Remember Series

August 02, 2025

The Book of Deuteronomy is the last book of the Pentateuch.

The title of the book in Hebrew, “D’varim,” simply means "Words.” We get Deuteronomy “The Second Law” or “Repeated Law,” from the Greek (Septuagint) and Latin (Vulgate) translations of the Bible.

Moses took the information found in Exodus-Leviticus-Numbers and encapsulates, into one volume, the love and faithfulness of God as well as the laws that will govern the nation of Israel.

God’s love and faithfulness was revealed in his full commitment to Israel. In response, the people were called to give God their unreserved love, loyalty and obedience. They would choose God BECAUSE He had already chosen them.

The influence of Deuteronomy on the rest of Scripture cannot be exaggerated:

• It is the book that will provide the standards by which Israel will judge itself.

• It is the book all future kings will be required to copy and keep with them, “so that he may learn to revere Yahweh his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.” (17:19-20)

• It is the book found discarded and neglected in the Temple during the time of King Josiah (2 Kings 22:8-23:3).

• It is the book that lays the foundation for the messages of the Prophets, including Isaiah and Jeremiah.

• It is the book Jesus will quote in his desert encounter with Satan (8:3; 6:16; 6:13).

• It is the book the Apostles will consider to be of most importance in their own teachings regarding God and His dealings with people.

From a literary point of view, the structure of the book reflects the well-known Suzerain-vassal treaty – a covenant made between a dominant and subordinate party – common in the Ancient Near East. This type of covenant included history, general and specific laws/regulations, divine witnesses and blessings/curses for obedience or disobedience.

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Moses was deeply concerned about this new generation of Israelites. He was keen that they understand their history and their unique relationship with God.

Moses’ primary intent was to motivate this new generation to remain faithful to God because he had always been faithful to them.

Why go to all this trouble? Because they were a forgetful group:

• Ellen White {PP 292-293} - God had promised to be their God, to take them to Himself as a people, and to lead them to a large and good land; but they were ready to faint at every obstacle encountered in the way to that land….. Had they possessed faith in Him, in view of all that He had wrought for them, they would cheerfully have borne inconvenience, privation, and even real suffering; but they were unwilling to trust the Lord any further than they could witness the continual evidences of His power. They forgot their bitter service in Egypt. They forgot the goodness and power of God displayed in their behalf in their deliverance from bondage. They forgot how their children had been spared when the destroying angel slew all the first-born of Egypt. They forgot the grand exhibition of divine power at the Red Sea. They forgot that while they had crossed safely in the path that had been opened for them… They saw and felt only their present inconveniences and trials; and instead of saying, "God has done great things for us” … they talked of the hardness of the way, and wondered when their weary pilgrimage would end.

It was also important that they understand – really understand – why they were where they were.

According to chapter 1:2 – it was just an 11-day journey from Mount Sinai (Horeb) to Kadesh Barnea – the place from which the now infamous recon mission into the Promised Land had been launched.

But for the stubborn distrust of their fathers, this generation of Israelites would have been enjoying the benefits of the Promised Land. Instead, 40 years later – after wandering around in circles – they were camped on the plains of Moab – preparing to enter the Land of Promise ---- again.

Speech #1:

While we were at Mt. Horeb, Yahweh said, “You have spent enough time here. It’s time to move. Go take possession of the land I swore to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob to give to their descendants.” We arrived at Kadesh and it seemed like a good idea to send spies into the land. Even though the report came back that it was, indeed, a good land, you refused to go in. Instead, you grumbled in your tents. I encouraged you and reminded you of God’s faithfulness, but you did not trust Yahweh, your God. When he heard this, he swore that not a man of this evil generation would enter the land. So, what did you do? You decided to go take the land, despite the fact that Yahweh told you he would not go with you. The Amorites came against you like a swarm of bees and defeated you. With that, we turned around and headed back down the road – the way we had come.