The Book of Deuteronomy
Introduction
Deuteronomy is the last book of the Pentateuch. The first five books in the Bible were written by Moses and they are called the Pentateuch. These books are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. In Greek, Deuteronomy means "the second law." The main theme to this book is "Love and Obey." Deuteronomy teaches that obedience is man's response to God's love. The Law is good, while the sin nature of man is bad. God must save us only by His grace. The new generation of the Israelites, now grown to adulthood, needed to have the Law interpreted for them in the light of 38 years' experience in the wilderness. In this book, God tells His people that they are to teach the Law constantly to their children. Moses gives his final instructions from God to the Israelites before he dies and Joshua resumes leadership.
Chapter 1: Introduction, Departure from Horeb, Leaders for the Tribes, and Israel's Disobedience at Kadesh-barnea
Summary
God tells Moses to continue on with the journey into the Promised Land, also known as Canaan. They are to take possession of the land the Lord swore to give to their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses tells the Israelites to appoint for themselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of the tribes, and they shall be the leaders. The rest of the chapter reanalyzes and discusses Israel's disobedience at Kadesh-barnea 40 years prior. If you remember, the Israelites would not enter into the Promised Land because they feared the Amorites and the other clans in the land of Canaan. They did not go into the Promised Land as God instructed, so God made them suffer for 40 years in the wilderness. None of the Israelites 20 years and older at the time of this incident were allowed to go into the Promised Land after the wandering in the desert. Joshua and Caleb were the only two Israelites from this generation that were to enter into the Promised Land. Simply because they brought back a good report of the land and had faith that Israel could take possession of the land. Moses is not to enter into the Promised Land with the Israelites. Instead, he is to turn back into the wilderness.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 1:6-8 - The Lord our God spoke to us at Horeb: ‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough. Resume your journey and go to the hill country of the Amorites and their neighbors in the Arabah, the hill country, the Judean foothills, the Negev and the sea coast—to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon as far as the Euphrates River. See, I have set the land before you. Enter and take possession of the land the Lord swore to give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their future descendants.’
Deuteronomy 1:12-13 - But how can I bear your troubles, burdens, and disputes by myself? Appoint for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will make them your leaders.Deuteronomy 1:32-36 - But in spite of this you did not trust the Lord your God, who went before you on the journey to seek out a place for you to camp. He went in the fire by night and in the cloud by day to guide you on the road you were to travel. “When the Lord heard your[d] words, He grew angry and swore an oath: ‘None of these men in this evil generation will see the good land I swore to give your fathers, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land on which he has set foot, because he followed the Lord completely.’
Thoughts on the Text
- In this first chapter, Moses is preparing the new generation to enter the land, aand rehearsing the experiences of their fathers so that they might profit from them rather than repeat the failures. Basically, Israel spent 38 years wandering in the wilderness when it should have taken them only 11 days to get into the Promised Land. This happened simply because of their unbelief and lack of faith.
- Moses talks about appointing leaders over the Israelite tribes. He does this to help with his burden of leadership. This was a great mistake that Moses made if you recall back in Exodus chapter 18. These appointed officials later would become the Sanhedrin, the organization which committed Christ to death many years later.
- The second mistake which Moses records was the Israelite's decision not to enter into the Promised Land at Kadesh-barnea. This was a problem of unbelief by the people. They were afraid of the Amorites and the giants in the land. We must have faith that God will handle the giants in our life. This brings to light a great truth for us. It is not our circumstances on the outside which are our real problem. It is the circumstance on the inside of us, the unbelief in our hearts, which is the cause of our problems.
- From "Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee:" "Now God makes it clear to them that the whole generation which came up to Kadesh-Barnea and turned back in unbelief will die. Only two men of the old generation will be permitted to enter the land. They are Joshua and Caleb. Joshua will later become the leader of the Israelites to succeed Moses.
- Many times our unbelief and lack of faith keeps us from inheriting God's blessings for our life. This unbelief is sin. Are we genuinely repentant and sorrowful for our sin? Or do we weep because we have been caught in the act of sin? Many times we aren't sorry that we're sinners. Many times we are sorry because we are caught sinning. A true repentant heart weeps because of the sin nature, not because of fear of the consequences. Let us ask God to forgive us our sins. If we are sincere, then we won't have to worry about being caught sinning because our lives will truly be changed by God's grace and love.
Chapter 2: Journey past Seir, Journey past Moab, Journey past Ammon, and Defeat of Sihon the Amorite
This chapter is still a review of things that were written in the book of Numbers. This chapter deals with the Israelite's journey from Kadesh-barnea past Seir, Moab, and Ammon. It concludes with the story of the Israelite's defeat of Sihon king of Heshbon and the Amorites.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 2:7 - For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this immense wilderness. The Lord your God has been with you this past 40 years, and you have lacked nothing.’
Deuteronomy 2:24-25 - “The Lord also said, ‘Get up, move out, and cross the Arnon Valley. See, I have handed Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land over to you. Begin to take possession of it; engage him in battle. 25 Today I will begin to put the fear and dread of you on the peoples everywhere under heaven. They will hear the report about you, tremble, and be in anguish because of you.’Deuteronomy 2:36-37 - There was no city that was inaccessible to[d] us, from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the valley, even as far as Gilead. The Lord our God gave everything to us. 37 But you did not go near the Ammonites’ land, all along the bank of the Jabbok River, the cities of the hill country, or any place that the Lord our God had forbidden.
Thoughts on the Text
- This chapter gives a continuation and review of the Israelite's journey in the wilderness. As you recall, the Israelites are simply roaming round and round in the wilderness. They are following the pillar of coud by day and the fire by night. God is leading them, yet they don't know where God is leading them.
- "...in Genesis 36 we learned that Esau lived in Seir and that Esau is Edom. Jacob had received the birthright and God gave to him and his descendants the Promised Land. Esau went to Seir, and it is no clear that God has given that to the people of Esau as their possession. Israel is not to touch or tacke possession of the land of Seir...God has set the bounds of the nations. Most wars are fought because the boundaries of nations are not respected." Also, God will keep His promise, even to a people group who is not His chosen people, such as Esau.
- "God does not give us the promise of the luxuries of life, but God provides the necessities of life."
- If you remember, instead of allowinng Israel to pass through his land, King Sihon came out against Israel with armed forces. We he led the attack against Israel, he was killed and his forces scattered. All his land and cities were captured by Israel. Everyone was killed including women and children. Livestock and plunder was taken from the cities. If you think you are going to oppose God and His people, you have another thing coming. Your destruction and downfall will be imminent.
- God "permits us to have a difficult experience, maybe a sad one, to prepare us for life--or to prepare us to be helpful to others."
Chapter 3: Defeat of Og of Bashan, The Land of the Transjordan Tribes, and the Transfer of Israel's Leadership
Summary
This chapter gives a summary of what was written in the book of Numbers. It goes into detail concerning the defeat of Og of Bashan, taking over the Transjordan tribes of the Ammorites, and taking over the land of Bashan. This land to the east of the Jordan River was not in the Promised Land. However, two and a half tribes of Israel wanted to settle in this land: the Reubenites, Gadites, and the tribe of Manasseh. These three tribes agreed to help the rest of the Israelites go to war and take over Canaan, the Promised Land, across the Jordan River. After the conquest, these three tribes will be allowed to return to their land across the Jordan River. Also, in this chapter, God does not let Moses cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. This is punishment for the Israelites refusal to listen to Moses and rejection of God in the wilderness. Instead, Joshua is appointed as the leader of the Israelites, and he will lead the campaign into the Promised Land.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 3:3 - So the Lord our God also handed over Og king of Bashan and his whole army to us. We struck him until there was no survivor left.
- Deuteronomy 3:8 - At that time we took the land from the two Amorite kings across the Jordan, from the Arnon Valley as far as Mount Hermon
- Deuteronomy 3:12-13 - At that time we took possession of this land. I gave to the Reubenites and Gadites the area extending from Aroer by the Arnon Valley, and half the hill country of Gilead along with its cities. I gave to half the tribe of Manasseh the rest of Gilead and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og.
- Deuteronomy 3:18, 20 - I commanded you at that time: The Lord your God has given you this land to possess. All your fighting men will cross over in battle formation ahead of your brothers the Israelites...until the Lord gives rest to your brothers as He has to you, and they also take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them across the Jordan. Then each of you may return to his possession that I have given you.
- Deuteronomy 3: 21-22 - I commanded Joshua at that time: Your own eyes have seen everything the Lord your God has done to these two kings. The Lord will do the same to all the kingdoms you are about to enter. Don’t be afraid of them, for the Lord your God fights for you.
- Deuteronomy 3:27-28 - Go to the top of Pisgah and look to the west, north, south, and east, and see it with your own eyes, for you will not cross this Jordan. But commission Joshua and encourage and strengthen him, for he will cross over ahead of the people and enable them to inherit this land that you will see.
Thoughts on the Text
- This chapter is a review of what we have already read in the book of Numbers. Moses tells of the warfare with Og King of Bashan and the Ammorites. God gives victory to Israel over these people, and Israel compltely destroys them and takes over their land. Og and the Ammorites had a very strong well fortified kingdom. However, God fought for the Israelites, and this is the reason that the Ammorites were defeated. This victory in warfare was a confidence booster for the Israelites. If they conquered a mighty kingdom once, they can do it again in the Promised Land.
- Interesting factoid: this chapter talks about the size of King Og's bed. It was nine cubits long and four cubits wide. Therefore, it was almost 14 feet long. Og was a giant, and this gives credence to the fact that king-sized beds are not something new. This was a true king-sized bed!
- The conquered kingdom of Og and the Ammorites was given to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. These tribes decided to settle on the east side of the Jordan River which was not actually in the Promised Land. Even though they settle here, they agree to help all the Israelites in their campaign to conquer and take possession of the Promised Land.
