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Introduction
- The whole counsel of God
- Our desire to is to teach through the whole Bible Genesis to Revelation
- Acts 20:27 – “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”
- We have finished Numbers – and will now move on to Deuteronomy…
- This is the 5th and final book of the Torah or Pentateuch – the ‘books of Moses’
- Who wrote the book of Deuteronomy and when…
- Ultimately inspired by the Holy Spirit – the written Word of God – II Timothy 3:16
- Moses wrote the book as well as the rest of the Torah/Pentateuch…
- The book is written in the 1st person – Moses is recording his ‘sermon’ to the people…
- The one exception is chapter 34 – death of Moses – perhaps recorded by Joshua…
- Written at the end of the wilderness wandering of Israel – 1406 B.C.
- Deuteronomy is one of the most often quoted books in the New Testament (60+)…
- Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:4 as one of the two commands the whole Law hangs on!
- Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy three times when tempted by satan – Luke 4:1-13
- The Outline of Deuteronomy…
- There are 34 chapters / 959 verses – in the book of Deuteronomy…
- We will cover between 1-2 chapters a week (5 months) – highlighting key sections…
- The book is broken up into 3 sermons by Moses given to Israel / and a conclusion…
- Deuteronomy 1-4 – Recalling the journey…
- Chapters 1-3 – From Egypt to the Kadesh Barnea
- Chapters 4 – Preparing to enter the Land
- Deuteronomy 5-26 – The second giving of the Law…
- Chapter 5 – The 10 commandments
- Chapter 6 – One God
- Chapter 7 – The Canaanite tribes
- Chapters 8-11 – Warnings to the nation of Israel
- Chapters 12-16 – The Laws concerning worship
- Chapters 17-20 – The Laws for the priests and government
- Chapters 21-26 – The Laws for the society
- Deuteronomy 27-30 – Blessings and curses…
- Chapter 27-28 – Reciting the Law of God – Mt. Ebal / Mt. Gerizim
- Chapter 29-30 – Renewal of the covenant
- Deuteronomy 31-34 – Final acts of Moses…
- Chapter 31-32 – Ordaining Joshua as the new leader of Israel / Moses prepares for his death
- Chapter 33-34 – Final words / death of Moses
- Deuteronomy 1-4 – Recalling the journey…
- The title of the book…
- Deuteronomy comes from the Greek title – Δευτερονόμιον – Deuteronomion – ‘second law’
- It gets its name from the fact this is the second giving of God’s Law…
- The 1st giving of the Law of God was by Moses at the foot of Mt. Sinai…
- It is recorded in the 2nd half of the book of Exodus and all of Leviticus…
- This 2nd giving of the Law of God took place after the 40-year wilderness wandering…
- It is delivered to Israel on the eastern shore of the Jordan river – Kadesh Barnea
- The Hebrew name for the book is – דְּבָרִים – Devarim – meaning ‘these are the words’…
- They come from the opening 3 words – perhaps a better title for the book…
- Deuteronomy is the record of the final words of Moses to Israel…
- The book is not a ‘legal document’ – it is a record of Moses final 3 sermons…
- The commands (Law) given by Moses are followed by encouragements…
- You don’t pick up a law book and read – DO NOT SPEED – pretty please…
- Parting words of warning / encouragement…
- Parents give their children rules – not because they want to keep them from fun…
- They give them rules so that they can be safe – have a full/blessed life…
- So often people think God ‘rules’ are just there to take all the fun out of life…
- That could not be farther from the truth – the Law is there to keep us safe!
- Deuteronomy is not a cold list of do’s and don’t God gives to His people…
- Is it loving encouragement God gives so we can have a blessed life!
- They come from the opening 3 words – perhaps a better title for the book…
- Deuteronomy comes from the Greek title – Δευτερονόμιον – Deuteronomion – ‘second law’
- Theme of book of Deuteronomy… (3 things)
- 1st – Teaching a new generation…
- Those who were 20 years old or older when God brought Israel out of Egypt – dead…
- Many of Israelites preparing to enter the Land had been born in the wilderness…
- God wanted Moses to rehearse the history of the nation to this new generation…
- Rather than having to repeat the mistakes of their parents – learn from them!
- One of the best ways to learn is by watching the mistakes of others…
- If you see drinking destroy someone’s life – you learn its good not to drink!
- Parents tell your kids about the mistakes you made earlier in life – be transparent…
- Better they learn from your mistakes – then have to repeat them!
- Unfortunately sometimes we refuse to learn from the mistakes of others…
- We go through the school of hard knocks – we end up having to learn the hard way!
- Those who were 20 years old or older when God brought Israel out of Egypt – dead…
- 2nd – A treaty/covenant between God and Israel…
- The wording of the book of Deuteronomy is very similar to a treaty…
- 1st – It established the relationship between to different groups – God and Israel…
- 2nd – It outlines the rules by which both parties were bound – the Law of God…
- 3rd – It laid out blessings for obedience (life) / and curses for breaking (death)…
- It was a covenant (treaty) that Israel would not be able to keep…
- The problem with the Law is that it depends on our ability to keep it…
- If we could keep all of the 613 commands of God – every moment of every day…
- Then we could live up to the terms of God’s treaty in the Old Covenant…
- James 2:10 – “But the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.”
- That is why neither we – nor Israel – are able to live by the Law…
- Romans 3:20 – “No one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.”
- That is why God gave a new treaty – a New Covenant…
- Moses knew Israel would fail – he knew there had to be a better way…
- He told Israel God would bring a prophet like Moses – Deuteronomy 18:15-19
- Moses was speaking about Jesus – who would bring a new/better treaty…
- Jeremiah 31:31 – “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel…”
- The New Covenant is not about what we have to do – but what God did for us!
