" (v.9)
(2) Chapter 21:10-14 gives instructions concerning taking captive women as wives
(3) Chapter 21:15-17 gives instructions concerning the inheritance of the firstborn
(4) Chapter 21:18-21 gives instructions concerning stubborn and rebellious children
(5) Chapter 21:22-23 gives instructions concerning punishments by hanging
(6) Chapter 22:1-4 gives instructions concerning caring for your neighbor’s property
(7) Chapter 22:5 condemns cross dressing between the sexes
(8) Chapter 22:6-30 gives rules for nesting birds, a new house, sowing vineyards, plowing, mixed cloths in garments, fringes on garments forbidden, law of virginity for new wife, and rules of sexual purity
(9) Chapter 23:1-25 addressing additional laws concerning who may enter the congregation, sanitation, slaves belonging to others, prostitution and sodomy, usury, vows, eating from the vineyard and field of another person
(10) Chapters 24:1-25:19 gives additional rules and instructions they were to follow
(11) Chapter 26:1-19 addresses the firstfruits that they were to offer after entering the promised land as well as their provision for the Levites, the poor and the needy. The chapter closes with an exhortation to keep the law in faithful obedience
(12) Chapter 27-28:68 gives further instructions on entering the land
C. Chapters 29:1-30:20 Gives Moses’ Third Address to Israel Describing the Importance of Obedience for Entering the Promised Land
1. Chapter 29:1-29 is an appeal to be faithful to the covenant
2. Chapter 30:1-20 is a call to decision
"Deuteronomy 29 ends on a note of sorrow, but Deuteronomy 30 begins with a word of hope. After being uprooted from their land--a land which they hadn’t even entered yet— Israel could still return to God and be forgiven (30:2-3). Moses saw a day when God would circumcise Israel’s heart so they really could love Him with all their heart and soul, and live. Only then would God bless His people so that they would be most prosperous" (Shepherd, p.73).
D. Chapters 31:1-34:12 Gives Concluding Remarks
1. Assurance in victory (31:1-6)
2. Moses gives charge to Joshua before all Israel (31:7-8)
3. The song of Moses (32:1-43)
4. The death of Moses (33:1-34:12)
CONCLUSION
1. Deuteronomy ends with Joshua replacing Moses in chapter 34:9
2. What can we learn from this book?
a) We are to recall the former days
Heb.10:32 - But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:
b) We are to press on in obedience
Phil.3:13-14 - Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
c) There are consequences for sin (ex. Israel’s wandering, Moses not being able to enter the land)
d) God always punishes sin and blesses obedience!
