The original readers of Deuteronomy is the second generation of Israelites. These are the descendants of the generation that were alive when the Israelites left Egypt and lived at Mt Sinai when Moses received the law from God. In Deuteronomy Moses tells this new generation about the law and the covenant. Moses tells them about the importance of obeying God and hope they can learn from the failures of their parents and disobedience (11:32).
Deuteronomy has a lot of
farewell massages to this second generation.
What do you see in this book that tells you about
the author?
Deuteronomy is written by Moses about 1406 BC. It
is important for Moses to tell this new generation that they must obey the Lord faithfully and refrain
from worshiping false gods. He know that He soon will die, and he himself will
not get to the Promised Land (32:50/52) He wants the new generation to renew
the original law given on Mt. Sinai.
What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in
this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the “Main Idea”.
Moses has a lot of warnings and instructions of how the Israelites
shall live in the Promised Land. He encouraged them and told
them that they had nothing to fear about the nations they were going to fight,
because God was fighting for them.
A one sentence summary
of the Main Idea: Trust God and obey Him!
What is the primary reason this book was written?
Deuteronomy is a record of three speeches
given by Moses and as mentioned above it is important for him to tell the
second generation after the exit of Egypt of the Israelites past, present and
what God has said about the future. The talks are Moses farewell and he gives
the baton to Joshua to lead the people into the land God promised them (31:7-8)
.In the first of the three speeches there is a summary of key events in Israel, the People hiking in the wilderness (1:1-4:43).
The second speech
(4:44-28:68) summarizing various laws relating to the covenent God had with the
Israelites. Here is also the paragraph with the 10 commandments (5:6-21 ) and
the greatest of all commandments: “To love the Lord your God with all your
heart, all your soul and all your strength” (6:5). The second speech also
contains the blessings that come when the Israelites obey all the commands that
God gave them, and the curses that affect if they don’t (27-28 ).
The last of the three
speeches (29-34) relates to a renewal of the covenent with God, the transfer of
leadership from Moses to Joshua and finally Moses ' blessing of the different
tribes of Israel.
What does this book show about the character and nature of God?
In Deuteronomy we see God as the loving Lord:
- 4:31 says that “the Lord your God is a merciful God: He will not abandon or destroy you”.
- 4:37 says “Because he loved your ancestors, he chose to bless their descendants, and he personally brought you out of Egypt with a great display of power”.
- 1:31 tells about “how the Lord your God cared for you all along the way you traveled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child”.
- 15:11 tells about God’s command “to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need”.
Deuteronomy
also shows God as a fighter and one who walks in the front of His people (1:30).
What does this book show about God’s redemptive plan for mankind?
In Deuteronomy 18:15/17 Moses speaks about that “God will raise up for
you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to
Him”. When Peter speaks of Jesus in Acts 3:22, he quotes this verse and tells that it was Jesus Moses pointed at. Jesus would come and lead the people of God, and give God's word to the people.
Personal Application:
Point
of passion:
See Numbers
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