Deuteronomy an overview
Questions for this Book:
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Is the law obey-able?
What is the basis for obeying it?
What were God's intentions in giving the law?
questions
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Is the law obey-able? ●Deut 30:11-20
questions
What is the basis for obeying it? â—?
Deut 6:5-8
Deuteronomy
YHWH, His people, and a law of love
Deuteronomy Sometimes called “second law” or “repetition of the law.” ●
Given in Moab, east of the Jordan, across from Jericho. ● Exhortations of Moses, “last words” to the second generation. ● A shifting point in history ●
Significance Moses’ unique perspective of God’s interaction with His people in the events of Ex-Lev-Num. ●
Bridges 2 generations/eras: Exodus (1st) and Conquest (2nd). ● Clarifies the truth about the law. ● Restates & applies the law to life in Canaan. “Expounds…” 1:5. ●
EXPOUND', v.t. [L. expono; ex and pono, to set.]
1. To explain; to lay open the meaning; to clear of obscurity; to interpret; as, to expound a text of scripture; to expound a law.
Reflection & Preparation Looks back--●
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Moses recounts events and their significance leading up to this historical moment. It is shared history – dynamic interaction of YHWH and the people of YHWH What it means to relate with God
Looks forward--Based upon this history, how should they now respond to Him? ●
Moses' History Lesson
Deut 4:32-40 Why these events? (vs 32-34) Ex. 19:17-20ish
Moses' History Lesson Ex. 19:17-20ish
Moses' History Lesson Exodus Chapter All of It
Moses' History Lesson Deut 4:32-40
* Two most significant encounters and interactions in the shared life of Israel and God * Many references in the OT to both
Moses' History Lesson “I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt” - idea repeated lots
Deut 5:6
Moses' History Lesson
God's love for His people is most clearly revealed
Moses' History Lesson
God's love for His people is most clearly revealed
WHY this history lesson?
So that the 2nd Generation does NOT repeat the failure of the 1st
â—?
That they would understand and respond to God's intent and desire. â—?
What to learn from God's relationship with Israel 1. How intensely personal is God toward His people 4:37, 4:7, 1:29-33, 32:9-12
What to learn from God's relationship with Israel From the beginning, God was never impersonal or distant.
a brief word study Used 872 times. We can't do all of it.
seriously.
a brief word study Gen 4:1 And the man knew his wife Eve. And she conceived and bore Cain, and said, I have gotten a man with the help of Jehovah. seriously.
a brief word study
Exo 1:8 And a new king arose over Egypt, who had not known Joseph. seriously.
Exo 5:2 And PharaohH6547 said,H559 WhoH4310 is the LORD,H3068 thatH834 I should obeyH8085 his voiceH6963 to let(H853) IsraelH3478 go?H7971 I knowH3045 notH3808 (H853) the LORD,H3068 neitherH1571 H3808 will I let(H853) IsraelH3478 go.H7971
Exo 23:9 Also thou shalt notH3808 oppressH3905 a stranger:H1616 for yeH859 knowH3045 (H853) the heartH5315 of a stranger,H1616 seeingH3588 ye wereH1961 strangersH1616 in the landH776 of Egypt.H4714
Exo 32:22 And AaronH175 said,H559 Let notH408 the angerH639 of my lordH113 wax hot:H2734 thouH859 knowestH3045 (H853) the people,H5971 thatH3588 theyH1931 are set on mischief.H7451
a brief word study Exo 33:12 And MosesH4872 saidH559 untoH413 the LORD,H3068 See,H7200 thouH859 sayestH559 untoH413 me, Bring upH5927 (H853) thisH2088 people:H5971 and thouH859 hast notH3808 let me knowH3045 (H853) whomH834 thou wilt sendH7971 withH5973 me. Yet thouH859 hast said,H559 I knowH3045 thee by name,H8034 and thou hast alsoH1571 foundH4672 graceH2580 in my sight.H5869
a brief word study
Exo 2:25 And God saw the sons of Israel, and God knew them.
a brief word study Exo 3:7 Then the LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings,
yada “to be attached to, intimately acquainted with...the act of sharing an inner experience.� - Abraham Joshua Heschel
Polish born American Rabbi
What to learn from God's relationship with Israel YHWH: “I am truly present with you.� A personal name, used only by Israel, given by God Himself. Ex 3
God’s desire is to be WITH them.
