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PGA Chaplain Bible Studies

An Overview of the bible – Study 7 Deuteronomy.

The book of Deuteronomy concludes the time of Israel’s experience in the desert. Most of the book contains the farewell speech of Moses to the succeeding generation of Israelites who are to enter the Promised Land. The second giving of the law is where the name of the book comes from; Deuter meaning second and nomos the word for law. The book is a covenant renewal of the relationship God has established with Abraham’s descendants that is expressed in a similar ways to other Ancient Near Eastern covenant treaties.

Outline of book

1. Moses first Speech Chapters 1 to 4 revisits Israel’s earlier history and their failure to trust God in taking the land and their subsequent wanderings for 40 years until the present generation dies out. This section concludes with Israel again on the borders of the Promised Land and a reference to Moses not being permitted to enter the Land and Joshua being appointed his successor. Chapter 4 talks about the importance of obedience especially in relation to the prohibition of idols.
   
   
2. Chapter 5 to 11 is Moses’ second speech. In chapter 5 the second giving of the 10 commandments is spoken to a new generation. Their new life with God is explored in the Land God will give them, how they are to love God (Ch 6), drive out the nations in the land (Ch 7) to remember and not forget the Lord (Ch 8:2, 11) divine election (Ch 7:7-7, 9:4-6). In Chapter 10: 6-9 we note the death of Aaron and the setting apart of the tribe of Levi for worship. This section finishes with the familiar blessing and curse alternatives for the nation in respect to keep God’s covenant.
   
   
3. Chapters 12 to 28 Third Speech. These chapters go into greater detail the working out of the 10 commandments and how they are practised in their national life. Chapter 12:4-14 begins with the central place of worship in the Promised Land that will be the nation’s home. Worship is the first major theme explored in detail followed by regulations relating to community and human relationships. In chapters 17 and 18 we have a reference to the 3 divine appointments that will be part of the nation’s life. a. Kings (Ch 17:14-20), b. Priests and Levites (Ch 18:1-8) and c. Prophet (Ch 18:14-22). Chapter 28 concludes this section with the blessings related to obedience and the curses related to disobedience.
   
   
   
4. The last section of the book Chapters 29 to 34 concludes with a renewal of the covenant and the choice of life or death, blessing or curse (Ch 30:11-20). Moses successor Joshua is chosen before Moses final speech to the 12 tribes is given. Moses death is then recorded.
   

In our survey of the bible we note how God is fulfilling his promises that he gave to Abraham in entry to and possession of the Land. (See Ch 1:6-8, 4:31, 6:10-11, 7:6-14, 9:4-6, 29:12-14, 34:4).

In the Promised Land we see a return to the model of the Garden of Eden where God’s people enter a divine place to live under divine favour, with ideal surroundings conditioned by obedience. (See Ch 8:6-14 and 11:8-15 for this comparison).  The boundaries of this Land are established (See Ch 1:6-8, similar to Genesis Ch 15:18-21), likening it to a sanctuary. Likewise disobedience will mean expulsion from the blessing and land.

In Deuteronomy there is the principal established that the first fruits of the nations prosperity belong to God and not them. They are called tithes (See Ch 12:6, 14:22-27 and 26:12-25) and are to be given to the Levites for worship. This is in addition to other sacrifices and festivals outlined in Ch 16.

Rest and peace is a prominent theme of life in the Promised Land meaning life without threat from the surrounding nations. (See Ch 3:20, 12:9 and 25:19).
Possession of the Land means Holy War, in that the land belongs to God and it is God who will win the battle for Israel. In Ch 20:16-20 the nation is commanded to destroy everything that breathes in taking the Land so that the nation will not be led astray to follow their gods. See also Ch 7:1-6.

We can see that the book of Deuteronomy in describing the future of Israel in the Promised Land, is seeking to take us back to the ideal conditions of Genesis Ch’s 1 and 2, and the Garden of Eden in an expanded way. But we have also noted the failure of Israel in the past to be faithful to God’s laws in a similar way to Genesis Ch 3 to 11. Deuteronomy also foretells a future of disobedience and restoration.

The books of the Law have established the basis of life for the nation that God has called and established in the Promised Land. In our next study we move to the second major section of the Old Testament the Prophetic books that begin with the possession of the Land under Joshua. 

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