- We find in this chapter that Moses pleads with the Lord to let him enter into the Promised Land. After all, he has been wandering in the wilderness for 40 long years and wants to see the land of Promise that he has been leading the Israelites toward. God is true to His word, however, and He will not let Moses enter into the Promised Land. There is a lesson to be learned here. From J. Vernon McGee, "Though we repent of our sin, we will have to take the consequences of it in this life whether we like it or not." So, God will forgive our sins, but there is still consequences even though you have been forgiven. For example, if you kill someone, you will go to prison for the rest of your life. God will forgive you of this sin, but you will not get out of prison.
- Finally, Moses makes it clear to the Israelites after looking out over into the Promised Land, that Joshua is to be the new generation's leader. Joshua will lead them into the Promised Land. Moses will be forced to stay behind.
Chapter 4: Call to Obedience, Worshipping the True God, Cities of Refuge, and Introduction to the Law
Summary
This chapter is primarily a call to obedience. God tells the Israelites to follow the commands and statues He has given them, so that they can inherit the Promised Land. God will always keep His promise if He is obeyed. God instructs the Israelites not to make idols and to worship Him as the one true God. There is no other God in heaven above or on earth below. Also in this chapter, Moses sets apart three cities east of the Jordan River as cities of refuge. Finally, this chapter gives an introduction to the law Moses gave the Israelites to follow.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 4:1-2 - Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and ordinances I am teaching you to follow, so that you may live, enter, and take possession of the land Yahweh, the God of your fathers, is giving you. You must not add anything to what I command you or take anything away from it, so that you may keep the commands of the Lord your God I am giving you.
Deuteronomy 4:9 - Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you don’t forget the things your eyes have seen and so that they don’t slip from your mind as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren.Deuteronomy 4:15-18 - For your own good, be extremely careful—because you did not see any form on the day the Lord spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb—not to act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves in the shape of any figure: a male or female form, or the form of any beast on the earth, any winged creature that flies in the sky, any creature that crawls on the ground, or any fish in the waters under the earth.Deuteronomy 4:25-26 - When you have children and grandchildren and have been in the land a long time, and if you act corruptly, make an idol in the form of anything, and do what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, provoking Him to anger, I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that you will quickly perish from the land you are about to cross the Jordan to possess. You will not live long there, but you will certainly be destroyed.Deuteronomy 4:29-31 - But from there, you will search for the Lord your God, and you will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart and all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, you will return to the Lord your God in later days and obey Him. He will not leave you, destroy you, or forget the covenant with your fathers that He swore to them by oath, because the Lord your God is a compassionate God.Deuteronomy 4:39-40 - Today, recognize and keep in mind that the Lord is God in heaven above and on earth below; there is no other. Keep His statutes and commands, which I am giving you today, so that you and your children after you may prosper and so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you for all time.”
Thoughts on the Text
- In this chapter, the new Israelite generation is ready now to go into the Promised Land, but before they enter, Moses reviews the wilderness experiences and pleads with them to obey God who loves them. J Vernon McGee states, "They are to do the Word of God--not only to hear it, but do it. Notice that they were not to add to the Law, neither were they to take away from the Law. They were to obey it as God gave it."
- Moses gives reasons in this chapter why the Israelites should obey the Law and God:
- God wants to preserve and prosper Israel.
- Israel's obedience would show their gratitude to God.
- God's love should prompt their obedience.
- They are to obey God because they belong to God.
- Obedience brings with it a great blessing from God.
- From the commentary by J. Vernon McGee, "Obedience to God is the first law of life, friends. Man has a natural, innate hatred of God. Man doesn't want to obey God; in fact, he is very much opposed to God. All the way through the Word of God we find that there is a resistance on the part of man against God. We find that in man even today."
- In this chapter, God actually says that He loves mankind. We know that God loves man, but He hasn't mentioned it up to this point in the Bible. God loves the Israelites. God loves us.
- If the Israelites would only obey God and the Law, God would bless them, and they would be a witness to all the nations. If they would not obey, and if they would turn from the Lord, then God would bring judgment upon them.
- In this chapter, God also tells the Israelites to obey God and teach they Law to their children and grandchildren. The instructions which were given to Israel in that day are great principles for us to carry over for ourselves today, because truth is eternal.
- We should bear in mind and always remember that judgment will come upon any nation which rejects God.
- From "Thru the Bible with J Vernon McGee," "God loves us today. But He does not save us by love; He saves us by grace. He couldn't just open the back door of heaven and slip us in. He couldn't be righteous and do that. A sacrifice for our sins had to be made. His love sent Christ to die for us, and Christ loved us enough to die so that you and I might have a pardon."
Chapter 5: The Ten Commandents and the People's Response
Summary
In this chapter, Moses goes over the Ten Commandments with the Israelites again to refresh their memory, and so they will follow God's law as the enter into the Promised Land. The Israelites are to follow the whole instruction of the Lord.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 5:29 - If only they had such a heart to fear Me and keep all My commands always, so that they and their children will prosper forever.
Deuteronomy 5:32-33 - “Be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or the left. Follow the whole instruction the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live, prosper, and have a long life in the land you will possess.
Thoughts on the Text
- This chapter restates the Ten Commandments that the Lord told Moses to give to the Israelites. This is almost a duplicate of the Ten Commandments that were given in chapter 20 of Exodus. The Ten Commandments are important enough to repeat. These are the basic most important moral laws that God gave to mankind. We should remember that while we should strive to keep the Law to the best of our ability, the Law itself will not save us. No one is justified by the Law because no one can do the works of the Law. The Law was a temporary fix until Christ came to fulfill the Law. The purpose of the Law is to show us our need for a Savior. The Law reveals the mind of God, and it reveals how far short you and I come to the glory of God. The Law reveals that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The Law should bring us to Christ. The Law can show us our sin, but it cannot save us. The Law convicts; Christ saves!
- According to Jesus, the greatest commandment is to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
- Modern day idols are different from the idols of the old testament. An idol does not necessarily have to be a golden calf, or some kind of pagan totem. Anything that takes first place in your heart is your idol.
- God cries out to us and wants us to keep His commands! If only we had such a heart to fear the Lord and always keep His commandments, then we would prosper forever! We should realize this on a personal level. If we keep God's commands, God will bless us, bring us joy, and make us prosper in all that we do. It will go well with us while we are here on this earth!
Summary
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 6:1-3 - This is the command—the statutes and ordinances—the Lord your God has instructed me to teach you, so that you may follow them in the land you are about to enter and possess. Do this so that you may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life by keeping all His statutes and commands I am giving you, your son, and your grandson, and so that you may have a long life. Listen, Israel, and be careful to follow them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly, because Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised you a land flowing with milk and honey.
- Deuteronomy 6:4-9 - “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
- Deuteronomy 6:18-19 - Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so that you may prosper and so that you may enter and possess the good land the Lord your God swore to give your fathers, by driving out all your enemies before you, as the Lord has said.
- Deuteronomy 6:25 - Righteousness will be ours if we are careful to follow every one of these commands before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us.’
Thoughts on the Text
- Two words come to mind in the book of Deuteronomy: Love and obedience. These two words shine through in this particular chapter. According to J. Vernon McGee, "God's love is actually expressed in law. The great principle of law is love. Therefore, the principle of the Gospel itself is expressed in Deuteronomy." We express our love for God by our obedience. John 14:15 states, "If you love me, keep my commandments." Again, the greatest commandment is to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. God expressed His love for us in the Old Testament by giving us the Law on Mount Sinai. In the New Testament God expressed our love for us by coming to earth as a frail human being and dying for our sins. God loves us so much that he has saved us from the death of sin.
- In this scripture we find that the Lord our God , the Lord is One. This could mean that the trinity is all the same Godhead. It also brings to mind that God is the creator and sustainer of all things. God is in all and flows through all. All things are one in God. God is all in all.
- God instructs the Israelites and us today to hide His words in our hearts. We should always keep God's words in our hearts and minds, so that they will illuminate our path down the dark and treacherous road of life! The more we keep God's words in our hearts the less we will sin against Him. The less we sin against the Lord, the more we obey His commands. The more we obey His commands, the more that we love God!
- By giving the Israelites the law, God is preparing them to take possession of the Promised Land. Likewise, by giving us the law and His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, God is preparing us for the Promised Land of heaven! In heaven, all that will remain is LOVE!
Summary
God tells Israel to destroy all the idolatrous nations that dwell in the Promised Land. The Israelites are to make no treaties with them, they are not to intermarry with them, and they are to show them no mercy.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 7:2-4 - and when the Lord your God delivers them over to you and you defeat them, you must completely destroy them. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy. Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, because they will turn your sons away from Me to worship other gods. Then the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.
- Deuteronomy 7:6 - For you are a holy people belonging to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be His own possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth.
- Deuteronomy 7:9-11 - Know that Yahweh your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His gracious covenant loyalty for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commands. But He directly pays back and destroys those who hate Him. He will not hesitate to directly pay back the one who hates Him. So keep the command—the statutes and ordinances—that I am giving you to follow today.
- Deuteronomy 7:23-24 - The Lord your God will give them over to you and throw them into great confusion until they are destroyed. He will hand their kings over to you, and you will wipe out their names under heaven. No one will be able to stand against you; you will annihilate them.
Thoughts on the Text
- Just after God gives the Ten Commandments that states, "Thou Shalt not kill," God is now telling the Israelites to destroy all the people groups that live within the Promised Land. How can they do this when they have been strictly forbidden to kill another person? Much less to destroy whole nations. These people did not believe in the one true God. They had many gods and were pagan. They were people groups corrupted in many ways. If they Israelites were to intermarry and live amongst these people, then the Israelites would fall away from God and become corrupted as well. Therefore, these people had to be destroyed. That was unfortunately the only cure. This is very similar to why God sent the Great Flood to destroy and give rebirth to all mankind.
- God gives the Israelites a warning. If they do intermarry with these people and turn to other gods, God will destroy them and exile them from the Promised Land.
- We should always remember that God is a God of love. He gives these commands to the Israelites because He loves them. On the other side of the coin, we should remember that God is a God of wrath. If we disobey His commands, there are serious consequences for doing so!
- In this chapter we find that the Israelites were not a great nation, but God loved them despite their numbers. Even though Israel is one of the smallest nations on earth, they were God's chosen people, and the son of God, Jesus Christ, would one day come from the Israelite bloodline!
