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February 3, 2025

Bible Survey: Deuteronomy

by Jason Neill

Scripture reading: Deuteronomy 6; 28-30

This week we continue with our Bible survey by looking at Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy. The name “Deuteronomy” comes from two words: “deuter” which means second and “nomos” which means law. Thus, the book is a second giving of the Mosaic law to the new generation who will enter the Promised Land. To be precise, some estimate 50% of the law described in Exodus (see Exodus 20:23-23:33) is repeated in Deuteronomy.

The book can be delineated in the following manner: Chapters 1-4 is Moses’ first speech he gives to the nation prior to entering the land, 5-26 is his second speech, 27-30 is his third speech, and 31-34 is the telling of the transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua as Joshua prepares to take the new generation into the land. 

The Palestinian (Land) Covenant (see Deuteronomy 30:1-10). God issued the title deed of Palestine to the nation of Israel as a forever possession (see Genesis 13:15; 15:17-21; 17:8). Although the land was theirs forever, it did not mean they could not be removed from it as a consequence of disobedience (see Leviticus 26:14, 32-42; Numbers 34:1-12; Deuteronomy 30:4-10; Ezekiel 36:24-36). When we talk about the books of history (i.e., Joshua – Esther) and the prophets (Isaiah – Malachi), this covenant becomes especially important. In fact, if you want to understand the entire Old Testament then you must grasp the significance of Deuteronomy 28-30. The prophets, especially Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Zephaniah, and Habakkuk remind the nation that if they are not obedient to the Mosaic Covenant, then God will eventually dispel them from the land. Sadly, the repeated warnings were ignored, and Israel and Judah were led away in captivity (see 2 Kings 17:7-41; 25:1-30). Israel (the ten Northern Tribes) was invaded by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. and Judah (the two Southern Tribes) was invaded and taken to Babylon in three different deportations. The first occurred in 605 B.C. (Daniel and his friends were taken then, see Daniel 1), the second in 597 B.C., and the final occurrence in 586 B.C. after their Temple was destroyed.

Jesus in Deuteronomy. A prophet is someone who speaks for God; he shares the very words of God with the people usually prefacing them with the formula “Thus says the Lord” (see Exodus 4:22; 5:1; 7:17; 8:1; 8:20; 9:1; Joshua 7:13; 24:2; Judges 6:8; 1 Samuel 2:27; 10:18; 2 Samuel 7:5; 7:8; 12:7; Isaiah 7:7; 10:24; Jeremiah 2:2; 2:5; 19:1; Ezekiel 2:4; Amos 1:3; Micah 2:3; Nahum 1:12; Haggai 1:5; Zechariah 1:3). Jesus is the predicted prophet who came and not only spoke the very words of God but was God in the flesh (see Deuteronomy 18:14-22; John 1:1-14; 8:28; 17:8). We can clearly see Jesus’ role as The Prophet by reading the following New Testament passages: Matthew 16:21; 21:11; 24-25; Mark 6:4; Luke 7:16; John 4:19; 7:16; 8:28; 17:8; Acts 3:22; 7:37.

Application. We must remember God when all is well. In the book of Deuteronomy, God told the nation prior to entering the land to “remember” 16 times (see Deuteronomy 4:10; 5:15; 7:18; 8:2; 8:18; 9:7; 9:27; 11:2; 15:15; 16:3; 16:12; 24:9; 24:18; 24:22; 25:17; 32:7). “So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full— then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage” (Deuteronomy 6:10-12, NKJV).

The reason for such an exhortation was because Israel was going to have everything, all their needs provided for them. Large cities, vineyards, olive trees, and much more would be provided for them. Similarly to the Israelites, we can easily forget God when we have money in the bank, everyone we love is physically healthy, and life is going fairly well. It is during those times we must be intentional and remember God is the source of everything we possess, materially and immaterially.