Deuteronomy

Book of Deuteronomy

First Impressions

- What do you see in this book that tells you about the Original Reader?

Deuteronomy 1:1-3 states, “These are the words that Moses spoke to all the people of Israel while they were in the wilderness east of the Jordan River . . . Moses addressed the people of Israel, telling them everything the LORD commanded him to say.” It is clear from these verses as well as numerous others throughout the book of Deuteronomy that the Israelites were the original readers (or hearers) of this book. 

- What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

According to the introduction to the book of Deuteronomy in the Sourceview Bible, Moses wrote the book of Deuteronomy around 1406 BC.  Nearly the entire book of Deuteronomy is a written record of what Moses had said to the Israelites (see Deuteronomy 1:5-2:9; Deuteronomy 2:13-19; Deuteronomy 2:24-4:40, etc).  It is very clear that Moses is the author of the book of Deuteronomy.

 - What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the "main idea"?

God desires relationship with His people.  God has made a covenant with His people and God is faithful to keep His covenant with them.  God loves His people and He greatly desires to bless His people.  Accordingly, God through Moses carefully instructs the Israelites on what they are to do and what they are not to do.  God will greatly bless them for their obedience to Him (see Deuteronomy 4:39-40; Deuteronomy 5:28-29; Deuteronomy 5:32-33, etc); however, God warns them that He will curse (punish) them for their disobedience to Him as well.  Deuteronomy 11:26-28 states, “Look, today I [Moses] am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today. But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the LORD your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before.”  God through Moses tells His people that He will greatly bless them if they fully obey Him and His ways (see Deuteronomy 28:1-14); however, God also warns them that He will curse (punish) them if they disobey Him and His ways (see Deuteronomy 28:15-68).  God has given each of us a choice. We can either choose to obey God and receive His blessings or we can choose to disobey God and receive His curses.

- What is the primary reason this book was written?

The primary reason that the book of Deuteronomy was written was to remind the Israelites that God had made a covenant with them and to encourage them to keep their side of the covenant by being obedient to God and His commands so that God may greatly bless them.

Theme Tracing

- What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

The book of Deuteronomy reveals a lot about the character and nature of God.  This book reveals that God is personal and desires a loving relationship with the people of Israel.  It also reveals that God is merciful.  Deuteronomy 13:18 states, “The LORD your God will be merciful only if you listen to his voice and keep all his commands that I [Moses] am giving you today, doing what pleases him.”  God makes covenants with His people and He is faithful to keep His covenants with them. God will bless their obedience to Him; however, God will curse (punish) their disobedience to Him as well.  God will not tolerate people His people worshiping idols (see Deuteronomy 4:15-20).  God desires His people to be wholeheartedly devoted to Him.  In Deuteronomy 6:4-6, Moses said, “’Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.  And you must commit yourself wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.”  God loves His people and He greatly desires to bless His people.

- What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

The book of Deuteronomy demonstrates that God makes covenants with His people and God is faithful to keep His covenants with His people.  God through Moses gave His people, the Israelites, detailed instructions on what they are to do and what they are not to do when they enter into the Promised Land.  For example, God through Moses gave the Israelites detailed instructions regarding their offerings to the LORD.  These sacrificial offerings to the LORD made them right and acceptable before the LORD.  These sacrificial offerings were just a foreshadowing of what was to come.  In the future, Jesus would offer up himself as the sacrificial offering for our sins.  Jesus’ death on the Cross provided a way for us to be made right and acceptable with God.

Application questions

- Personal Application

Throughout the book of Deuteronomy, God through Moses emphasized God’s love for us and God’s desire to bless us.  He reminded us that we all have a choice to make.  We can either choose to obey God and be blessed by God or we can choose to disobey God and be cursed by God.  As a personal application, I am choosing to immerse myself into God and His Word.  I am choosing to obey God and His commands.  I am choosing to love the LORD our God with all of my heart, soul, and strength and I am choosing to do so wholeheartedly (see Deuteronomy 6:4-6).

- Point of Passion

It is my passionate desire to know God and to make Him known – especially among teenagers and young adults.  In the book of Deuteronomy, God through Moses made it very clear to the Israelites that God loves them and He greatly desires to bless them for their obedience to them.  I strongly desire to experience more and more of God’s love and receive more and more of His blessings.  I would like to teach others how they too may experience more and more of God’s love and receive more and more of His blessings.  May we all know God and make Him know to others. May we all represent God well with our words and with our actions. May He receive all the honor and the glory!