Bible Survey

05-Deuteronomy

[“Second Law/Everyman's Torah”]

I. Remember the Past (1:1 - 3:29)

A Review of Israel's travels from Sinai

          1:9/ the promise that Israel would be as numerous as the stars fulfilled (Genesis

               15:5)

          1:39/ Israelite children “have no knowledge of good or evil” suggests that moral

               accountability comes at some later point in life/maturity.

          2:30/ Another case where God “hardened” a ruler’s heart so as to deliver him to

               judgment

          3:11/ Bashan’s King Og had a large bed, perhaps he was a giant

II. Be Careful in the Future (4 - 11)

Watch Yourselves

          4:2/ "Don't add to/take away from what God reveals"

          4:6-8/ Israel’s greatness will be tied to their faithfulness to God and the quality of

               their Law system (vv. 6-8)

          4:9-10,15-23/ Israel warned to "watch themselves, beware" falling away & teach

               truth to your children.  Obviously, we play a crucial part in our own

               “faithfulness”

          4:13/ The Mosaic/Sinaitic Covenant was the Ten Commandments

          4:24/ YHWH is a “consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29) and a jealous God

          4:26-29/ God is warning Israel about national exile as punishment for

               disobedience, but restoration can occur if there is repentance (vv. 25-31)

          4:32-36/ Israel’s exodus and Mt. Sinai meeting were historically unique events

          4:37; 7:7-8; 9:4-5/ Why did God work with Israel?  God was keeping His promises

               to the patriarchal Fathers (see also: 2Kings 13:23; Romans 11:28-29)

          4:39/ YHWH is the only true God

          4:40/ The Promise for obedience - long life in Canaan

          4:41-42/ Cities of Refuge

The "10 Commandments"

          5:6-21/ The "Decalogue" restated

               - The Sabbath was a reminder to Israel of their bondage in Egypt (v. 15)

          5:29/ A wish that Israel had a heart to obey

The Perceptual Danger Facing Israel in Canaan

          6:4-5/ "Hear, O Israel, the Lord is One . . . Love Him with all your being"

          6:6-7/ Teach your children constantly

          6:8/ Bind God's word on your hand/forehead (i.e. tie it to your deeds and thoughts)

          6:10-12/ Beware the spiritual danger of comfort & security (8:7-20)

          7:1-5/ Beware the spiritual dangers of intermarriage with those outside the

               Covenant & tolerating religious error

          7:7-10/ Israel's special role was not due to any inherent superiority in them, but to

               God's covenant faithfulness to the patriarchs Abraham/Isaac/Jacob (9:4-6)

What does God require of Israel?

          10:12-13/ Love & obedience! & Circumcision of the heart (v. 16)[1]

          10:14/ God owns the heavens & earth

          11:26-28/ The Two Paths - God limits the options, but we pick our path!

III. Laws of Deuteronomy (12-26)

          12/ God will select the location & methods of worship for Israel in Canaan

          13/ Beware of false prophets, who offer "signs" as a cover for false doctrine

          14/ Food restrictions (paralleled in Leviticus 11)

          15/ The Sabbatic Year - "The poor will always be in the land" (v. 11; cf. Mt. 26:11)

          16/ Israel's three annual feasts - Passover, Pentecost, Booths/Tabernacles for all

               men at the central worship site

          17/ Justice & limitations on the future earthly monarchy the Israelites will desire

               - Administering Justice (17:1-13)

               - Limits on Israel's future kingdom (17:14-20)

                    *kings must be Israelites

                    * Can’t multiply/return to Egypt for horses, no royal harem, and don't

                    * accumulate a large royal treasury (Solomon violated all three 1Kings 11)

                - The King must write his own copy of the Law and read it daily

          18/ Regulations for the "Clergy"

               The portion of the Levites (18:1-8)

               Prophecy in Israel (18:9-22) - Pagan methods forbidden: Don't imitate your

                    religious  neighbors (vv. 9-14), a prophet like Moses will come someday &

                    you had better listen to Him (vv. 15-19; Acts 3:18-26); Test for false

                    prophets - predictive prophecy must be fulfilled 100% (vv. 20-22)

          19-26/ Various Laws

               - Cities of Refuge (19:1-13) - to protect the unintentional man-slaughterer from

                    revenge

               - Laws of landmark and testimony (19:14-21)

               - Laws of Warfare (20)

               - Various Laws (21-26)

IV. Blessings &Curses (27 - 31:6)

          27-28/ Instructions for the future covenant ceremony at Mts. Ebal/Gerizim (Joshua

               8:30-35)

          29/ Warnings Concerning the Covenant

               - The danger of “unforgivable sin" (vv. 17-21; cf. Numbers 15:30-31; Mark 3:28-

                    29).  Ongoing, unrepentant, willful rebellion against what one knows to be

                    God’s will seems to be the problem.

               - "Secret" things are God's business, covenant people focus on "revealed"

                    things (v. 29)

          30/ The "Two Paths" (vv. 15-20) - life’s biggest choice: life or death?

V. Moses' Farewell (31:7 - 34:12)

          31/ Final Instructions

               Read the Law to all Israel every seven years (vv. 10-13 – during the sabbatical

               year).  After Moses' death, Israel will fall away (vv. 14-21,29)

          32/ Moses Departs

               - The Song of Moses (vv. 1-43)

               - Moses saw the Promised Land and then died (vv. 44-52)

               - God's Word is our life (v. 47; Philippians 2:16)

          33/ The Blessing of Moses

          34/ The Death of Moses

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Charles E. McCoy

2006/05/22