- Our obedience to God is one way in which we show our love towards God. Deuteronomy 7:9 states, "Know that Yahweh your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His gracious covenant loyalty for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commands." God will bless the people who obey Him. This is true for all people groups, not just the Israelites.
- The faithfulness of God in the past should be an encouragement for us in the future. God has done great things in the past. Won't he continue doing great things in the present and future. God is alive, and He is with us right now, just as He was with the Israelites when they made their way into the Promised Land.
Summary
God gives the Israelites wisdom to live by in this chapter. We should always remember what the Lord has done for us, our family, and our ancestors. We should always keep God first in our lives, follow God's commands, and not follow other false gods. We should know that God puts tribulation in our life to test our devotion to Him and to humble us. If we fall away from God, we will perish in one way or another.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 8:1 - You must carefully follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase, and may enter and take possession of the land the Lord swore to your fathers.
- Deuteronomy 8:3 - ...so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
- Deuteronomy 8:5-6 - Keep in mind that the Lord your God has been disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son. So keep the commands of the Lord your God by walking in His ways and fearing Him.
- Deuteronomy 8:17-18 - You may say to yourself, ‘My power and my own ability have gained this wealth for me,’ but remember that the Lord your God gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant He swore to your fathers, as it is today.
- Deuteronomy 8:20 - Like the nations the Lord is about to destroy before you, you will perish if you do not obey the Lord your God.
Thoughts on the Text
- According to J Vernon McGee, "Here is the new generation, standing on the east bank of the Jordan river. They are ready to cross over into the land with high anticipation and hope. As Moses is preparing them to enter the land, he encourages them to obey God."
- Our past should encourage our future. God has provided and led us thus far in our journey in life. Won't God lead us and provide for us our entire life? We should be encouraged, and this fact should boost our faith and good works.
- Here we see why God led the Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years. It was to humble them and to prove what was really in their hearts. In the harshest of conditions, would they follow the Lord, or forget the past and fall away from God. After going through this discipline for 40 years, the Israelites are finally ready to enter into the Promised Land.
- We learn in this chapter that the Word of God is the real wealth for the child of God today. Without God's instructions imparted by His Word, we would be utterly lost, and our path would lead to our inevitable death and destruction. The wisdom in God's book, keeps us, as individuals and as a nation, alive.
- In the present day, if we follow God completely, God promises to bless us. However, in the New Testament, there is no promise of temporal material blessings. On the contrary, God says that he will bless us spiritually. In Ephesians 1:3 the Bible states, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." One of the major distinctions between the nation Israel in the Old Testament and the church in the New Testament is that God promised Israel temporal blessings and He promises us spiritual blessings. We need to get this straight. Just because we are followers of God doesn't mean we will become rich monetarily.
- God ends this chapter with a warning. If Israel is not obedient to the Lord then they will perish. This is the same thing that will happen to us today. If we don't follow God fully, bad things will happen. Our disobedience may even lead to our death. It is of utmost importance to follow God completely!
Summary
Moses makes it clear to the Israelites that the Israelites are not entering into take possession of the Promised Land because of their righteousness. ON the contrary, Israel has been rebelling against God ever since He delivered them from the land of Egypt. Instead, God is allowing the Israelites to enter into the Promised Land because the nations that live in the land are wicked. Also, God plans to fulfill His covenant promise with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Also, in this chapter, Moses discusses all the times that Israel rebelled against the Lord from making the golden calf to not going into the Promised Land when God told them to formerly. Finally Moses talks about how he interceded for the Israelites and pleaded with God not to destroy them for their rebellion.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 9:5 - You are not going to take possession of their land because of your righteousness or your integrity. Instead, the Lord your God will drive out these nations before you because of their wickedness, in order to keep the promise He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
- Deuteronomy 9:7 - “Remember and do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God in the wilderness. You have been rebelling against the Lord from the day you left the land of Egypt until you reached this place.
- Deuteronomy 9:26-29 - I prayed to the Lord: Lord God, do not annihilate Your people, Your inheritance, whom You redeemed through Your greatness and brought out of Egypt with a strong hand. Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Disregard this people’s stubbornness, and their wickedness and sin. Otherwise, those in the land you brought us from will say, ‘Because the Lord wasn’t able to bring them into the land He had promised them, and because He hated them, He brought them out to kill them in the wilderness.’ But they are Your people, Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your great power and outstretched arm.
Thoughts on the Text
- In this chapter God makes it clear that He did not save them because of their righteousness. He saved them to fulfill His covenant obligations and to punish the nations of the Promised Land for their wickedness. We should remember that God does not save us because we are good. The only type of people God saves is people who are bad. God doesn't save the righteous. God saves the sinner.
- God tells the Israelites to prepare to enter into and take possession of the Promised Land. He brings a fearful report saying that the people in the land are strong, giants, and many and their cities are heavily fortified. This is the same report the scouts brought back 38 years ago. God knew then and he knows now that the Israelites faced bad odds, but they were to have faith that God would deliver them and defeat the nations in the Promised Land. After 40 years in the wilderness, the people are finally ready to enter into the Promised Land as God commands.
- In this chapter Moses recounts Israel's history of rebellion. Specifically, Moses talks about how the Israelites made and worshipped a golden calf at the same time Moses was bringing the Ten Commandments to the people. This reveals that each one of us needs to search our hearts. Even when God is revealing His law and nature to us, we have a tendency to disobey and go astray. In Psalm 139 the Bible states, "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way." The sin nature resides in all of us. We should pray to ask God to show us our evil ways, so that we can obey God's law better and draw closer to the Lord. Otherwise, we may be a make-believer or a hypocrite.
- We can take away from this passage that God hates sin. God will undoubtedly deal with the sin in our life. God will punish us. God hates sin. Moses knew this as well. That is why he fell on his face before God for 40 days to ask for forgiveness on Israel's behalf. We can also infer from this passage that God is merciful. God extends mercy to the sinner if we come to Him and ask for forgiveness. Moses knew this as well, and that is why he intercedes for the Israelites. Romans 9:15 states, "For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." God is sovereign, and He sovereignly extends His mercy.
- Now, after explaining this again to the new generation of Israelites, they are one step closer to being ready to take possession of the Promised Land.
Chapter 10: The Covenant Renewed and What God Requires
Summary
This chapter reviews the account of God recreating the Ten Commandments again after Moses broke the first stone tablets. There is also a review of events that transpired when the Israelites were traveling through the wilderness for 40 years. Finally, this chapter reveals what God requires of His people on a daily, ongoing basis. They are to fear the Lord and walk in all of His ways, to love Him, and to worship the Lord with all their heart and soul.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 10:1-2 - “The Lord said to me at that time, ‘Cut two stone tablets like the first ones and come to Me on the mountain and make a wooden ark. I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets you broke, and you are to place them in the ark.’
- Deuteronomy 10:8 - At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the Lord’s covenant, to stand before Yahweh to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as it is today.
- Deuteronomy 10:12-13 - And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear the Lord your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul? Keep the Lord’s commands and statutes I am giving you today, for your own good.
- Deuteronomy 10:20-21 - You are to fear Yahweh your God and worship Him. Remain faithful to Him and take oaths in His name. He is your praise and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome works your eyes have seen.
Thoughts on the Text
- According to J Vernon McGee, "Israel belongs to God; they are His inheritance. He will not destroy them because of their sin but graciously give them again the Ten Commandments, written by Himself...Moses brought the tables of stone down and placed them in the ark. Then the cchildren of Israel continued on their journey."
- Again, in this chapter we are made aware of the fact that the tribe of Levi was to have no material inheritance in the Promised Land. All the other tribes were to be given land in the Promised land. This is not so for the tribe of Levi. God was their inheritance. This is also the position of the believer today. Like Levi, our inheritance is in God. We are blessed with all spiritual blessings from God.
- From "Thru the Bible with J Vernon McGee," "If Israel had kept them (the Law), they would have been blessed. When they broke them, judgment came upon them. God, for fifteen hundred years, demonstrated through Israel to the world and to you and me that He cannot save people by Law. These people under favorable circumstances, in a land geared to the Law, were unable to keep it. And if they were unable to keep it, then you and I are unable to keep it. Thank God, He saves by grace today. In fact, grace has always been His method. In the Old Testament He never saved anyone by Law. They were saved by His mercy and grace to them, looking forward to the coming of Christ to die on the cross to take away their sins."
- God has blessed the Israelites. They went to Egypt to avoid famine with roughly 70 people. They become slaves in Egypt for hundreds of years. God rescues them from Egypt and leads them to the Promised Land, a land of their own. Now, the people that make up the tribes of Israel are as numerous as the stars in the sky!
Summary
This chapter repeatedly tells the Israelites to Love the Lord God and to always keep His mandate, His statutes, ordinances, and commands. Everything will go well for the Israelites if they only Love the Lord God with all their heart, listen to Him, and do everything He has commanded them to do. They are to remember God's Words, teach them to their children, and keep all His Words in their heart and minds. Finally, God impresses upon the Israelites that there is a blessing if you obey the commands of God, and there is a curse if you do not obey the commands of God.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 11:1 - Therefore, love the Lord your God and always keep His mandate and His statutes, ordinances, and commands.
Deuteronomy 11:7 - Your own eyes have seen every great work the Lord has done.Deuteronomy 11:8-9 - Keep every command I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to cross into and possess the land you are to inherit, and so that you may live long in the land the Lord swore to your fathers to give them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.Deuteronomy 11:16 - Be careful that you are not enticed to turn aside, worship, and bow down to other gods.Deuteronomy 11:18-21 - “Imprint these words of mine on your hearts and minds, bind them as a sign on your hands, and let them be a symbol on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, so that as long as the heavens are above the earth, your days and those of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your fathers.Deuteronomy 11:26-28 - Look, today I set before you a blessing and a curse: there will be a blessing, if you obey the commands of the Lord your God I am giving you today, and a curse, if you do not obey the commands of the Lord your God and you turn aside from the path I command you today by following other gods you have not known.
