Introducing Deuteronomy
Text Deuteronomy 1:1-8 Time 16 01 08 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church (Midweek)
I would like us to begin today looking at the fifth book of the Bible, the Book of Deuteronomy. Let's begin by saying something by way of introduction. The book is, of course, the fifth book of Moses and he is its principal author. The opening verses read These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the desert east of the Jordan - that is, in the Arabah - opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab. (It takes 11 days to go from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by the Mount Seir road.) In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the LORD had commanded him concerning them. This was after he had defeated Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, and at Edrei had defeated Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. East of the Jordan in the territory of Moab, Moses began to expound this law, saying: .... Firstly then there are several things to note by way of introduction. I also want to say something about the shape or form of the book. It is called Deuteronomy from the Latin – Second Law, Law given a second time. The Ten Commandments of Exodus 20 are repeated and developed in Deuteronomy 5.
1. Important things to note about the book of Deuteronomy
1. Note the human author of this book
I would like us to begin today looking at the fifth book of the Bible, the Book of Deuteronomy. Let's begin by saying something by way of introduction. The book is, of course, the fifth book of Moses and he is its principal author. The opening verses read These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the desert east of the Jordan - that is, in the Arabah - opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab. (It takes 11 days to go from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by the Mount Seir road.) In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the LORD had commanded him concerning them. This was after he had defeated Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, and at Edrei had defeated Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. East of the Jordan in the territory of Moab, Moses began to expound this law, saying: .... Firstly then there are several things to note by way of introduction. I also want to say something about the shape or form of the book. It is called Deuteronomy from the Latin – Second Law, Law given a second time. The Ten Commandments of Exodus 20 are repeated and developed in Deuteronomy 5.
1. Important things to note about the book of Deuteronomy
1. Note the human author of this book
These are the words Moses spoke ... Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the LORD had commanded him concerning them ... Moses began to expound this law, saying:
How thankful we should be for the human authors of Scripture and none less than Moses that great man of God through whom we have received so much.
2. Note the heavenly author of this book
2. Note the heavenly author of this book
Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the LORD had commanded him concerning them.
Whenever we read the Scriptures we need to remind ourselves that behind the human authors is God himself the inspirer of every word of Scripture. This is the very Word of God.
3. Note the first recipients of this book
3. Note the first recipients of this book
These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel ... Moses proclaimed to the Israelites ....
These words were first spoken to God's people of a previous generation. What they needed to hear then we also need to hear now. Obviously many things have changed in the intervening time but a great deal has not and these words remain relevant to God's people.
4. Note the time when the words of this book were spoken
4. Note the time when the words of this book were spoken
In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, (This was after he had defeated Sihon, etc).
This is at the end of the period of their wandering in the desert. The people have left Horeb and their unfaithfulness at Kadesh Barnea (Numbers 13) is in the past. As it says in verse 2 It takes 11 days to go from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by the Mount Seir road but the people had been made to wander about these 40 years because of their unbelief and rebelliousness. But now they are about to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land. It is now the last month of the fortieth year of wandering.
Again, it is a many years since the words were first preached but they have lost none of their truth or ultimately their relevance to us when properly applied.
5. Note the place where the words in this book were spoken
Again, it is a many years since the words were first preached but they have lost none of their truth or ultimately their relevance to us when properly applied.
5. Note the place where the words in this book were spoken
in the desert east of the Jordan – What later came to be known as Perea, where Jesus later ministered that is, in the Arabah - opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab ... East of the Jordan in the territory of Moab.
This is in Transjordan then, in Moab, east of the Jordan. The further elaboration - opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab does not help us much today as we are not sure exactly where these places are. The reference to the defeat of Sihon and Og is a reminder that the land here has been secured and Canaan now beckons.
Once more then, they were spoken very far from here but that does not stop them from being effective in our lives in this place just as they were in the case of some them there.
6. Note the purpose of this book
6. Note the purpose of this book
Moses, speaking in God's name, is now about to expound this law, the law that they had received at Horeb or Sinai. He was about to make it distinct or clear. We cannot doubt the importance of exposition of God's Word. Everything needs to be done to make it as clear and as explicit as possible. It is right that we use translations. It is right that preachers seek to expound the Word. We should take advantage of every help in this direction.
7. Note the form of this book
7. Note the form of this book
For many years now it has been recognise that the Book of Deuteronomy follows the form of an ancient near eastern suzerainty treaty. In ancient times covenants between people were common enough. Among the more common forms were those between equals and those between unequal parties. This second type of covenant was between an overlord or suzerain and his vassals or inferiors. Most often they occurred when a King made a covenant with his people. In such covenants it was the suzerain who chiefly took on responsibility for the various stipulations but certain obligations were also laid down for the vassal, although his inferiority meant that he never took on responsibility to the same extent as the suzerain.
