The Hebrew title of the book of Deuteronomy is ‘These are the words’. And that is a pretty good title and a good summary. For the book of Deuteronomy is the words spoken by Moses to God’s people on the edge of the promised land. Moses’ words are God’s word to God’s people. And so, God wants them to listen up.
But it is take two. Hence the English name of Deuteronomy – second law giving. For God’s people now stand on brink of the promised land again. The previous generation failed and died in the desert. They did not trust God. Even Moses cannot cross over. The new generation are about to cross over the Jordan and take the land. They are hearing the word of God given to them at Sinai again. They stand in the presence of the living God by hearing his word.
Live by the word of God
They need to hear these words for the word of God is life and health and safety.
He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 8 v3
This creates a tension throughout Deuteronomy best felt as a set of questions.
Will this new generation trust God’s love for them and his promises and so live as God’s people?
Will they listen to Moses words and so listen to their God?
Will it go right this time, or will the people fail?
Respond in loving obedience
The answer Deuteronomy gives is yes if God’s people respond in love to his love. This is the key. It is to be a heart to heart relationship between God and his people. God is their shepherd; they are his sheep. He is like their Father and they are his sons & daughters. They are God’s inheritance. He bound himself to them. They are to trust the Shepherd who protects and provides for his people. They are to listen to their Father who cares for and teaches his children. He corrects and disciplines those who wander. But he heals and restores those with contrite hearts.
The dynamic of the relationship is seen in two passages.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
Deuteronomy. 6:4-6
It is a dynamic for the whole nation.
And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’S commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
A relationship that exists by grace
Weaved through Deuteronomy is that the relationship between God and his people exists only because of God’s love shown in his grace. For instance, the great 10 Commandments with the sharp prohibitions – do not committed adultery, do not murder, do not are proceeded by a great statement of grace.
For I the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the Land of slavery.
Deuteronomy 5v6
The Israelites have been saved from Egypt by God’s mercy. They are God’s people because of his grace and love. But will they respond to this grace and love with love and obedience? And so live? Or will they reject God’s grace.
Five themes that fill the book
a) Yahweh (God’s personal name revealed in Exodus ch 3) is giving Israel, the ancient Jews, this land because of the promise he made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God makes promises and keeps his word. He made this promise because of his grace and mercy. Everything flows from this. He can be trusted. Keep looking for the word promise to see this.
b) Yahweh is the Lord of the covenant. He is Israel’s sovereign Lord, Shepherd, King, Judge and Warrior who undertook mighty saving acts for Israel. They are his because he saved them. He wants them to respond in love & obedience.
c) Yahweh is the God of history. He is able to conquer kings, protect in the wilderness, lead and protect his people. His power is complete, and he will bring about his purposes in the world. No matter the obstacles.
d) Israel, as Yahweh’s people, are people of the covenant. They exist because of God’s saving love (Exodus 195-6, 20:1). They are obligated to love, obey and serve Yahweh exclusively. They are his. This is the way of peace and life.
e) The worship of God is based on love and gratitude. It is expressed in personal love and devotion and in carefully layout rituals and festivals for the nation. They are to fear and love Yahweh.
The structure of Deuteronomy
One way of understanding Deuteronomy is as three sermons by Moses.
1:1-4:43
4:44-28:68
29:1-30:20
With Moses final acts in 30:21-34:12
The big section in the middle
In chapter 5 in the second section (4:44-28:68) the order of the ten commandments creates the basic structure for chapters 12 to 25.
Treaty
One thing that the scholars have noticed is that elements of Deuteronomy have strong similarities with ancient treaties made by a conquering or saving king with the people he has conquered. But no one can make it match perfectly, which shows that even if this structure is there, Moses, the author by the Holy Spirit has taken the pattern of Ancient Near East Treaties and used it for his own purposes.
Who wrote it?
The book claims that Moses wrote ‘this law’ 31:9 & 24. And the book claims to be the words of Moses see 1:1 & 5 and compare to 5:1, 27:1, 9, 29:2, 31:1; 33:1
Some scholars are sceptical that Moses wrote it but the Old Testament attributes it to Moses (for example see Josh 22:5,9 1 Kings 2:3) and the New Testament also claims Moses wrote it (Matt 19:8, Luke 24:27,44, 1 Corinthians 9:9). It seems Jesus himself held this view.
One strong clue that Moses is the author is that Deuteronomy seems to be written by an eyewitness who experienced the dessert. Notes on the physical land and the nations match the time. Not only this but Moses’ character revealed in Deuteronomy matches his character revealed in Exodus & Numbers.
In summary, it seems like a good option to consider Moses the primary author.
Will we listen?
Deuteronomy is a key book in the Old Testament. It is a significant point in the fulfilment of the promises of God given in Genesis to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God’s people are a great nation, they are about to receive the land, they have been blessed by God. (see more here.) Looking forward, the book launches the reader into the rest of the story of the nation of Israel in Joshua, Judges and so one.
But its significance is more than just its place in the story of God’s work in the world. The book reveals a loving God making himself known to his people so they might respond to his love with love. To know him they need to listen. To love him they need to listen. To fear him rightly they need to listen.
The same applies to us even now. We can know God through his word. But only if we listen. Will we listen?
Related
Reading Deuteronomy chapters 6 to 11
Reading Deuteronomy chapters 12 to 26
Bibliography
*Deuteronomy article from New Bible Dictionary. IVP Third edition 1996
* Deuteronomy. Gilchrist. Evangelical Commentary on the Bible edited by Elwell. Baker Books. 1989
* Deuteronomy. J.G McConville