- Jesus lived a perfect life – fulfilling the requirements of God’s Law…
- Then He died in our place – paid our price for sin – so we could be saved!
- The wording of the book of Deuteronomy is very similar to a treaty…
- 3rd – Blessing or curses…
- The book concludes with the reading of all the blessings and curses of the Law…
- ½ of Israel were to stand on Mt. Gerizim and proclaim the blessing to Israel…
- ½ of Israel were to stand on Mt. Ebal and proclaim the curses to Israel…
- If they followed the Law – blessings / if they broke the Law – curses…
- The choice was up to Israel – to choose blessings or curses…
- God is a gentleman – He does not force us to obey – He gives us a choice…
- Joshua 24:15 – “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…”
- We do not choose to be blessed or cursed – that we be an easy choice…
- We choose who we live for – do we live for God / or for ourselves…
- It is a choice we make everyday – whom do we choose to serve…
- The book concludes with the reading of all the blessings and curses of the Law…
- 1st – Teaching a new generation…
Recounting the journey…
True repentance is turning away from sin – and turning towards Jesus!
The setting of Deuteronomy… Read: Deuteronomy 1:1-3
On the plains of Moab after the 40 year wandering…
Deuteronomy picks up right where the book of Numbers leaves off…
Moses final words before he sends Israel off to inherit the Promised Land…
An 11-day journey from Mt. Sinai to Kadesh – about 150 miles…
What should have taken 11 days – had taken over 40 years…
God was VERY patient with Israel – they were VERY rebellious / stubborn…
God took them the long way – so they could learn to depend on the Lord
The best way to get where God wants us to be – is often the long road…
God has a plan for each an every one of our lives – but He is not is a rush…
Before God can fulfill His plans for our lives – He has to prepare us…
God knows we – like Israel – are going to make a lot of mistakes…
He knows that we have a lot to learn – fortunately He is VERY patient with us…
God does not care if it takes 10 days or 10 years – what is important is we get there!
From Mt. Sinai to Kadesh-barnea…(4 things)
1st – Moses began to explain the Law… vs. 5-11 Read: Deuteronomy 1:5-11
The explanation was that God had been faithful to fulfill His promise to Abraham…
God sent Israel out from Mt. Sinai to go and inherit the Land – Genesis 15:18
Israel had multiplied so they were as many as the stars in heaven – Genesis 15:5
Now Moses prayed God would multiply them a thousand times more!
Let me explain – when God makes a promise to us – He goes above and beyond!
God does not just want to bless us – He wants to blow us away with His goodness!
He not only wants to provide for our needs – give us everything – Luke 12:31
I Corinthians 2:9 – “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
2nd – Two many to lead alone – Exodus 18… vs. 12-18
Moses was responsible to teach & judge Israel according to God’s Law…
Every day they would stand before Moses from morning till evening…
Moses was the only one to settle the disputes of 5 million people…
At his Father-in-laws urging Moses shared the burden – so he would not ‘burn out’!
He appointed God fearing men to rule over the 1000 / 100 / 50 / 10…
Moses realized he needed to be wise with his time…
We need to be wise with our time in life – God only gives us so much to work with…
If we spend our whole day / every day working – we sacrifice time with family…
If we spend our day being entertained – TV/lago – we sacrifice time with the Lord…
We need to work – II Thessalonians 3:10 – and it good to have fun now and then…
Balance comes when we put Jesus 1st – family 2nd – then everything else…
3rd – The 12 spies – Numbers 13… vs. 19-33 Read: Deuteronomy 1:21-33
Moses sent out representatives from the 12 tribes – for 40 days to spy out the Land…
The 12 returned – reported – the Land truly flows with milk & honey (abundance)…
But – the people in the Land are strong – the cities are fortified and VERY large…
And there are the children of Anak – there are Giants in the Land!
When we follow the Lord – there are going to be challenges to overcome…
We look at the challenges – and they seem like Giants that will crush us like bugs…
But the battle is not ours – God is the one who fights for us!
Moses encouraged Israel – God will defeat all your enemies just like He did Egypt…
He will carry you – as a man carries and protects his son!
He will lead and guide you – just as He did in the wilderness with the cloud/fire!
If we took the time to look back – we would see God was always faithful…
And God does not change – Hebrews 13:8 – He will continue to fight for us…
And if God is on our side – than no one stands a chance against us – Romans 8:31
When we get our eyes off our circumstances and onto the Lord…
David was only a little shepherd boy when the giant Goliath came to taunt Israel…
Mighty warriors cowered in their tents – but David was unafraid – I Samuel 17
He knew that with God on his side – the Giant did not stand a chance!
As we look to Jesus – we can take down any Goliaths that come our way!
4th – The consequences of doubting the Lord… vs. 34-46 Read: Deuteronomy 1:34-35
Israel would wander for 40 years in the wilderness…
One year for each of the days the spies were in the Land…
If we want to have a fruitful – effective life – we need to listen to God’s Word…
If we don’t we will find we are left to ‘wander’ through the wilderness…
We will miss out on all God has for us – we will wander aimlessly through life!
The next morning all of Israel set out for the Promised Land…
Amazingly they ignored the command of God again – and tried to ‘conquer’ the Land
They ‘realized’ they had sinned and now wanted to enter the Promised Land…
This was not Israel’s repentance – it was an attempt to escape consequences…
II Corinthians 7:10–“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
It’s easy to be sorry for the consequences of our actions…
Being sorry for our consequences is not a change of heart – that worldly sorrow
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