Bible

Today in the “Getting Started Bible” we open the Book of Deuteronomy, reading the summaries of Part 1, chapters 1 – 17.

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Deuteronomy – Part 1

Introduction to Deuteronomy:

Writer: It is not known who wrote the first five verses of the book nor the last chapter dealing with the death of Moses. 

The balance of this book is written by Moses, and is often referred to in other scriptures.  It is the last of the five books collectively known as the Pentateuch. The book’s title means a ‘retelling’ of the Law, the Covenant (Agreement) God made with His people at Mt. Sinai some forty years earlier

Scope: Encamped on the plains of Moab, just across the Jordan River east of Jericho, Moses is leading an entirely new generation of Israelites. As God had declared at Kadesh thirty-eight years earlier, only Joshua and Caleb out of that rebellious clan would live long enough to enter the Promised Land of Canaan. Now, sitting atop Mt. Nebo, overlooking his vast congregation and the Promised Land beyond the Jordan, this 120-year-old patriarch sets to writing the final ‘sermon’ he will deliver to God’s people.     

Chapter 1. Culmination

Moses speaks of the culmination of their 40-year adventure:

• God tells Israel their journey is almost over, the time has come for them to move into Canaan;
• Moses reviews some of the events of their trip:
• The appointment of judges, the judicial system;
• The report of the twelve spies at Kadesh, and the rebellion;
• The Lord’s declaring none of the rebels would see Canaan;
• His own disobedience in striking the rock at Meribah;
• Repentance but defeat when they tried to go on their own.

Chapter 2. Wanderings

Moses recounts more of the earlier events:

• They had a free pass through Edom, land of Esau;
• They had a free pass through Moab, the descendants of Lot;
• After this, they began to take land by conquest:
• The Lord gave them victories over every city and town in the region east of Jericho;
• Gilead is settled; many possessions are captured at every battle.

Chapter 3. Events

Moses speaks of some more recent events:

• Their defeat of the giant king, Og, ruler of Bashan;
• The territory east of the Jordan goes to Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh on condition they cross the Jordan and assist with taking Canaan then they can go back;
• The Lord rejects Moses’ plea to cross the Jordan;
• Joshua is commissioned to lead Israel into Canaan.

Chapter 4. Obedience

Moses speaks to his current congregation:

• They are reminded of the Lord’s commands, laws, decrees;
• Obedience is essential for Israel to rule their new lands;
• Obedience will set the example for all other nations;
• These laws are to be observed and taught to their children;
• God is invisible, not present in an idol – avoid idol worhip;
• God’s people are especially chosen for His blessing;
• Moses names one city of refuge in each of the three regions;
• More cities of refuge can be added later.

Chapter 5. Commandments

The Ten Commandments are to be learned and followed: 

• You shall have no other gods before Me;
• You shall not make for yourself any carved image;
• You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain;
• Observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy;
• Honor your father and your mother;
• You shall not murder;
• You shall not commit adultery;
• You shall not steal;
• You shall not bear false witness;
• You shall not covet anything of your neighbor’s;
• The Lord gives Moses the rest of the laws and ordinances.

Chapter 6. Love

The commands of the Lord are all about love:

• “Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and might.” (NKJV)
• Love and obey, teach the children.

Chapter 7. Intolerance

God’s people are not to tolerate those they drive out of Canaan:

• The current inhabitants of Canaan are the enemy;
• Wipe them out, destroy them: the Lord will help you.
• Do not take up with them; do not socialize with them.

Chapter 8. Remember

Israel is to remember their past; keep the Lord’s commands;

• In the ‘land of milk and honey,’ be thankful and never forget the Lord’s blessings;
• If you forget, you will be destroyed.

Chapter 9. Undeserved

Israel is not given Canaan because they are righteous: They are a stubborn, stiff necked people:

• Canaan is a wicked place filled with ungodly people whom God will punish.  Israel is to take over and clean it up; 
• The Lord chose a people, called them Israel, fed, clothed, and protected them for four hundred and seventy years to get them to this place;
• They made the Lord angry many times, over many issues;
• They are never to forget:  The Lord stayed with them.

Chapter 10. Expectations

The Lord expects certain things of Israel:

• Moses recounts how the Lord gave him a new set of tablets after he broke the first set;
• Then the Lord told him to place the tablets in a wooden box, called ‘the Ark of the Covenant,’ to keep them forever;
• The Lord expects His people to: “Fear the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, love him, serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and keep the commandments and his statutes…” (NKJV)
• Moses reminds them: Seventy people went down to Egypt and are now a great multitude under the Lord’s blessing.

Chapter 11. Carefulness

Israel is to be careful to follow all of God’s laws and ordinances:

• They are to be careful not to be enticed by other gods;
• They are to be careful to obey the Lord’s commands, love the Lord, walk in his ways, to be successful in Canaan;
• A blessing and a curse:  Blessed for obeying the Lord’s commands; cursed for failure to obey.

Chapter 12. Dwelling

In Canaan, the Lord will select the place for His dwelling:

• Worship at the place the Lord chooses for you to place the Tabernacle;
• Do not worship in any way as they do in Canaan.

Chapter 13. Worship

Worship only as you have been directed by the Lord your God:

• False worship is to be punished by death;
• Any towns that practice false worship are to be totally destroyed and burned, the people put to death;
• You may be tested to deviate, even by your own kin.

Chapter 14. Rules

Israel has been chosen by God as his special people.

• Do not indulge in detestable habits;
• Do not eat anything unclean; instructions are given;
• Set aside the tenth from every harvest, and the firstborn among the flocks to eat at the Lord’s altar;
• Provide a tithe for the Levites as instructed.

Chapter 15. Release

Every seven years is a year of release:

• All debts are to be released;
• All contracts with servants are to be released.

Chapter 16. Celebrations

Celebrate Passover and three separate feasts every year:

• Passover in the month of the Exodus from Egypt;
• Feast of Unleavened bread;
• Feast of Weeks at harvest time;
• Feast of Tabernacles;
• Bring a free-will offering to each feast to share with the less fortunate among you.

Chapter 17. Justice

Justice is to be done in every situation:

• Anyone caught worshipping false gods is to be stoned to death at the city gate;  must have three witnesses;
• Rulings of a judge must be followed;
• Elected Israelite leaders must be honest.

END OF DEUTERONOMY – PART 1