Memory Verse(s)
Deu 6:4-5 (4) “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! (5) You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Opening Prayer
This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Fellowship
Where did God meet you this week?
Overview|Background
The title of Deuteronomy in Hebrew is Debarim, “words,” from its opening phrase. The English title comes from the Septuagint of 17:18, deuteronomion, “copy of the law”; this title is appropriate because the book replicates much of the legal content of the previous books, serving as a “second law.” It brings to a close the five books of the Torah or Pentateuch with a retrospective account of Israel’s past—the exodus, the Sinai covenant, and the wilderness wanderings—and a look into Israel’s future as they stand poised to enter the land of Canaan and begin their life as a people there.
Key Passage(s)
Choosing Life over Death Deu 30:11-20
(11) “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off.
(12) It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’
(13) Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’
(14) But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
(15) “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil,
(16) in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.
(17) But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them,
(18) I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess.
(19) I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
(20) that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”
Passing the torch to Joshua Deu 31:1-8
(1) Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.
(2) And he said to them: “I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not cross over this Jordan.’
(3) The LORD your God Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as the LORD has said.
(4) And the LORD will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them.
(5) The LORD will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you.
(6) Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
(7) Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it.
(8) And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
Key Facts
Authorship & Time Period
The majority of the book was probably written by Moses during the same time period as the rest of the Torah, though recent scholarship suggests it may have been compiled in the years following Moses’ death by several authors.
Type of literature
Narrative and legal (reiteration of the Law)
Themes & Characters
Yahweh, Moses, Joshua, the people of Israel
The Story
The book presents three discourses by Moses, as follows:
The book presents three discourses by Moses, as follows:
- First Address – The Land and God’s Past Relationship with Israel (Deu 1:1-4:43)
- Moses recounts the story from the exodus from Egypt, receiving of the law, and rebellion keeping them from entering the Promised Land
- Second Address (Deu 4:44-28:69)
- The Lord’s Covenant with Israel – Basic Rules for Possessing the Land (Deu 4:44–11:32)
- The Deuteronomic Code – Specific Rules for Possessing the Land (Deu 12:1–28:69)
- Third Address (Deu 29:1–33:29)
- Covenant Benefits and Consequences
- Accepting the Covenant
- The Death of Moses (Deu 34:1–12)
Where Do We See Christ?
Jesus quoted Deuteronomy more than any other book.
Jesus saw the gospel in the book of Deuteronomy. This is revealed not only in that he quoted extensively from Deuteronomy and used it in his own life, but also in that he reflected theologically on Deuteronomy. When asked, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” (Mark 12:28), Jesus answered by including a quote from Deuteronomy 6:4–5: “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength’” (Mark 12:30). Jesus taught that we love God because of who he is, “the Lord our God.” We love him by keeping his commandments because he is our God; he is not our God because we love him by keeping his commandments. That is grace. It is gospel. And because we have received this grace, we keep the second greatest commandment, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). We love because he loved (1 John 4:19). We extend grace because he extended grace.
Point of Application
How can we apply this to our lives today?
Just as Moses reminded the generation the stories of God’s work in bringing the Israelites out of Egypt, we, too, can tell our story of how Jesus brought us out of slavery to sin. And like the exhortation of Moses, we can choose life every day over the death that the World lays at our doorstep.
Discussion Questions
- Jesus used scripture to counter Satan’s temptations in the wilderness Luke 4:1–13. What scriptures do you turn to frequently when you are in a trial?
Closing Prayer
Father, we are inheritors of a great salvation from Christ’s finished work on the Cross. Help us to remember it daily and to tell the story of redemption to all who would have ears to hear.
Current Prayer Requests:
Doc – renewed vigor to join us on Saturdays
Richard Brooks – faith and courage during the next stage of his journey in Christ
Andrew McKinney – employment provision
Bob & Gaynelle – mother’s hospitalization (from Mike Arras)
Julia (Arras) – health
☕Kindred Faith 
Leave a comment