Exodus 29 42 "It
shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the doorway of the tent of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there. 43 "I will meet there with the sons of Israel, and it shall be consecrated by My glory. 44 "I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar; I will also consecrate Aaron and his sons to minister as priests to Me.45 "I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God.46 "They shall know that I am the LORD their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God.
God’s desire is to be WITH them.
Leviticus 26 11
'Moreover, I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. 12 'I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. 13 'I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would not be their slaves, and I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.
God’s desire is to be WITH them.
Numbers 35 34
'You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the LORD am dwelling in the midst of the sons of Israel.'
What to learn from God's relationship with Israel The Tabernacle: *Ex 25:8 Early priority on God's agenda *Ex 40:34-35 Moves in immediately!
What to learn from God's relationship with Israel The Tabernacle: Occasional → Continuously present
Distant (Mountain) → Close (Camp) Now WITH them on the journey
What to learn from God's relationship with Israel The Tabernacle: * John 1:14 “tabernacled among us”
What to learn from God's relationship with Israel 2. What kind of God He truly is Deut 4:35, 39 His greatness, power and great ability: gods of Egypt, Red Sea, Pharaoh's army, The display at Sinai
What to learn from God's relationship with Israel 2. What kind of God He truly is
Deut 1:29-33, Ex 19:4, Deut 32:10-12 His great compassion, love, care & concern seen in deliverance from Egypt, wilderness provision, etc.
What to learn from God's relationship with Israel 3. His primary purpose & intention:
“Because He loved your fathers, He chose you...to be a people for His own possession (special treasure).� 4:37, 20
What to learn from God's relationship with Israel God's personal presence & the revelation of His nature & character = the foundations for this special relationship.
Exodus 19:1-8 an invitation to covenant God was seeking: 1. a mutual, reciprocal relationship. - a people of His own whom He can love and be loved by in return – a willing, free, voluntary response
Exodus 19:1-8 an invitation to covenant
God was seeking: 2. A people who will fully, completely trust and follow after Him
Exodus 19:1-8 an invitation to covenant
God was seeking: 3. A people to cooperate in the fulfillment of His historical purposes.
Exodus 19:1-8 an invitation to covenant
Trust & affection → Obedience → God's historical purposes in and through us
Exodus 19:1-8 an invitation to covenant
A people in love with God become a “special treasure� who put God on display. Ex 19:5-6, Num 14:20-23
What was God intending? Revelation of His purposes & ways
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His dealing, discipline & testing ●Ex 15:22-26, Deut 4:36 ●The law as the revelation of truth ●Deut 4:5-8 ●
Israel's response of wholehearted obedience
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How does God bring about His purposes in history?
God His will accomplished People of God
Summary of Ex. 19:1-8 1. A call to HIM, not to a law 2. A call to GRACE, not to a law 3. A call to a RESPONSE greater than the law – open ended obedience to YHWH 4. A call to RESPONSIBILITY and a DESTINY greater than simply keeping a law * God's people in God's purposes for the world – to put Him on display
The Failure of the 1st Generation Israel's true heart exposed. Deut 1:26-28 Hebrews 3:7 – 4:2 tells the WHY??? Failed in their response to God because they didn't truly know Him, know His heart, understand His ways nor trust Him fully. ●
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Never attached (yada) themselves to Him.
The Opportunity of a 2nd Generation 40 years & the testing & discipline of a wilderness needed to prepare the next generation for the opportunity given to the first: ●
“Come into love relationship, join your lives with Me & fulfill My purposes for you.”
Deut 8:1-6, 15-16
The Invitation
This wallpaper is really lame.
