DEUTERONOMY PART 2 CH 27-34
THE BIG PICTURE Deuteronomy is the conclusion of the Torah. The words it contains are mostly a speech from Moses to the people of Israel as a new generation prepares to renew the covenant and enter the Promised Land. The book is broken into 3 large sections: Historical: Moses begins by recounting the history of the previous generation, focusing on their rebellion and resistance over the past 40 years. From there, Moses challenges this generation to be different from their parents by serving Yahweh with wholehearted obedience. Introspective: The central section of the book is a large block of laws from which it gets its name: Deuteronomy, or Second Law. It expands on the 10 Commandments and contains laws about Israel s worship, their leadership structure, and social justice. Prophetic: Moses lays out the options for this generation of Israelites: they can choose blessing or cursing through obedience or disobedience. Moses, however, knows that their hard hearts will bring failure and exile from the land, and he speaks of a future time when God will transform their hearts so that they can truly love and follow God s law. The book concludes with Moses handing over leadership to his protégé, Joshua, and getting a distant glimpse of the promised land before he dies. DEUTERONOMY 32:36-43. SEE JEREMIAH 37 AND EZEKIEL 36
1 The framework of Yahweh s relationship with Israel is a covenant through which he will bless the nations. COVENANT A covenant is an agreement between persons which establishes the nature of their relationship. It features mutual obligations and benefits and is typically accompanied by a sign that serves both to initiate the covenant and to remind the people of the ultimate benefits of the arrangement. The central feature of a covenant is a mutual commitment to responsibility and action, and a key word in describing that commitment is faithfulness. Covenant is one of the major themes in the bible. MAJOR BIBLICAL COVENANTS BETWEEN GOD AND HUMANS ADAM GENESIS 1:28-30 GENESIS 2:15-24 NOAH GENESIS 9:1-17 ABRAHAM GENESIS 15:1-21 GENESIS 17:1-27 DAVID 2 SAMUEL 7:8-16 NEW COVENANT JEREMIAH 31:31-34 NOW IF YOU OBEY ME FULLY AND KEEP MY COVENANT, THEN OUT OF ALL NATIONS YOU WILL BE MY TREASURED POSSESSION. ALTHOUGH THE WHOLE EARTH IS MINE, YOU WILL BE FOR ME A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS AND A HOLY NATION. E X O D U S 1 9 : 5-6 YAHWEH COVENANT FAITHFULNESS & STEADFAST LOYALTY TERMS: THE LAW SIGN: THE SABBATH ISRAEL OBEDIENCE & DEVOTION MOSES/SINAI EXODUS 19-20 THE POINT: Israel s consistent rebellion and lack of devotion mean that the divine promises will only be fulfilled through Yahweh s faithfulness, not theirs.
2 Israel s responsibility to love and obey Yahweh exclusively is a natural response to his love for them demonstrated in his promises, protection and provision. DEUTERONOMY 26:16-19 DEUTERONOMY 27:9-10 DEUTERONOMY 28:1-14 KING SERVE GOD ISRAEL JUDGE OBEY WARRIOR LOVE
3 Obedience and devotion to Yahweh are the path to life and peace. Disobedience and rebellion are the path to death and suffering. DEUTERONOMY 27:9-13 A VISUAL REMINDER Mount Gerizim (BLESSING) Mount Ebal (CURSING) BLESSINGS DEUTERONOMY 28:1-14 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. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: Fertile wombs Fertile fields Fertile livestock Abundant food Wealth Protection Success Prosperity Security Good Reputation National Prominance CURSES DEUTERONOMY 28:15-68 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: Infertile wombs Infertile fields Infertile livestock Scarcity & Famine Poverty Disease Vulnerability Weakness Frustration & Toil Bad Reputation Exile & Enslavement National Insignificance Destruction & Ruin
4 God provides for his people by raising up a leader who will succeed Moses and by promising a prophet who will be greater than Moses. PROBLEM: SOLUTION: Moses will not enter the Promised Land DEUTERONOMY 31:1-2 Joshua will lead them into the Promised Land DEUTERONOMY Moses parting words to the people as he transfers leadership to Joshua reveals that the basis for Israel s hope in entering the Promised Land is not their human leader it s the presence of Yahweh himself: 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 31:8 Deuteronomy (and the Torah as a whole) closes with unresolved tension despite the successful transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua and the anticipation of the nation standing at the entrance to the Promised Land. Moses death leaves a void, and the author uses this opportunity to draw our attention to a key prophecy in Deuteronomy that awaits fulfilment: PROBLEM: Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses... DEUTERONOMY 34:10 SOLUTION: I will raise up a prophet like you from among their brothers DEUTERONOMY 18:18 SEE HEBREWS 3:1-6
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 Have you ever given someone some parting words of advice? (for instance, dropping off a kid at college) What did you say? Why? Has anyone ever given you some parting words of advice? What did they say? Why do you think they said it? 2 Summarize in your own words Moses parting advice to the nation of Israel. Young people often think their parents are out of touch and 3 unable to give them helpful advice. We often feel the same way about God. But the truth is that God knows what is best for us, and his instructions are for our good. How is the Torah meant for our good? 4 5 Moses wanted to make sure this young generation was living in obedience so that God could bless them. Are you living in obedience so God can bless you? Summarizing all five books of the Torah, the Jews could come to the following conclusion: We are the chosen, rescued, set apart people of God directed and affirmed by God himself. How well does this phrase describe you? Now that you know the Torah God s instructions for living how will you respond? (Be as specific as possible). Check out Dr. Snyder s video to Connect Groups at www.bbctransform.org/connect/discussion/ Click on the link Dr. Snyder Clips