Except for the account of his burial (34:1-12), Deuteronomy was written by Moses (1:5; 31:9) and contains his final pleadings with Israel before they entered the promised land. The book contains an interesting internal argument for its divine inspiration. It has been preserved in spite of its frank assessment of human nature and its negative appraisal of Israel. With such content, no one else would ensure the books existence other than the Lord Himself.
N.T. quotes Deuteronomy
Written some 40 years after the Exodus, this book is quoted extensively in the New Testament. Peter and Paul often quote it (e.g. Acts 3:22 from 18:15,19; Rom. 10:19 from 32:21 and I Cor. 9:9 from 25:4) and Jesus cited it in countering his wilderness temptations (citing from 8:3; 6:16; 6:13).
The most celebrated quotation from this book is what Jesus called the first and great commandment (Matt. 22:36-38). “Hear, 0 Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deut. 6:4,5). While the second great commandment, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself’ is quoted from Leviticus (19:18), the spirit of it can be seen in several places in Deuteronomy.
It is a useful exercise to note these when doing the readings.
A brief outline
1:1-5 Introduction.
1:5-3:29 Historical review.
4:1-11:32 Review of the law.
12:1-26:19 Warnings, instructions.
27:1-30:20 Blessings, curses on Israel.
31:1-33:29 Final blessings, prophecy.
34:1-12 Moses’ death and burial.
Old laws and new
The English title Deuteronomy means “repetition of the law.” True to the title, there is much repetition of the law in the early part of the book. Additional laws are also presented, to meet the needs of a people settled into an agrarian society.
The era of the kings, still centuries in the future, is anticipated with specific instructions directed to the king. He was to write out his own personal Bible and make daily scripture reading part of his routine all his life (Deut. 17:18-19). As those who hope to be kings of the future age, we should take heed of these words.
Remember the past
In his exhortations to Israel, Moses stresses the importance of remembering their former status as slaves in Egypt. They would still be there had not God miraculously rescued them (5:15; 7:18).
Moses also reminded them that they had provoked the Lord to wrath in the wilderness by their complaints and rebellion against Him. Since the danger of rebellion is always present, they are told to teach their children and grandchildren of their history and of God’s commands (4:9). From generation to generation the admonition was to be repeated, “Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do” (29:9).
Like the children of Israel, we must prize our escape from bondage to sin, always keeping God’s commands in mind. Jesus provides a similar warning: “Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Mt. 7:21).
Preserve the future
Deuteronomy presents a variety of instructions that show a perceptive understanding of human behavior and of conserving earth’s resources.
One unusual instruction of this kind is found regarding a bird’s nest. “If a bird’s nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: but thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days” (22:6,7). God’s concern was not just for the mother bird. Leaving the mother to propagate would safeguard a renewable food resource for Israel.
If Israel followed God’s commands, they would be a healthy and prosperous people because they would be working in harmony with the principles of creation. Even today, many of the world’s problems come from a greedy or thoughtless disregard of the elemental principles of creation.
Other nations
Early in chapter two, we are reminded that God’s concern was not limited to Israel. God had previously apportioned land to Esau and Lot. Although the Israelites were to expropriate the promised land from the Canaanites, they were not to seize land from the descendants of Esau or the Moabites and Ammonites, who came from Lot (2:5,9,19).
Bible critics criticize God’s instructions to utterly destroy all the Canaanites (20:16,17). Those making such complaints fail to understand the utter depravity of this people. The evil and degenerate practices of the Canaanites were very contagious and nothing short of annihilation would protect the children of Israel from following the same course. Half measures would not do.
The rules of warfare were more merciful for distant nations. When such engagements occurred, Israel was to first proclaim peace to the city. Refusal of Israel’s offer justified an attack. Even then, only the male inhabitants were to be slain, while the women and children were to be saved alive, giving them opportunity to discover and worship the God of Israel (20:10-15).
Israel’s future
Toward the end of the book, prophetic material is included that describes both the scattering and regathering of Israel. These chapters are sober reading for us. The details of fulfillment convince us of the book’s divine authorship and we marvel at the opportunity Israel let slip through its hands.
Individually, we face much the same choices as they. Let us then, choose the good and not the evil. Let us love and obey the Lord and live.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One