1. God set His love on them, called them, invited them (10:15) - “chose” or “chosen” used 30x in Deut
The Invitation
2. Brought to this place completely by God (11:2-7)
The Invitation 3. Language of invitation is personal (7:6-11)
* To be His “special treasure� Idea is special personal attachment, something of great value. Deut 14:2, 26:18
The Invitation 3. Language of invitation is personal (7:6-11)
* God's lovingkindness is set on them, (Heb. Hesed = devotion = steadfast love) Ps. 136
The Invitation 4. God's desire is simply for them to respond to His love for them. * Deut 11:1, 13, 22
The Invitation 4. God's desire is simply for them to respond to His love for them. * “cling to Him” 13:4 * “hold fast to Him” 11:22 * listen to His voice, follow Him, serve Him, revere Him
The Invitation 5. Call to commitment was not casual, but to total attachment to God in love. Deut 6:5
It is total devotion to Him as a response to His total devotion to them.
This relationship was to be a covenant Deuteronomy 29:1-3 These are the words of the covenant that the LORD commanded Moses to make with the people of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant that he had made with them at Horeb. (2) And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: "You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, (3) the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders.
This relationship was to be a covenant NOT a legal contract ●Rather, “Yes!” to God's invitation: ●“Will you love Me and walk with Me? Will you join your lives with Mine?” ●
Later understanding in the OT makes it clear that from God's perspective this was an invitation to marriage. Jer 31:31 "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD.
Marriage
* To God the broken covenant was not the breach of a legal contract but the ADULTERY of a wayward lover.
Jer 2:1-2, (devotion = hesed) 3:6-10 Hosea 2:13-23
Marriage * Not the mechanical performance of ritual, rather the longing for intimacy ...
“For I desire love and not sacrifice. Attachment to God (yada), rather than burnt offerings.� Hosea 6:6
Marriage Vows * The covenant did not create the relationship, it was the sign of it. On the plains of Moab, God on bended knee, asks Israel, “Will you love me & be my people? Will you join, attach yourself (yada) completely to Me?�
Love, Obedience and the Law
Therefore, context of obedience to the law in Deuteronomy is a LOVE R ELATIONSHIP
Love, Obedience and the Law
Love → affirmed in the vows of covenant → expressed in obedience
Love, Obedience and the Law The obedience that God called for (the keeping of the law & covenant requirements) was to be an expression of the love between God and Israel
Obedience
A natural outworking of relationship
Obedience NEVER to be the basis for relationship; rather the result of it Woman with 2 husbands
Obedience NEVER to be the basis for relationship; rather the result of it
Yet, Obedience or Disobedience does reveal the true heart.
Deut 30:11-20 ●
Summary Implication: Obedience is an act of faith – a response to the person of God.
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YHWH (not the law) was to be the object of focus.
Deut 30:11-20
Summary Statement – Understanding (historical revelation in events + truth in the law) + heart devotion ●
(love for God – covenant love)
→ Obedience.
What is the law?
Torah & Sometimes used for the whole OT, most often the law of Moses (Mosaic Law)
Torah – the essentials Condensed into 10 commandments ●
Spoken & written by God at Sinai. Deut 5:4, 22
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Repeated to the 2nd Gen. by Moses in Deut
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10 form the backbone of the Law
Torah – the essentials
*
Torah – the foundation
*LOVE*
Torah – the foundation
* Lk 10:25-28 seems to be a well known fact * Mt 22:34-40 “the whole law and the prophets” Deut 6:5, Lev 19:18
Torah – the foundation
Paul Rom 13:8-10 ●Gal 5:14 ●
Torah
How can the whole law be summarized by love?
Love is the foundation
“law of love” = the “moral law” Describes how we should live created in God's image and in relationships
Love is the foundation
The 10 Commandments – expressing the law of love
Deal with two sets of relationships: 1. God-man 2. Man-man
Love is the foundation
These two sets are the framework for the rest of the Mosaic law.
Make-up of the Law of Moses
•The Mosaic law is the “…letter expression of the spirit of the law of love.” Winkie Pratney •(1) Civil law. Protect the value of people &
property, judicial organization
Make-up of the Law of Moses
(1) Civil law. •People (family, marriage, slaves, strangers, poor/widows/helpless, inheritance, etc.) ●Property (land, economics, other forms of property) Deut. 19:14. ●
Judicial organization. Deut. 16:18-20.