Thoughts on the Text
- Again, we are brought back to the main point God is trying to get across to the Israelites. To love God is to obey his commands. Love and obedience go hand in hand.
- According to "Thru the Bible with J Vernon McGee," "In an affluent society such as we live in today, where things come so easily, I am afraid that people assume God has nothing in the world to do with it. I do not understand why people think that if things come easily, they have done it; if things come with difficulty then God must be in it. Well, God is the One who provides for all our physical needs. Whether things come to us easily or with difficulty, He still is the Provider."
- Also from the writings of J Vernon McGee, "I believe in the grace of God. I preach the grace of God. We are saved by grace, we are kept by grace, we grow by the grace of God. We are going to get to heaven by the grace of God. When we've been there ten thousand years, it will still be by the grace of God. But, my friend, there are great spiritual blessings today which you are going to miss if you are not obedient to Him Jesus told us, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Obedience offers a personal, wonderful, glorious relationship with God. The opposite is also true. Disobedience brings with it a curse."
- God was trying to make it clear to the Israelites in that day, the same message he is trying to make clear to us today. We are to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, and minds. We are to obey and follow everything God has said and commanded us. It doesn't sound hard to do, but we continually stray away from the Lord just as the Israelites did in the past. We have come to find that it is impossible for us to completely follow the law perfectly. We are simply an imperfect people. That's where Jesus comes in. We are saved by grace through faith. God sent His one and only son to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus paid it all! And by the grace of God we can be saved from the curse of sin and death. If only we repent and believe, God will perfect us in this life and the world to come!
Chapter 12: The Chosen Place of Worship and Slaughtering Animals to Eat
Summary
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 12:2 - Destroy completely all the places where the nations that you are driving out worship their gods—on the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree.
Deuteronomy 12:5-7 - Instead, you must turn to the place Yahweh your God chooses from all your tribes to put His name for His dwelling and go there. You are to bring there your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tenths and personal contributions, your vow offerings and freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. You will eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice with your household in everything you do, because the Lord your God has blessed you.Deuteronomy 12:11 - then Yahweh your God will choose the place to have His name dwell. Bring there everything I command you: your burnt offerings, sacrifices, offerings of the tenth, personal contributions, and all your choice offerings you vow to the Lord.- Deuteronomy 12:18 - ...Rejoice before the Lord your God in everything you do...
Deuteronomy 12:32 - You must be careful to do everything I command you; do not add anything to it or take anything away from it.
Thoughts on the Text
- According to J Vernon McGee, "Later in the history of Israel, God chose Jerusalem as the place where the temple was to be built. They were to go there to worship God. Why didn't God permit the worship in every other place? I think the reason is obvious. There was idolatry in the land, and they were commanded to destroy it. Because they did not destroy it, they were commanded to assemble in one place for worship. This unified their worship and brought them closer together as a nation. They were one when they went up to Jerusalem for the feasts...Beleivers do not meet in one place to worship God today; we meet around One Person and that Person is the Lord Jesus Christ."
- If we replace Jesus Christ with something else as the center of our worship, that is idolatry. This is the reason why Israel is judged so harshly in the Old Testament. They have lapsed into idolatry at various times during the Old Testament writings. We should remember today that anything that comes between our souls and God becomes an idol. It doesn't necessarily have to be a statue in order to be considered an idol. An idol could be money, possessions, fleshly desires, a person, and so much more. We may be worshipping an idol and not even know it.
- God specifically states in this chapter that there was to be one place for the burnt offerings, sacrifices, tithes, and vows. Any food brought before the Lord here had to be eaten in this place as well. After the Israelites settle in the land, many people will live too far away from Jerusalem to bring every animal there before they kill it for food. So, the Lord tells them again that an animal may be killed for food, but they shall not eat the blood of the animal. The blood can signify the shed blood of Jesus Christ that is the life of all creatures on earth.
Summary
This chapter gives the Israelites warnings about a false prophet or dreamer that is leading people to believe in false gods. This false prophet must be put to death because he has urged rebellion against the one true God. The evil must be purged from the people of Israel. The people of Israel are to remain faithful to God and always keep His commands. The chapter continues with a warning concerning friends and family leading people to follow false gods and idols. A person that follows any false god must be put to death. This will stop others from following this evil practice. Finally, the chapter concludes with a warning concerning entire cities being led astray into following false gods and idolatry. A city that has turned away from the one true God must be completely destroyed; all the people, the livestock, the city, and its spoil. The city is not to be rebuilt, but it is to remain a mound of ruins.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 13:4-5 - You must follow the Lord your God and fear Him. You must keep His commands and listen to His voice; you must worship Him and remain faithful to Him...You must purge the evil from you.
- Deuteronomy 13:11 - All Israel will hear ad be afraid, and they will no longer do anything evil like this among you.
- Deuteronomy 13:17-18 - Nothing set apart for destruction is to remain in your hand, so that the Lord will turn from His burning anger and grant you mercy, show you compassion, and multiply you as He swore to your fathers. This will occur if you obey the Lord your God, keeping all His commands I am giving you today, doing what is right in the sight of the Lord your God.
Thoughts on the Text
- According to "Thru the Bible with J Vernon McGee," "God says that when a false prophet comes along and performs signs which come to pass, we are not to believe him if he denies the great truths of the Christian faith. That is the great principle which is put down here, and that is very important...Notice that any false prophet who attempted to take the people into some false cult or false religion was to be stoned to death...Such a false prophet is like a cancer, and a cancer must be cut out as soon as possible." The cancer of idolatry and false religion must be cut out from among His people or the cancer can affect the whole body. In this text, the Bible reveals how this cancer can even corrupt an entire city.
- It may sound extreme to stone or kill a false prophet, but we must see the consequence of a false prophet among the people. If a false prophet corrupts the minds of the people, eventually may of the people will follow a false god and fall into idolatry. When this happens, God will allow the Israelites to perish. This is exactly what happens. The Israelites fall away from God and follow other false religions and they are taken into captivity. So, instead of killing the false prophet and putting an end to the corruption, many people suffer and die because of what the false prophet started. It is wiser for the false prophet or criminal to be given the utmost penalty than for many innocent people to suffer.
- We find from this passage that God enacts the death penalty. If we do away with severe punishment be prepared for more severe and horrifying criminal activity to take place.
Chapter 14: Forbidden Practices, Clean and Unclean Foods, and a Tenth for the Lord
Summary
The Israelites are not to cut themselves or make a bald spot on their head on behalf of the dead. The Lord tells the Israelites which animals they may and may not eat. God tells them not to eat any detestable thing. They are not to eat any carcass, but they may give iit to a resident alien with their gates. Each year the Israelites are to set aside a tenth of all the produce they grew. They are to eat a tenth of their produce along with the firstborn of the herd or flock in the presence of the Lord at God's chosen temple/dwelling place. There is an option for Israelites living a long distance away from the temple. A portion of produce is to be set aside for the Levite, the foreign resident, fatherless, and widow.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 14:1 - You are sons of the Lord your God; do not cut yourselves or make a bald spot on your head on behalf of the dead.
Deuteronomy 14:3 - You must not eat any detestable thing.- Deuteronomy 14:9 - You may eat everything from the water that has fins and scales.
Deuteronomy 14:11 - You may eat every clean bird.Deuteronomy 14:21 - You are not to eat any carcass; you may give it to a temporary resident living within your gates, and he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a holy people belonging to the Lord your God...- Deuteronomy 14:22-23 - Each year you are to set aside a tenth of all the produce grown in your fields. You are to eat a tenth of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, in the presence of Yahweh your God at the place where He chooses to have His name dwell, so that you will always learn to fear the Lord your God.
Deuteronomy 14:28-29 - At the end of every three years, bring a tenth of all your produce for that year and store it within your gates. Then the Levite, who has no portion or inheritance among you, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow within your gates may come, eat, and be satisfied. And the Lord your God will bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.
Thoughts on the Text
- According to J Vernon McGee, "The diet which God gave to His people was more than just a religious ritual. There was actually a physical benefit from their observation of it. This has been tested down through the centuries."
- God tells the Israelites to eat animals that have divided hooves and that chews the cud. This has spiritual implications for us today. The divided hooves symbolize how we are separated unto Christ. We aren't necessarily separated from certain activities or sinful habits, but this will happen if we are separated from the sinful nature and joined to Christ. When you are separated unto Christ, joined to Him, your walk will undergo a radical change. Likewise, chewing the cud can symbolize how we are to review the Word over and over again in order to meditate on it and apply it to our lives.
- According to "Thru the Bible with J Vernon McGee," "God had promised to bless his people in a material way if they would serve Him. Out of that blessing, they were to tithe for the Lord from the produce of the land as well as from their flocks. This tithe was to be eaten before the Lord at the place of the sanctuary. This would be a special feasting before the Lord."
- We find in this chapter that God wanted the Levites, those who had the duty of spiritual service for the nation, to be cared for. In this chapter, we see that God also has care and concern for the poor.
Chapter 15: Debts Canceled, Lending to the Poor, Release of Slaves, and Consecration of Firstborn Animals
Summary
At the end of every seven years the Israelites are to cancel their debts. Every creditor is to cancel what he has lent his neighbor. They may collect from a foreigner but they must forgive all Israelite debts. In this chapter God tells the Israelites to give to the poor. We are not to have a stingy heart when we give. If an Israelite buys a slave that serves him six years, in the seventh year he is to set the slave free. Also, the slave is not to be sent away empty-handed. This is to be a reminder of how the Israelites were once slaves in Egypt, and they too were set free. Lastly, this chapter discusses consecration of firstborn animals. The Israelites are to consecrate to the Lord every firstborn male produced by the herd and flock; they are to eat it in the place the Lord chooses.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 15:1 - At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.
