Pause and Consider
0847
Deuteronomy
03.30.22
Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: and a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.(Deuteronomy 11:26-28)
In our survey of the books of the Bible, we come to the fifth and last book written by Moses. Deuteronomy means ‘second law.’ The former generation of Israel had died in the wilderness—only Joshua, Caleb and Moses remained, and Moses was soon to die. A new generation with a new leader was on the cusp of entering Canaan. Therefore it was important that the law should be reviewed and expounded to the new generation before they entered the Promised Land. It is not a new law, but a reiteration of the original Law given at Sinai as recorded in Exodus-Numbers.
Moses spoke to the people of Israel on the plains of Moab before they crossed the Jordan into Canaan. It was 1451 BC. The forty years of wandering are at an end.
There are two major themes in this book. Regarding Israel, there is the necessity of obedience as noted in our opening text, the key verses of the book. The second theme regards the LORD. He is a faithful God! (1 Corinthians 1:9 ) He keeps His Word. He is true to His covenants. It is impossible for Him to lie.
There are two prominent words in this book. The first is ‘covenant,’ found 27 times. It speaks of God’s sure promises to His people Israel. It refers primarily to the one given to Abraham, but will also refer one day to the one which will be given to David. The first refers to the land, and the second to the kingdom.
The second word is ‘remember.’ As the people stand near the shores of Jordan, looking over into the Promised Land, there are many things God would like them to remember. Among them are: their past slavery in Egypt, God’s great deliverance from Egypt, His supply for them in the wilderness, their sins against God and His judgment upon those sins, and His promises to them.
The book ends with the death of Moses, which is the only part of the Pentateuch he could not have written.
While the first four books of Moses give the facts about the experiences of Israel in the wilderness, Deuteronomy gives the meaning. Among other things, the people learn that the summation of the first four Commandments is to love God with all their heart. The last six Commandments are summarized by ‘the Golden Rule,’ loving one’s neighbor as himself.
Where is Christ seen in this book? In the example of Moses. There are only two men in Scripture who were allowed to serve in the three offices of prophet, priest and king (ruler).
Moses served in these roles as he was directed by Jehovah to serve the people.
Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of these roles. While in His earthly ministry, He served as the Prophet, the one Moses foresaw (Deuteronomy 18:15). In His heavenly ministry now, ascended to the Father, He serves as the Great High Priest for all who come to the Father in His name (Hebrews 5). One day, Jesus Christ will rule this earth as the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords (Revelation 19)!