BGCT: DSM: Old Testament Text: Lecture 14: Deuteronomy

Index/Table of Contents
Old Testament and New Testament
Credits and Copyright

PENTATEUCH

LECTURE 14

DEUTERONOMY

Student will be able to

1. discuss the purpose, title, authorship, date, and setting of Deuteronomy.

2. discuss the structure and organization of Deuteronomy.

CONTENT OF LECTURE

Purpose:

Deuteronomy formalizes and urges adherence to the covenant that Israel entered into with God at Sinai. It gives the second generation of the Exodus an opportunity to renew the covenant as it prepared to enter Canaan.

Title:

The title comes from the Septuagint version of the Old Testament which entitled the book Deuteronomion or "second law." The book of Deuteronomy does not present a second law but repeats and amplifies the laws given at Mt. Sinai.

Author and Date:

Moses was the author according to several references in the text. Jewish and Samaritan tradition assign the book to Moses. Jesus and New Testament writers associate the book with the law. Another person records Moses' death in chapter 34.

Setting:

Israel was on the border of Canaan just as it had been forty years earlier. At that time they were not allowed to enter because of unbelief and disobedience. This time they must wait until they learned to obey God. God would lead them to victory if they would surrender to Him completely. Since Moses was about to leave them, he gathered the nation around him and delivered his farewell address -Deuteronomy.

OUTLINE OF DEUTERONOMY

I. Remembrances of the past (1:1-4:43)

Moses drew from the history of Israel's journey from Egypt to make the point that when the nation had obeyed God, it had been blessed; and when it had disobeyed Him, it had been punished. Therefore, Moses said, obey God.

II. Commandments for the present (4:4426:19)

Moses reminded the people in 5:3 "The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, with all those of us alive here today." These chapters could be outlined in three parts:

A. Basic commandments (4:4411:32) Deut. 5:621 restates the Ten Commandments. Deut. 6:4-9 is known as the "Shema" which means "hear" and is the basic statement of the Jewish law. It became for the people of God a confession of faith by which they acknowledged the one true God and His commandments for them. This is the great commandment to love God with all your heart, soul, and might.

B. Laws of worship and holy living (12:116:22) contains laws of Sanctuary, warnings about the seduction of idolatry, laws relating to dean and unclean animals, and instructions for the religious calendar.

C. Punishments for specific offenses (17:126:19) contains specific offenses and the punishments for each.

III. Options affecting the future (27:130:20)

When Israel became established in Canaan, it was to march to Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. Six tribes were to stand on Mount Gerizim and declare the blessings on the people for obedience to the Law. The other six tribes were to stand on Mount Ebal to declare curses on the people for disobedience. Chapter 28 sets forth the consequences of obeying the Law and the consequences of disobeying it. ((DQ#1) Chapters 2930 show how the longsuffering and gracious God offers hope to Israel for loving Him and obeying His commandments.

IV. Parting words of Moses (31:134:12)

A. Final charges to the people

B. An interpretation of the philosophy of God's judgments in history

C. A reminder of the blessings awaiting the people in the land

ASSIGNMENT

Read Hill and Walton, chapters 12 and 13 or read from an assigned text on Joshua.

OUTLINE OF DEUTERONOMY

I. Remembrances of the past (1:14:43)

II. Commandments for the present (4:44 26:19)

A. Basic Commandments (4:4411:32)

B. Laws of worship and holy living (12:116:22)

C. Punishment for specific offenses (17:126:19)

III. Options affecting the future (27:130:20)

IV. Parting words of Moses (31:134:12)

A. Final charges to the people

B. An interpretation of God's judgments in history

C. A reminder of blessings

Taken from Jensen's A Survey of the Old Testament.

Discussion Questions:

#1 Since Deut. 28 promised blessings for obedience and serious consequences for disobedience, how would you explain suffering among the righteous?

What consequences might the teaching of Deut. 28 have on interpreting the cause of a personal tragedy (i.e. Job)?

#1. Why should a person periodically look back to the important spiritual experiences of his/her life?

#2. What helps a person to guard against forgetting the Lord and His Word?

#3. Are the commandments such as the ceremonial laws of burnt offerings still binding on Christians?

#4. What does Deuteronomy teach about God's sovereignty and holiness?

Teacher's Notes:

According to tradition, the Book of Deuteronomy contains three speeches of Moses delivered as he prepared the Israelites to enter the Promised Land.

First speech 1:1-4:43

2nd speech 4:44-28:68

3rd speech 29:130:20

Considering the fact that Moses had been anticipating these events for almost forty years and experienced so many things since leaving Egypt with a group of emancipated slaves, what would he have wanted to tell his people before they parted? What might he want to remind than of from the past? What advice might he have given concerning the future?

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