Deuteronomy 15:5-6 - if only you obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow every one of these commands I am giving you today. When the Lord your God blesses you as He has promised you, you will lend to many nations but not borrow; you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.Deuteronomy 15:10-11 - Give to him, and don’t have a stingy heart when you give, and because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you do. For there will never cease to be poor people in the land; that is why I am commanding you, ‘You must willingly open your hand to your afflicted and poor brother in your land.’Deuteronomy 15:12 - “If your fellow Hebrew, a man or woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, you must set him free in the seventh year.Deuteronomy 15:19-20 - “You must consecrate to the Lord your God every firstborn male produced by your herd and flock. You are not to put the firstborn of your oxen to work or shear the firstborn of your flock. Each year you and your family are to eat it before the Lord your God in the place the Lord chooses.
Thoughts on the Text
- In this chapter God creates a system that guards against extreme wealth and extreme poverty. At the same time, each Israelite clan would always have the same amount of property that they received upon coming into the Promised Land. God even goes as far to say that there will be no poor among the Israelites if they only obey God and follow his commands. We can surmise from this that modern day extremes of poverty and wealth are caused by the sin nature of man. When man sins, things go haywire. When man sins, man receives a curse instead of a blessing. Sin is the root cause of our problems, and no economic system, no matter how cutting edge and ingenious, will alleviate the problems of man. Poverty will be here as long as mankind keeps sinning. Only God and following the commands of God will solve our problems.
- In this chapter God encourages and commands brotherly charity. We should give to the poor if we can afford it. We shouldn't have a stingy heart, but give with thanksgiving and joy in helping a fellow brother or sister out. We shouldn't wait to give to them either. When we see a poor man, we should give to him immediately. If we all did this, then poverty would be greatly alleviated. At the beginning of the chapter, God says that their will be no poor amoung the Israelites. Later on in the chapter, God says there will never cease to be poor people in the land. God knows the human heart, and He knows that the Israelites will never be able to follow His commands fully. Because of this sin, there will always be the poor. And only Christ can take away the sins of the world.
- This chapter also deals with the issue of slavery in Israel. If a slave were to serve a man for six years, on the seventh year, he was to be set free. Not only was the slave to be set free, but the man should not send the slave away empty handed. On the flipside, if a slave liked his master, the slave could choose to be his master's slave for life. The master would pierce the slave's ear to symbolize this. According to J. Vernon McGee, "This is a beautiful picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. He made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:7-8). Jesus could have gone out free. He owed no debt of sin; He was no sinner. He had no penalty to pay. But He loved us and He gave Himself for us...The Lord Jesus took on Himself a human body so that He could be crucified for you and for me."
Chapter 16: The Festival of Passover, The Festival of Weeks, The Festival of Booths, Appointing Judges and Officials, and Forbidden Worship
Summary
This chapter briefly discusses and commands the Israelites to celebrate the Passover the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Booths. Also, the Israelites are to appoint judges and officials for the tribes in various towns the Lord is giving them to possess. Last, this chapter touches on the command not to set up an Asherah or sacred pillar that is a pagan worship practice. These are used for forbidden worship, and must never be used.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 16:1 - Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God, because the Lord your God brought you out of Egypt by night in the month of Abib.
Deuteronomy 16:10 - You are to celebrate the Festival of Weeks to the Lord your God with a freewill offering that you give in proportion to how the Lord your God has blessed you.Deuteronomy 16:13 - You are to celebrate the Festival of Booths for seven days when you have gathered in everything from your threshing floor and winepress.Deuteronomy 16:17 - Everyone must appear with a gift suited to his means, according to the blessing the Lord your God has given you.Deuteronomy 16:19-20 - Do not deny justice or show partiality to anyone. Do not accept a bribe, for it blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. Pursue justice and justice alone, so that you will live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Thoughts on the Text
- Israel was told to celebrate three feasts which all the males were told to attend: Passover or the Festival of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost or the Festival of Weeks, and the Tabernacles or the Festival of Booths.
- According to J Vernon McGee, "The Feast of Passover was instituted as a memorial to Israel's deliverance from Egypt and their adoption as Jehovah's nation. The Passover is a festival that laid the foundation of the nation, Israel's birth into a new relationship with God." The Passover was to be celebrated in Jerusalem. All the males of Israel were to travel to Jerusalem to celebrate this festival.
- According to J Vernon McGee, "Notice that they were to number seven weeks after Passover, which would be forty-nine; then the next day would be the Sabbath, the 50th day. Because the Greek word for 50 is pentecoste, this Feast of Weeks is known as Pentecost It is also called the Feast of Harvest or the Day of First Fruits. It celebrated the first or earliest fruits of the harvest."
- The Feast of Booths was another feast of rejoicing. It lasted seven days and it was to be kept in the place the Lord would choose, or in Jerusalem.
- This chapter briefly touches on appointment of judges and officials for the towns of Israel. According to J Vernon McGee, instead of the courthouse being in the center of town, "it was at the edge of town, at the gate in the wall around the city. The reason for that was that it was the place where all the citizens entered or left the city. It was the gathering place, just as the square is the gathering place in some of our little towns."
- According to Bible Study Tools, Asherah was "the name of a Phoenician goddess, or rather of the idol itself ("grove"). Asherah is closely connected with Ashtoreth and her worship; Ashtoreth being, perhaps, the proper name of the goddess, whilst Asherah is the name of her image or symbol, which was of wood." This was a pagan religion and was exactly the reason why God did not want them to plant any Asherah groves next to God's altar of worship.
Chapter 17: The Judicial Procedure for Idolatry, Difficult Cases, and Appointing a King
Summary
This chapter begins by detailing the judicial procedure for idolatry. If a man or woman is caught worshipping other gods then they must be judged. In particular, they are to be brought out to the city gates and stoned to death. All evil is to be purged from Israel. Next, this chapter discusses cases that are too difficult for townships of Israel to handle on their own. They are to take these difficult cases to the Levitical priests and judge; they will give a fair and just verdict in the case. Last, this chapter talks about appointing a king over Israel. Israel is to appoint a king over Israel that the Lord chooses. The king is to study the Word of God all the days of his life, fear the Lord his God, observe God's instructions and obey His statutes. The king's heart should not be exalted above his countrymen.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 17:5 - you must bring out to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing and stone them to death.
- Deuteronomy 17:12-13 - The person who acts arrogantly, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there serving the Lord your God or to the judge, must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. Then all the people will hear about it, be afraid, and no longer behave arrogantly.
Deuteronomy 17:14-15 - When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, take possession of it, live in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations around me,’ you are to appoint over you the king the Lord your God chooses.Deuteronomy 17:18-20 - When he is seated on his royal throne, he is to write a copy of this instruction for himself on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to observe all the words of this instruction, and to do these statutes. Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, he will not turn from this command to the right or the left, and he and his sons will continue ruling many years over Israel.
Thoughts on the Text
- In this chapter God makes it very clear that He wants Israel only to worship Him. The penalty for worshipping false gods is death. This brings to my mind how important it is for us to follow all of God's laws, but especially worshipping God only. If we worship other gods we will be lost, confused, and live a life of sin. This sin is our spiritual death. We don't have the death penalty for worshipping false gods in the present time. We have freedom of religion. The Old Testament called for death upon idolatry. We accept all gods. How does this affect our country, our priorities, and the people. Is judgment coming to us like it came to the Israelites?
- At this time, Israel was a theocracy. According to J Vernon McGee, "in the theocracy, they were to refer their cases to the priest or to the judges whom God would put over them. In a theocracy they should never have had a king." It makes sense to take cases to the priest and to the judge because they should have the closest connection to God. God will give them the wisdom to decide these legal matters. Again, the Bible states that if you don't obey the priests or the judge's decision concerning a case, then you were to be put to death. Their decision was to be obeyed.
- Severe punishment that is just causes people to obey rules, and no longer behave arrogantly.
- The king of Israel was to be a man of God. All great kings should have a close relationship with God. The same is true of men and kings today. According to J Vernon McGee, "The king was to be a man of the Word of God. He was to have a private copy of the Law of God, and he was to read in it every day of his life."
Chapter 18: Provisions for the Levites and Occult Practices versus Prophetic Revelation.
Summary
The Levites have no inheritance in the land of Israel. They are to receive portions of other tribes sacrifices and offerings. The Levites are allowed to go wherever they want in the land of Israel to serve the Lord. The Israelites are not to imitate the detestable customs of other nations. The Israelites must be blameless before the Lord. God will raise up a prophet for the Israelites. The time this will happen is not stated. This prophet will tell the Israelites everything that God has commanded him. The Israelites must listen to whatever he says. God will hold them accountable if they don't listen. On the other hand, a false prophet must die. When a prophet's message is not true, he is false.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 18:13 - You must be blameless before the Lord your God.
- Deuteronomy 18:19 - I will hold accountable whoever does not listen to My words that he speaks in My name.
- Deuteronomy 18:22 - When a prophet speaks in the Lord's name, and the message does not come true or is not fulfilled, that is a message the Lord has not spoken.
Thoughts on the Text
- The Levites are the priests of Israel. The Israelites are to support the priests in order to live and serve the Lord. We should do the same. So it is important to give tithes and offerings to the church and other ministries.
- We should not worship Satan or practice any evil. Demons are real and they will possess you. God warns us of this. As children of God, we should not play with this sort of thing. Our focus should be on Christ and the things of the Lord. We are to be a witness to the true and living God.
- According to J. Vernon McGee, this chapter tells of the coming messiah, the final Prophet, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to listen to his words as truth. God has nothing more to say. As God's ultimate Prophet, messenger, and savior we should hearken unto Him. The Lord Jesus Christ is God's final revelation to man. Jesus's words came from God. Everything has already been revealed concerning the right way to live.
- There are many false teachers, books, and unnecessary knowledge. We need to be aware of what is true and what is not. What words come from the Lord and what words come from Satan.
Chapter 19: Cities of Refuge, Boundary Markers, and Witnesses in Court
Summary
Israel is to set apart three cities as cities of refuge. Anyone who involuntarily commits manslaughter can flee to one of these cities to escape a wrongful punishment or revenge. This way innocent blood will not be shed. If someone intentionally kills someone, he can not seek protection in the city of refuge. Israelites are not to steal their neighbor's land by moving boundary markers. One witness cannot establish any wrongdoing or sin against a person, whatever that person has done. A fact must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. When it comes to criminal activity, you must not show pity; life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot. The penalty for the sin will hopefully purge the evil from the Israelites.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 19:19-21 - ...You must purge the evil from you. Then everyone else will hear and be afraid, and they will never again do anything evil like this among you. You must not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot.
