Deuteronomy - Introduction and Overview.

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EPISODE NOTES:

DEUTERONOMY THE BOOK OF OBEDIENCE TO GOD

Deuteronomy, The title means “second Law but  it does not contain a second Law but is in fact a restatement and an explanation of the Law previously given. It is a book of remembrance and retrospect. A book which shows new hope being attained through spiritual experience aligned with obedience. 

Author 

 The book itself indicates that Moses wrote it (Deut. 31:9). 

 Recipients 

The events in the book of Deuteronomy i written to the "second” generation. A new generation had grown up and Moses therefore repeated and explained the law to the people of this new generation before they entered Canaan.  

Message 

The book of Deuteronomy is, much more than just a repetition of the law; it is also an exposition of what it means.

The covenant promise is the basis of Deuteronomy, but the relationship between God and his people within that covenant should be one of love. The sovereign love of God towards his people should been seen to produce a response of obedient love towards him. 

Structure 

 First Sermon: The Historical Appeal for Obedience. (1:1-4:49)

 Second Sermon: The Legal Basis for Obedience. (5:1-26:19) 

 Third Sermon: A Prophetical Exhortation for Obedience. (27:1-30:20) 

 Transitional Details. (31:1-34:12) 

•  Joshua and Law. (31:1-30)
• Song of Moses. (32:1-52)
• Blessing of Moses. (33:1-29)
• Death of Moses. (34:1-12)

 Purpose 

The purpose of Deuteronomy is for Moses to address Israel before he died and before they enter the land. He urges the people to obey the Lord saying If they do so, they will be blessed. If they do not, they will be cursed. He also needed to communicate the transitional arrangements involving Joshua before he died. 

 Summary: 

 Moses wrote Deuteronomy to remind Israel of what God has done and said and encourages them to obey God. Then he turns over the leadership to Joshua. God is seen to bless the obedient and disciplines the disobedient. Obedience is therefore always seen as a condition for blessing.

Transcript

DEUTERONOMY THE BOOK OF OBEDIENCE TO GOD

 Deuteronomy, the title means “second Law,” and comes from the Septuagint. This title however is slightly misleading because it does not contain a second Law but is in fact a restatement and an explanation of the Law previously given. It has also been identified by many as the book of remembrance and retrospect. A book which shows new hope being attained through spiritual experience aligned with obedience. 

Author 

 The book itself indicates that Moses wrote it (Deut. 31:9). There are also various first-hand references to Moses’ experiences made throughout the text (Deut. 5:6, 9:22, 25:17). Other books of the Old Testament also attribute the book to Moses. Jesus himself indicated that Moses was the author (Matt. 19:8) and church tradition confirms that view also. Some question the fact that Deuteronomy chapter 34 records Moses’ death so how could have he recorded his own demise. This should not be considered a problem because the traditional view is also held that Joshua scribed the book from Moses’ firsthand account and then also wrote the account of Moses’ death shortly after Moses died alongside various other editorial comments that he is recognizing as having added to the book. 

Recipients 

 The events in the book of Deuteronomy takes place on the Plain of Moab, due east of Jericho, across the Jordan River (Deut. 1:1, 29:1) and covers a period of only about one month. (Deut. 1:3, 34:8 and Josh. 5:6-12). The approaching death of Moses probably provided the initial basis for the renewal of the covenant. Moses’ role had been so significant that for many of the people Moses and the covenant must have seemed inseparable. It was most likely written at the end of the 40-year period in the wilderness, that is, about 1407 BC. The book was therefore written to this “second” generation. A new generation had grown up and Moses therefore repeated and explained the law to the people of this new generation before they entered Canaan. This new generation needed to be taught, or at least reminded, about God’s Law before entering the land.  

Message 

 After receiving the law at Mount Sinai, Israel spent about forty years in the wilderness region between Sinai and Canaan The instruction given in this book is that which was recorded in the last few weeks of Moses' life, while Israel was camped on the plains of Moab and preparing to conquer Canaan., again scribed by Joshua. 

The book of Deuteronomy is, much more than just a repetition of the law; it is also an exposition of what it means. It restates the commandments of the law but with a renewed and different emphasis. The laws recorded in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers gave clear legal requirements; Deuteronomy, although it does not lessen those requirements, it adds into the mix the insight that Israel's religion must have more than just legal correctness. It must also have relational and spiritual warmth. 

The covenant promise is the basis of Deuteronomy, but the relationship between God and his people within that covenant should be one of love. The sovereign love of God towards his people should been seen to produce a response of obedient love towards him. The previous generation swore covenant loyalty to God at Sinai but still failed him badly. Now that the new generation was about to enter Canaan, the covenant was renewed allowing the people to give a fresh pledge of obedience to God. 

 Structure 

 There is a sense in which the literary structure of Deuteronomy is simple. It records what Moses said to the people in the Plain of Moab in a series of messages. Deuteronomy's style is that of the preacher rather than the lawgiver. Its emphasis is that the people should keep God's law because they want to know and love him better, not merely because they are required to do so by the covenant. So, a common way to view of Deuteronomy is to see it as a series of sermons. 

First Sermon: The Historical Appeal for Obedience. (1:1-4:49)

 Wilderness Journey. (1:1-3:29)

Exhortation to Obedience. (4:1-49)

Second Sermon: The Legal Basis for Obedience. (5:1-26:19) 

 The Basic Commandment. (5:1-11:32) 

Specific Legislation. (12:1-26:19) 

Third Sermon: A Prophetical Exhortation for Obedience. (27:1-30:20) 

 Covenant Renewal Commanded. (27:1-26) 

Blessing and Cursing. (28:1-68) 

A Concluding Charge. (29:1-30:20) 

Transitional Details. (31:1-34:12) 

 Joshua and Law. (31:1-30)

Song of Moses. (32:1-52)

Blessing of Moses. (33:1-29)

Death of Moses. (34:1-12)

Purpose 

 The purpose of Deuteronomy is for Moses to address Israel before he died and before they enter the land. He urges the people to obey the Lord saying If they do so, they will be blessed. If they do not, they will be cursed. He also needed to communicate the transitional arrangements involving Joshua before he died. 

Joshua is seen to be appointed as Moses’ successor, both in public ceremony (Deut. 31:7, 8, 34:9) and privately in the tent of meeting (Deut. 31:14-23). The succession of human leadership was neither a power struggle nor a democratic process; it is seen as a matter of divine appointment. 

Furthermore, instructions are given regarding the authentication of the text of the Law. General instructions are also given for the covenant renewal procedure in the more distant future. In Exodus and Leviticus, God speaks to Moses; in Deuteronomy, Moses speaks to the people. 

• In Genesis, a sovereign God elects.  
• In Exodus, a powerful God redeems.  
• In Leviticus, a holy God sanctifies. 
• In Numbers, a faithful God disciplines. 
• In Deuteronomy, a gracious God instructs. 

 Summary: 

 Moses wrote Deuteronomy to remind Israel of what God has done and said and encourages them to obey God. Then he turns over the leadership to Joshua. God is seen to bless the obedient and disciplines the disobedient. Obedience is therefore always seen as a condition for blessing.