Make-up of the Law of Moses
•(2) Religious & ceremonial law.“How to” of
relationship with God, community festivals and religious practices
Make-up of the Law of Moses
•(2) Religious & ceremonial law. –“Holiness” of the community, of the priests, places and things (tabernacle & its stuff). –Festivals and “times.” Sabbaths, Sabbatic years and jubilee, Annual festivals, Ex. 23:14-17.
Make-up of the Law of Moses
•(3) Criminal law. Offenses against God and
others, with penalties.
–Probably easiest to see the connection with the Decalogue. –Against God, Ex. 22:20 (1st c). Against others, Ex. 21:12-14 (6th c).
Make-up of the Law of Moses
•(4) Sacrificial law. What is sin and what to
do about it.
–Sacrificial system, Lev. 1-7. –Day of Atonement, Lev. 16:29-34.
Thoughts on the Nature and Purpose of the Law in Deuteronomy
(1) Deut. 5:22-29. God’s intention in giving it, “that it may be well with you forever.” 7:1214a. Law was a positive, not a negative.
(2) Deut. 4:6-8. A revelation of truth expressed in a practical, concrete way. Never disassociated from God. (4:7) 200X in Deut – “YHWH your God.” God is present with His people, enabling & encouraging them to obey.
(3) Deut. 6:4-9, 24-25. Given to enable Israel to live in right relationship w/God & others.
Q. How would they learn “how to” express love for God & neighbor? Principles of love Practical commands & direction for relating given in the law. ●Heart intent of love expressed in obedience would train the conscience. ●
•“…the law was never intended to be a mechanical list of wooden rules. It promulgates a worldview encompassing what is entailed in an appropriate approach to God and what is entailed in an appropriate treatment of and relationship to one's neighbor.” Hill/Walton, Survey of the OT, 149.
(4) Deut. 7:6-11. To create a holy people, individually and corporately. Not simply an external attempt to regulate society – contrary to other ANE law codes.
(4) Deut. 7:6-11. To create a holy people, individually and corporately.
1. Law was a tool of discipleship, to create a “holy nation” in fact.
Goal: develop indiv & corp character resulting from a heart of love + obedience. ●Goal: to internalize the law and then express it to the whole of life. ●
(4) Deut. 7:6-11. To create a holy people, individually and corporately.
2. Law was comprehensive to the whole of life and to future generations. Intent to create a world-view. “Israel is unique in the ANE in their interpretation of the whole of their existence in terms of a covenant with a single deity.� (Harrison, 582)
(4) Deut. 7:6-11. To create a holy people, individually and corporately.
3. Israel to be a “truth deposit� to the nations see God for Who He really
(5) Deut. 5:32. The law was to be obeyed, absolutely.
No thought that it was not obey-able or that it was a burden. Duet. 30:11-14. ●Obedience = fulfillment of God’s purposes in and through them. ●Obedience the privilege of a privileged people. 26:16-19. ●
1st generation failed in relationship and consequently in obedience: –1. Would have been absorbed by the Canaanites. –2. Would never have accurately represented YHWH’s character.
•(6) Deut. 7:1-6. To understand the purpose of any specific law, must understand how it expresses the law of love to Israel and how it relates to the context of the ANE.
Two important considerations: What specifically is God doing w/His people? How is that related to the situation of the ANE?
•The law is reactive (“against”) in its response to the pagan practices and situation in Canaan. 12:29-32, 18:9-14, 29:14-18. •The law is proactive (“for”) in its purpose to create a unique people in this setting.
ANE: Life & Worldview Reactive:“Against”
Prevent/Protect
Law in Deuteronomy Proactive: “For”
Transform/Produce
Creation of a “Special Treasure” & a Holy People in fact 10/24/2011
•(7) The law was fundamentally to be internal, not external. 11:16-22. –Founded in love for God. Deut. 6:5 –Constant appeals to the internal, “keep your soul diligently,” etc. 4:9, 15, 23, 39. 6:12. 11:16, 18. –Specifics of the law were intended to teach principles that would be internalized. 6:4-9. 11:18-22. –Individuals were addressed, e.g., in the Decalogue, “you” is singular.