Thoughts on the Text
- A city of refuge gives a person protection until a fair trial can be held in order to determine innocence or guilt. If it is known that the man is guilty of a particular crime, he can not seek protection in the city of refuge.
- Property rights are established in this chapter.
- A false witness is to receive the same punishment that he wanted to have done to the person he accused.
- According to J Vernon McGee, "We are all guilty before God. Christ paid the penalty; so the requirements of the Law have been fulfilled. Now God is free to save sinners by His marvelous, infinite, wonderful grace.
Chapter 20: Rules for War
Summary
In this chapter God lays down some important rules for war that the Israelites are to follow. God assures the Israelites through the priest that He will help fight against their enemies and give them victory. The officers will address the army and tell certain men to go home, and they will appoint military commanders to lead the army. Before going to war with any enemy, the Israelites are to make an offer of peace. If the enemy does not accept the offer of peace, they are to wage war and lay siege to they city. God tells the Israelites to completely destroy all the people in the land of Canaan--the Hittite, Amorite, Canaanite, Perizzite, Hivite, and Jebusite. All of their customs and false gods are to be destroyed as well.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 20:4 - For the Lord your God is the One who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.
- Deuteronomy 20:10-12 - When you approach a city to fight against it, you must make an offer of peace. If it accepts your offer of peace and opens its gates to you, all the people found in it will become forced laborers for you and serve you. However, if it does not make peace with you but wages war against you, lay siege to it.
Deuteronomy 20:16-18 - However, you must not let any living thing survive among the cities of these people the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance. You must completely destroy them—the Hittite, Amorite, Canaanite, Perizzite, Hivite, and Jebusite—as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that they won’t teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and you sin against the Lord your God.
Thoughts on the Text
- If you are with God and God is with you, don't be afraid of your enemy. The Lord your God is the One who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.
- The Israelites are always to make an offer of peace before fighting against an enemy.
- In this chapter, God writes does four excuses which would keep a man from going to battle:
- A man who has built a home but not yet lived in it.
- A man who has recently married a woman.
- A man who has yet to reap the first harvest of his farm.
- A man who is afraid, fainthearted, and fearful.
- We should fight to win whatever war we are engaged in. We should be take courage knowing that if God is on our side we will win the war.
Chapter 21: Unsolved Murders, Fair Treatment of Captured Women, the Right of the Firstborn, a Rebellious Son, and Display of Executed People
Summary
In order to purge the guilt of shedding innocent blood of an unsolved murder the Israelites must break the neck of a cow's neck. This chapter also deals with the treatment of captured women that were obtained when Israel goes to war against its enemies. Also, this chapter goes over the rights of the firstborn son. He gets a double portion of everything that belongs to his father. The Israelites are to stone to death a rebellious son if he continually doesn'ts listen to discipline from his parents. Anyone executed for a crime must be buried on the same day.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 21:9 - "You must purge from yourselves the guilt of shedding innocent blood, for you will be doing what is right in the Lord's sight.
- Deuteronomy 21:17 - He must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved wife, by giving him two shares of his estate, for he is the first fruits of his virility; he has the rights of the firstborn.
- Deuteronomy 21:21 - Then all the men of his city will stone him to death. You must purge the evil from you, and all Israel will hear and be afraid.
- Deuteronomy 21:23 - you are not to leave his corpse on the tree overnight but are to bury him that day, for anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Thoughts on the Text
- From a commentary by J Vernon McGee, "Friends, aren't you glad that we are not under Law today? When we come to God, and we confess ours ins, "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Instead of judgment, there is mercy for us. How wonderful and how merciful God is to accept us and receive us when we come to Him?"
- J Vernon McGee states, "Now Paul picks that up and says that when Christ was hanging there on the tree, He was taking our sins and was accursed of God in that condition. Because of what He had done? No. He became a curse for us to redeem us from the curse of the Law. He redeemed us from the curse of sin. He redeemed us from the penalty of sin, and He has bought our pardon Why? Because He was made a curse for us. Actually you and I were responsible for His death. Christ was made a curse for us."
Chapter 22: Caring for Your Brother's Property, Preserving Natural Distinctions, and Violations of Proper Sexual Conduct
Summary
The Israelites are told to return property that does not belong to them. The property is to be returned to their brother. The Israelites are told to help out their brother. They should not ignore their brother's problems. The Israelites are told not to be crossdressers. Changing gender roles is detestable to the Lord. One should only take the eggs from a mother bird; one should not take both the mother and the eggs. The Israelites are told to be safe and use safety precautions around their home so no one is injured or killed. The Israelites are told not to plant a vineyard with two types of seed because the crop and produce will be defiled. Other rules are given to the Israelites. The last part of this chapter deals with violations of proper sexual conduct concerning marriage, rape, adultery, and more.
Verses of Interest
- The whole chapter has key verses. They are all equal because they all state different mandates from God. Read the whole chapter.
Thoughts on the Text
- According to J Vernon McGee, chapters 22-26 of Deuteronomy pertain to regulations for domestic and personal relations. These laws are directed at the nation of Israel.
- This chapter begins with brother and neighbor relationships. The Israelites are given a "good neighbor" policy. They were supposed to be kind and do what was right to their neighbor. In particular, they were to give back lost property to their neighbor or brother. In this chapter God makes it clear that our neighbor's problem should be our business. If we see our neighbor struggling with something and we have the ability to help, we should help.
- According to J Vernon McGee, "God created us male and female. God is saying here that a man ought to look like a man, and a woman ought to look like a woman. We are having a great deal of trouble today because the sexes are trying to look alike and are trying to act alike." So, basically, transgender is detestable to the Lord.
- Here we see that God is concerned about birds. The Bible even states that you will live long and prosper if you do not hurt the mother bird along with her young. God cares deeply about his creation. He cares about the birds, so he cares about human life as well. God is pro life. The Bible states in Matthew 10:31, "Don't be afraid therefore; you are worth more than many sparrows." J Vernon McGee states, "If the Father is concerned about a sparrow, He is also concerned and knows all about you."
- This chapter also enacts the first building codes for residential homes of the Israelites. There is to be a railing around the upper deck of the house to prevent injury or death from falls. Since I have started working construction I have noticed that their are safety precautions and regulations set up for all the workers. This seems to be a very good thing, and when properly followed, I have personally not seen anyone get seriously injured. This can also imply spiritual precautions for our children as well. We should set up spiritual railings so that our children will not fall out of God's safety zone into the pit of sin.
- In this chapter God lays done the rules for certain mixtures: 1) you are not to plant a vineyard with two types of seed, 2) do not plow with an ox or donkey yoked together, and 3) do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together. There are reasons for each of these laws: the vineyard will become defiled, the ox and the donkey don't work well together, and wool shrinks when you wash it while linen does not. J Vernon McGee says, "Have you noticed that the Lord does not like mixtures? The same thing is true in marriage. God does not want a mixture of the saved and the unsaved...Then you have a real problem...The child of God can not mix with the world."
- The last part of this chapter deals with marriage and violation of the marriage covenant and proper sexual conduct. J. Vernon McGee explains, "God honors marriage and God honors sexual purity. Adultery in Israel was to be punished by stoning. This tells us how God feels about adultery, friends. Remember that God's love for His people is expressed in His Law. This law regarding the protection of the sanctity of marriage is a very fine example of His love and concern for the human family."
Chapter 23: Exclusion and Inclusion, Cleanliness of the Camp Fugitive Slaves, Cult Prostitution Forbidden, Interest on Loans, Keeping Vows, and Neighbor's Crops
Summary
In this chapter God gives rules concerning who may and who may not enter the assembly of the Lord. God also warns to keep away from everything impure. Israelites who are deemed unclean must go outside the camp and stay there until they are cleansed. The Lord tells the Israelites to designate a place outside the camp to use the bathroom. The Israelite camp must be clean and holy. The Lord also provides other miscellaneous laws in this chapter: Israelites are not to return a runaway slave to his master; no male or female is to be a prostitute; no earnings from a prostitute is to be given to the Lord's assembly; Israelites are not to charge other Israelites interest on anything; they are allowed to charge interest to a foreigner; Israelites must keep their vows that they make to the Lord; if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty. Israelites are to share the fruits of their labor, but not to take excessively from their neighbor.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 23:5 - However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.
- Deuteronomy 23:9 -When you are encamped against your enemies, keep away from everything impure.
- Deuteronomy 23:21 - If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin.
Thoughts on the Text
- From J. Vernon McGee's commentary, "Chapter 23 continues this very interesting section regarding regulations for domestic and personal relationships. The world, the flesh, and the devil are the three enemies a believer contends with daily, even hourly, and moment by moment."
- There is a whole section in this chapter dedicated to illegitimate children that are not allowed to enter into the Lord's assembly. They were not true Israelites, so they could not enter into the holy place of the Lord. This is similar to people who are not truly born again. They have not really been saved by the Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps they have not truly believed on the Lord Jesus and repenteted of their sins. They could simply be baptized pagans, but they are really hell-doomed sinners. "God says that an illegitimate son is not going to heaven--he shall not enter the congregation."
- False religion is satanic in origin. This is the reason why God did not wnat the Moabites and Ammonites to enter into the Lord's Assembly. They worshipped Baal and other false Gods. The Israelites on the other hand worship the One true God. If they were to enter the congregation of the Lord it would be like the devil entering into the congregation of the Lord. False religion has damned this world more than anything else.
- The Israelites are told not to despise an Edomite. This is because the Edomites descended from the line of Esau. Esau was Jacob's brother, so the Edomites were related to the Israelites. So, basically, the Israelites were not to hate their extended family.
- The Israelites were also told not to despise an Egyptian. The Israelites were foreigners in the land of Egypt. Likewise, we are strangers just passing thru this world if we are born again believers. Egypt in the Scripture here represents the world. We are not to love the world, but we are not to neglect the world either. Instead, we are to give the Word of God and the truth of the gospel to the world, so that the lost may be saved.
- The next part of this passage deals with cleanliness. Cleanliness is next to godliness. "God gave us clean streams, clean air, clean water. It is sin, sinful man, who pollutes this earth today. If men would follow the rules which God has given, this earth would be a sanitary place." Christians should remain clean. "God wants us clean in body, clean in environment, clean in thought, clean in action. We are to be a holy people in this world today."
- In this chapter male and female prostitution is deemed to be wrong. Also, God will not accept income from that which is illegal or from that which is immoral or wrong.
- We should take care of our brother, and not make his burden too heavy by charging him interest. We should give him a hand and help him out. This is a fulfillment of the Golden Rule.
- The last rule presented in this chapter is an interesting rule. Farmers are to extend a courtesy to their neighbors. They should give them some food from their crop if they are passing through or hungry. Maybe the neighbor can also help the farmer in the work of the harvest as well.
Chapter 24: Marriage and Divorce Laws, Safeguarding Life, and Consideration for People in Need
Summary
This chapter contains other laws and regulations God has commanded Israel to follow. In this chapter are marriage and divorce laws, laws safeguarding life, and regulations that give consideration for people in need. Also, fathers are not to be put to death for things their children have done, and children are not to be put to death for things their father has done. Each person will be put to death for his own sin.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 24:16 - "Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin."
- Deuteronomy 24:19 - When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands."
Thoughts on the Text
- According to J Vernon McGee, "This chapter begins with the Mosaic Law of divorce. The remainder of the chapter is devoted to people-to-people relationships in which mercy is to be shown. Friends, God is merciful, and He expects His people to exhibit mercy toward each other."
- This chapter deals with divorce of husband and wife. Unfaithfulness to the marriage vow was the only grounds for divorce. Matthew 19:7-9 states, "Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
God permits some things due to the hardness of our hearts. This is God's permissive will. God is merciful and gracious to us and permits things in our lives that are not in His direct will. This is His grace to us. Divorce was never supposed to happen, no matter what. This is an example of God's permissive will.- In this chapter God sets up a rule in which the man of a newly married couple would not have to join the army for one year after marriage. God protects the home even in the time of war. God regards the sacredness of the marriage vow.
- God condemns slavery and kidnapping.
- We find that Jesus was not the only one who wanted to help people in need. In fact, we find here in the Old Testament that God the Father wanted to give consideration for people in need. Several regulations and commands are given in this chapter specifically to help those in need. God had a good poverty program, and I'm sure if everyone followed the program it would work perfectly. In essence we are to treat the poor fairly. Also, we are too give a portion of our profits to the needy who can not make enough money to provide for their family.
Chapter 25: Fairness and Mercy, Preserving the Family Line, Honest Weights and Measures, and Revenge on the Amalekites
Summary
This chapter starts with fairness and mercy in a variety of situations. Disputes among people are to be taken to court, where judges will hear the case. The judge is to clear the innocent and condemn the guilty. Continuing onward, the chapter dives into how an Israelite brother in law must preserve his brother's family name after he has died if he has had no children with his wife. The brother-in-law is to take his brother's wife as his own and bear children. Other cases of preserving the family line are mentioned in this chapter as well. Next, this chapter briefly discusses honest weights and measures that are required to act fairly in business matters. Last, God tells the Israelites to take revenge on the Amalekites. They are to completely blot out the memory of the Amalekites.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 25:1 - When people have a dispute, they are to take it to court and the judges will decide the case, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty.
Deuteronomy 25:5-6 - If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.Deuteronomy 25:15-16 - You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. For the Lord your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly.Deuteronomy 25:19 - When the Lord your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!
Thoughts on the Text
- Israel placed the family in very high regard and importance. They wanted the family name of a man to carry on for countless generations. Getting married was a family affair. This was God's way of drawing families very close together, of protecting the widows, and also of protecting the land. You see, this was the way the land would always stay in the same family.
- As we see in this chapter, God reveres honesty and fairness. So, God commands His people to be accurate in their measurements and in their weights. There are to be absolutely honest in their business dealings.
- The Amalekites attacked Israel when they were fleeing the land of Egypt. The Israelites won a victory over the Amalekites, but it was an intense battle when the Israelites were already faint and weary. Now, God tells the Israelites to blot out the name of the Amalekites completely. There is a parallel here between Amalek and the fleshly sin nature. God intends to wipe out the sin nature one day just as God intends to forget the Amalekites. From Galatians 5:17, "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." J. Vernon McGee states, "We cannot overcome the flesh by fighting. The only way we can overcome the flesh is by yielding to the Spirit of God. Only the Spirit of God can produce the fruits of the Spirit in our lives."
Chapter 26: Giving the Firstfruits, the Tenth in the Third Year, and Covenant Summary
Summary
In this chapter, the Israelites are to give their firstfruits in thanksgiving to God for bringing the Israelites out of the land of Egypt and into the Promised Land of Israel. The Israelites are also to give a tenth of their produce in the third year to the Levite, the foreign resident, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat and be satisfied. Finally, this chapter gives a covenant summary; the Israelites are supposed to obey the commands of God, and God will put Israel far above all the nations and they will be a holy people to the Lord their God as He promised.
Verses of Interest
Deuteronomy 26:1-3 - When you have entered the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the Lord your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name and say to the priest in office at the time, “I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come to the land the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.”
Deuteronomy 26:12 - When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.
Deuteronomy 26:17-19 - You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him. And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands. He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised.
Thoughts on the Text
- According to J Vernon McGee, "The chapter before us presents the beautiful ceremony in connection with the offering of firstfruits. Acknowledging that all the produce of the land came from God, and as an expression of thankfulness for His goodness, the Israelites brought as an offering to Him a portion of the fruit that ripened first...As he presented his offering of firstfruits to the Lord, he was to review God's gracious dealings with his people in delivering them from oppression in Egypt and in bringing them to the bountiful land He had promised them."
- In this text, it says that "My father was a wandering Aramean. He went down to Egypt with a few people and lived there..."Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were not Israelites. They were technically Syrians or Arameans, not Israelites.
- The giving of the firstfruits was to be a time of true thanksgiving; a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving unto God! So, should we make an offering to God on our Thanksgiving day? The Israelites did. This was the true beginning of Thanksgiving. The pilgrims that settled in America did not start Thanksgiving. According to J. Vernon McGee, "Wonderful as it is to make an offering of thanksgiving and praise with our lips, we ought to back it up with our purse. Praise and purse go together in God's Word."
- In this chapter the Israelites are told to give a tenth, or tithe, to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. How many homeless wander the streets of our towns? Should we not do what the Israelites did and give a tithe to these people so that they may eat within the city and be filled?
- God restates the covenant he made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God says that if Israel keeps His commandments, He promises to make them His holy people and to place them above all nations of the earth.
Chapter 27: The Law Written on Stones and the Covenant Curses
Summary
In this chapter, Moses and the elders of Israel command the people to keep every command that he is giving them before he departs and dies in the wilderness. The Israelites are to build an altar on Mount Ebal, and write the words of the law on large stones. The large stones along with the altar will be placed atop Mount Ebal. After the altar is setup , the Israelites are to offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord. After this, the Israelites become the people of the Lord God. Then, Moses splits the tribes into two groups. One group is to stand upon Mount Ebal and pronounce curses while the other group is to stand atop Mount Gerizim and pronounce blessings on the people. Finally, all the curses are listed to bring the chapter to a close.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 27:9-10 - Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God. Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.
Deuteronomy 27:16 - “Cursed is anyone who dishonors their father or mother.”Deuteronomy 27:26 - Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
Thoughts on the Text
- Israel is told to be silent and listen. This is what we should strive to do on a daily basis. Instead of talking and speaking, we should listen to others and the Lord our God. He will show us and tell us how to live our life according to His will while living on this earth. When we don't listen, we will go astray.
- A new covenant is about to be given to the Israelite people. This covenant is sometimes known as the Palestinian Covenant. According to J. Vernon McGee, "This covenant has to do with Israel's future. We understand that these people are now standing on the east bank of the Jordan River. They are preparing to enter the land. This is the new generation; the old generation has died in the wilderness. Moses himself will not enter into the land. We shall see that this book closes with a requiem to Moses. He dies, but the people enter the land under a new leader. Now this particular section is prophetic and has to do with their future in the land which they are about to enter. We find here some of the most remarkable prophecies in the entire Word of God."
- God's law was to be displayed for everyone to see when the Israelites entered into the Promised Land. Therefore, the law was permanently written on large stones at the altar and carried with them throughout the land.
- We find that if we do not obey God we will suffer a curse. On the other hand, if we obey God we will be blessed. When a generation of the Israelites will not obey God, that generation would be put out of the land, even though the land remained theirs as an eternal inheritance. In this chapter 12 curses are listed. All of these curses, in some way or another, deal with the Ten Commandments. Again, if the Israelites disobey the Ten Commandments, they will be cursed. The same is true for us today.
Chapter 28: Blessings for Obedience and Curses for Disobedience.
Summary
This chapter goes over in great detail blessings one receives for obedience to God and the curses one receives for disobedience to god. This is a brutal chapter. One sees why God is to be feared after reading this chapter.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 28:1 - If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.
- Deuteronomy 28:13 - The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.
Deuteronomy 28:15 - However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you:Deuteronomy 28:45 - All these curses will come on you. They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the Lord your God and observe the commands and decrees he gave you.
Thoughts on the Text
- In summation, this chapter basically states that the people of Israel would be blessed only as they obeyed God. Their disobedience would bring curses, which are spelled out for them in this chapter.
- This chapter should move us to tell the gospel to the Jews and other people who are dispossessed from the and. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is for Jew and Gentile alike, and it is for the "obedience to the faith among all nations" (Romans 1:5).
- According to J. Vernon McGee, "Now we come to one of the most remarkable passages of Scripture. It is the history of Israel in the land, pre-written. Scripture prophesied concerning Israel's being dispossessed out of the land three times and regathered into the and three times. Three are to be three dispossessions and three regatherings of Israel....They have returned twice according to history and the Bible. They have not returned the third time." This is prophecy yet to be fulfilled.