•How does law become legalism? –Attempts to obey w/o love relationship. –Reversal of John 14:15. –Paul’s NT battle. Gal. 5:1
•Where did Paul stand concerning the law? –Not the abolition of the moral law. 1 Cor. 6:9, 9:19-21, Eph. 5:5.
Contrasts of ML and ANE law codes •Mosaic Law. 1400 BC. •Other law codes were in existence: –Code of Hammurabi (Babylon). 1700 BC –Assyrian laws. 1100 BC –Hittite laws. 1300 BC
•Similarities, but profound differences.
Contrasts of ML and ANE law codes •Mosaic Law protects/elevates value of persons, generally. •ML protected/elevated the status of women. •ML provided clear, just standards in the punishment of the guilty. •Under the ML there was to be equality under the law, regardless of class, position or status.
Contrasts of ML and ANE law codes •The ML provided a strict moral code/standard. •ML rests upon Israel’s unique relationship with YHWH. •The ML based in an internal choice to “love,” i.e., to live according to the value of persons.
Basic Themes in Deuteronomy Adapted from Archer, Survey of OT Introduction, 258-259
•The spirituality of God (4:12, 15, 16) and His uniqueness and unity are set forth (4:35, 39; 6:4; 7:9; 10:17). •God's relationship to His people under the covenant is one of love rather than of legalism (4:37; 7:13, 33:3). •For the believer the basic requirement is love for God, and this love is to be the dynamic principle for his life (6:5; 7:8; 10:12, 15; 11:1, 13, 22; 13:3; 19:9; 30:6,
Themes (cont.) •Israel's greatest peril is idolatry, which is to be resisted and suppressed with uncompromising severity (6:14, 15; 7:4; 8:19, 20; 11:16, 17, 20; 13:2-12; 30:17, 18). •Because of their close relation to the holy One, the Israelites must live as a holy people (7:6; 26:19; 28:9). •Faithfulness to the covenant is to be rewarded by material benefits; violation and disregard of the covenant will be punished by material disaster, loss and ultimate exile (chaps. 28-30). •The characteristic admonition is: "Remember, and forget not!"
•They were to create a basis for a particular kind of personal response leading to a “special relationship.” Deut. 4:9-10, 20 •Ex. 20:18-20. Deut. 5:28-29. •“Fear of the Lord” = awe + love = rooted in the revel of God’s nature and character. •Wind in the Willows
•Bottom Line: God has intimately identified and intertwined His life together with ours! •Mt. 18:20: “I am there in their midst.”
Nature of “Testing” Deut. 8:1-6, 15-16 •Evaluates the true condition of the heart. 8:2. –God uses or creates circumstances that call for a decision and action, one that expresses a person’s true commitment and heart intention, not simply their assent. Gen. 18. 2 Chron. 32:31.
Nature of “Testing” Deut. 8:1-6, 15-16
•Testing is intended to develop our confidence in/dependence upon God. 8:3. •Q. How is this confidence expressed? •Obedience! 8:2. •Q. What is the basis for obedience? •Trust and affection. Otherwise can become only external = legalism.
Nature of “Testing” Deut. 8:1-6, 15-16 •Testing is necessarily a part of all discipleship. 8:5-6. –Ex. 15:22-26. 16:4. 20:20. To train their response as a preparation for the future. –God’s training was preparation for blessing and for destiny.
•Based on God’s character, it is for our good. 8:15-16.
Nature of “Testing” Deut. 8:1-6, 15-16 •Deepens intimacy of relationship as can nothing else. 8:3. Gen. 22. –“yada” – “to be attached to, intimately acquainted with” “…the act of sharing an inner experience.” Heschel, 59.
•Definition. “Testing is a circumstance or situation that challenges us at our existing level of relationship with God and creates the opportunity and possibility of a greater revelation of and depth of relationship with Him.”
The Failure of the 1st Generation…
•Israel’s initial response: –Expressed trust/confidence, Exodus 14:3031. (Exodus event) –Pledged wholehearted loyalty to be expressed in obedience. (Sinai) Ex. 19:8.
Ex. 24:1-8.
•Why is obedience so important? •Only way we can fully cooperate with God in His intention for us and His intention through us to the world. •How we practically express His will into the world. •We are His “body,” His “re-presenters.”