Chapter 29: Renewing the Covenant and Abandoning the Covenant
Summary
The covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that God made with the people of Israel at Horeb is renewed in the land of Moab just east of the Jordan River before entering the Promised Land. God then tells the people what will happen if they abandon the covenant and what happens to the people that do not obey the Lord.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 29:9 - Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do.
Deuteronomy 29:12-13 - You are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with the Lord your God, a covenant the Lord is making with you this day and sealing with an oath, to confirm you this day as his people, that he may be your God as he promised you and as he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.Deuteronomy 29:18 - Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the Lord our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.Deuteronomy 29:26-29 - They went off and worshiped other gods and bowed down to them, gods they did not know, gods he had not given them. Therefore the Lord’s anger burned against this land, so that he brought on it all the curses written in this book. In furious anger and in great wrath the Lord uprooted them from their land and thrust them into another land, as it is now.” The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
Thoughts on the Text
- Chapters 29 and 30 of the book of Deuteronomy make up the Palestinian Covenant that adds onto the covenants made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This chapter is the introduction to the covenant.
- According to J. Vernon McGee, "the covenant made in Horeb was the Ten Commmandments or what we know as the Mosaic Law. The covenant which God is going to make with them here relates to the land, and it is called the Palestinian covenant. God makes this covenant with them just before they enter the land.
- From this chapter we see that God has to turn us on to understand deep spiritual truths. Until God opens the eyes and the ears of men and woman, they cannot hear the gospel. They can hear the words, but they cannot hear the gospel with understanding.
- The Word of God is effective in the lives of many people. The truths within the Bible have the ability to save mankind from their sin. It is not for want of evidence that men are unbelievers of the Word of God. They are unbelievers not because of what they read in the Bible nor because of what they see around themm. The problem is on the inside. They are unbelievers because they are innately enemies of God. They do not understand the things of God. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
- God's judgment does not fall only on the people. It also has fallen on the land.
- God has made this covenant with the Israelites and this covenant is unconditional. The land belongs to the Israelites; God's chosen people.
Chapter 30: Returning to the Lord and Choose Life (The Palestinian Covenant)
Summary
God tells the Israelites that if they keep His commands and return to the Lord with all their heart and soul, He will make them prosper abundantly and they will take possession of the land of Israel; the land which God promised to their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God sets before the Israelites a choice: life or death, blessing or curse. This is the Palestinian Covenant. Basically, when you obey the Lord your God, and return back to Him everything will go well with you and your people.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 30:1-3 - When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.
- Deuteronomy 30:8-10 - You will again obey the Lord and follow all his commands I am giving you today. Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors, if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
- Deuteronomy 30:11 - Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.
Deuteronomy 30:14-16 - No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
Thoughts on the Text
- This covenant is an unconditional promise of future blessing.
- Seven promises are made in this chapter
- Israel will be dispersed among all the nations
- There will be a future repentance of Israel in the dispersion.
- The Messiah , Christ, is to return.
- Israel is to be restored to the land.
- There will be a national conversion of the Israelites.
- Israel's enemies will be judged.
- Israel will then receive her full blessing.
- There will be no blessing for the Israelites in the land until the time when they return in obedience with the new heart which God will give them. This is the time when God returns them to the land of Israel.
- Paul quotes some of this chapter in Romans 10:6-10 - "But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down)“or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."
- God asks us to trust the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. After that He talks to us about obedience - "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Love and obedience is the great theme of Deuteronomy.
Chapter 31: Joshua Takes Moses' Place and Moses Warns the People
Summary
Moses is now 120 years old at this point and can no longer act as Israel's leader. Moses will not cross over the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Joshua will now lead the campaign into the Promised Land. God foresees that the people of Israel will break the covenant He made with them. They will commit adultery and worship foreign gods. Many troubles and afflictions ill come to them at that time. Moses completes the book of laws and give it to the Levites to place beside the ark of the covenant. they are to recite the law every seven years at the Festival of Booths. Moses also writes a song and re cites it aloud to the entire assembly of Israel. This song is written down word for word in Deuteronomy chapter 32.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 31:6 - Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:7-8 - Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.Deuteronomy 31:13 - Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”Deuteronomy 31:16 - And the Lord said to Moses: “You are going to rest with your ancestors, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them.Deuteronomy 31:24-26 - After Moses finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end,he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord:“Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God. There it will remain as a witness against you.
Thoughts on the Text
- From Thru the Bible with J Vernon McGee, "We are coming to the end of the life of Moses. The entire Bible up to this point has been written by Moses. A great deal of it has been about Moses. He has been a key person ever since the time they came out of the land of Egypt. He has been concerned with Israel for forty years, and he has left us a record of the 120 years of his life. Now he is getting ready to die." Now, Joshua son of Nun is to be the leader to take the Israelites into the Promised Land. This selection is God's choice.
- There is a great lesson to be learned here. This chapter teaches us that none of us are essential to God's program. God uses each man in his own time, but when the time of work for the man is finished, God's work still goes on. When the time comes for us to step aside, God will raise up someone else in our place. This is what happened to Moses and to all men and women.
- In this chapter, God and Moses predict that even though God will guide and lead Israel into the Promised and, that they will turn away from the Lord and fall into a sinful lifestyle in short time. This is true for the entire human race. Mankind aprat from God will utterly corrupt itself. It was happening in Moses' day and it is happening today.
Chapter 32: Song of Moses and Moses' Impending Death
Summary
Moses writes a prophetic song for the Israelites as to what will happen to them when they turn against God. Moses recites these words to Joshua and the people of Israel. God then tells Moses to ascend Mount Nebo, look into Canaan, the Promised Land, and die atop the mountain as Aaron died atop of Mount Hor. From there, Moses will be gathered to his people.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 32:3-4 - I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!
He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. Deuteronomy 32:28-29 - They are a nation without sense, there is no discernment in them.
2If only they were wise and would understand this and discern what their end will be!Deuteronomy 32:35 - It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip;
their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.Deuteronomy 32:39 - See now that I myself am he! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand.Deuteronomy 32:43 - Rejoice, you nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants; he will take vengeance on his enemies and make atonement for his land and people.Deuteronomy 32:46-47 - Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.
Thoughts on the Text
- This chapter recites the song of Moses word for word. The nation of Israel was to learn it. This song was to be their national anthem in a way. It was a song given to them by God; every Israelite was to learn it and teach it to their children.
- This song is about the Rock. The word "Rock" is used about seven times in the song. The Lord Jesus Christ is called the Rock. Christ is the chief Cornerstone of 1 Peter 2:6 ("See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."). His work is perfect. How this song exalts God!
- According to J Vernon McGee, "In one sense God is the Father of all mankind because He created all mankind. When God created Adam he was called a son of God, but Adam sinned. After that, none of the offspring of Adam are called the sons of God unless they have become sons of God by faith in Jesus Christ. The whole human family may be pictured as a crooked generation, a foolish people."
- "Jeshurun" is another name for Israel. Israel waxed fat, and kicked! What a picture this is of the affluent society we have in America today. Just like the Israelites, we have grown fat, and in our prosperity we don't think that the Rock is important anymore.
- From Thru the Bible with J Vernon McGee, "Moses, the representative of the Law, the lawgiver, cannot enter into the land. Legalism is actually a hindrance. The Law is a revealer, not a remover of sin. The Law cannot save. The Law could not bring Moses into the land. Neither can the Law bring us into the place of blessing."
- As a form of punishment for those without faith, God actually says that He will hide His face from them. This would be a terrible punishment as those with no faith run into tough times, turn back to the Lord, and the Lord will be nowhere to be found. This is just a glimpse into what eternity in hell will be like.
Summary
Moses blesses all the tribes of Israel before his death atop Mount Nebo. The tribes of Israel are: Reuben, Judah, Levi, Benjamin, Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh), Zebulun, Issachar, Gad, Dan Naphtali, and Asher.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 33:1 - This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, gave the Israelites before his death.
- Deuteronomy 33:3 - Indeed He loves the people. All Your holy ones are in Your hand, and they assemble at Your feet. Each receives Your words.
- Deuteronomy 33:26 - There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to your aid on the clouds in His majesty.
- Deuteronomy 33:29 - How happy you are, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is the shield that protects you, the sword you boast in. Your enemies will cringe before you, and you will tread on their backs.
Thoughts on the Text
- The last public act of Moses before his death is to gather his people about him by tribes and give a blessing to each one.
- Moses prays that Reuben will never become extinct as a tribe in Israel. Judah is the royal tribe from which the Messiah is to come. Levi is the priestly tribe. They had the privilege of teaching the Law. Blessing is to come to Israel through the tribes of Joseph which are Ephraim and Manasseh. All of the tribes are blessed by Moses. This blessing would have come true if only Israel had fully obeyed God!
Chapter 34: Moses' Death
Summary
Moses ascends Mount Nebo and looks out at the Promised Land beyond the Jordan River. Moses then dies on top of the mountain. He is buried in the valley in the land of Moab facing Beth-Peor. No one knows exactly where his grave is. Moses was 120 years old when he died. The Israelites wept for him for 30 days before continuing on into the Promised Land. Joshua son of Nun then became the leader of Israel as God had ordained.
Verses of Interest
- Deuteronomy 34:4 - Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.”
Deuteronomy 34:7-8 - Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.Deuteronomy 34:9-10 - Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses. Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face...
Thoughts on the Text
- Did Moses write of his own death? He could have. The Lord told him that he would soon die. However, a great many believe that this is part of the Book of Joshua.
- Why was Moses' grave unknown? Because of the fact that Moses was to be raised from the dead and brought into the Promised Land. You will remember that when the Lord Jesus was transfigured on the mount, both Moses and Elijah appeared with Him and spoke about His approaching death. So, you see, Moses did get to the Promised Land eventually. The Law could not bring Moses into the land, but the Lord Jesus Christ brought him in.
- Now that Moses has passed away, a new generation of Israelites will be going into the Promised land with Joshua as their leader. The Bible leads us next into the book of Joshua!
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