Many such ancient treaties have been found, more than half from the Hittite Empire of the second millennium BC. Later ones from Hittite, Assyrian and Egyptian sources also exist but Deuteronomy seems most like the former type. The typical order for such treaties (according to John Currid in his commentary) is
1. Preamble – spoken by the suzerain. The purpose is to identify the suzerain and engender fear and awe in the vassal.
2. Historical prologue – a survey of previous relations
3. Stipulations of the treaty – obligations spelled out
4. A witness clause – the gods and nature itself are called upon
5. Sanctions – Blessings and curses for keeping or not keeping covenant are listed
6. A statement of display – How the covenant has been recorded
7. Other treaties include other elements such as an oath of obedience, ceremonial details, etc.
In Deuteronomy we see then
1. Preamble – 1:1-8.
2. Historical prologue – 1:9-4:43
3. Stipulations of the treaty – 4:44-26:19
4. Sanctions – 27:-29:1
5. A statement of display – 27:1-4
6. Deuteronomy includes and oath of allegiance, 29:2-30:20
7. A witness clause – 31:1-32:47
The Book of Deuteronomy then is an official document ratifying the formal covenant relationship between the LORD as King and Israel as his vassal. It reveals God's sovereignty over his people and the special relationship that his people have with him.
The evident unity of the book when read as a treaty or covenant argues against attempts to see it as the result of editorial work on various sources over many, many years.
We do not need to become experts in ancient near eastern culture to see that this knowledge can be a great help to us in seeking to understand God's Word at this point, Let's take full advantage of these more recent discoveries in seeking to understand the Word of God an keep these things in mind as we study the book.
2. Important things to consider from the preamble to the Book of Deuteronomy
1. Consider God
In verse 6 Moses says The LORD our God said to us at Horeb, You have stayed long enough at this mountain. The LORD our God is rare in the first four books of the Old Testament but common enough in this fifth book. It combines the covenant name of God and the words our God. There is a God, the God who made this world. He is the God of the covenant who enters into covenant with his people. He is our God. He is a God who speaks – he spoke at Horeb and he speaks here too. He is the Lawgiver but not only the Lawgiver but the one who calls on us to move on. Matthew Henry says “Though God brings his people into trouble and affliction, into spiritual trouble and affliction of mind, he knows when they have dwelt long enough in it, and will certainly find a time, the fittest time, to advance them from the terrors of the spirit of adoption.”
2. Consider his gifts
Many such ancient treaties have been found, more than half from the Hittite Empire of the second millennium BC. Later ones from Hittite, Assyrian and Egyptian sources also exist but Deuteronomy seems most like the former type. The typical order for such treaties (according to John Currid in his commentary) is
1. Preamble – spoken by the suzerain. The purpose is to identify the suzerain and engender fear and awe in the vassal.
2. Historical prologue – a survey of previous relations
3. Stipulations of the treaty – obligations spelled out
4. A witness clause – the gods and nature itself are called upon
5. Sanctions – Blessings and curses for keeping or not keeping covenant are listed
6. A statement of display – How the covenant has been recorded
7. Other treaties include other elements such as an oath of obedience, ceremonial details, etc.
In Deuteronomy we see then
1. Preamble – 1:1-8.
2. Historical prologue – 1:9-4:43
3. Stipulations of the treaty – 4:44-26:19
4. Sanctions – 27:-29:1
5. A statement of display – 27:1-4
6. Deuteronomy includes and oath of allegiance, 29:2-30:20
7. A witness clause – 31:1-32:47
The Book of Deuteronomy then is an official document ratifying the formal covenant relationship between the LORD as King and Israel as his vassal. It reveals God's sovereignty over his people and the special relationship that his people have with him.
The evident unity of the book when read as a treaty or covenant argues against attempts to see it as the result of editorial work on various sources over many, many years.
We do not need to become experts in ancient near eastern culture to see that this knowledge can be a great help to us in seeking to understand God's Word at this point, Let's take full advantage of these more recent discoveries in seeking to understand the Word of God an keep these things in mind as we study the book.
2. Important things to consider from the preamble to the Book of Deuteronomy
1. Consider God
In verse 6 Moses says The LORD our God said to us at Horeb, You have stayed long enough at this mountain. The LORD our God is rare in the first four books of the Old Testament but common enough in this fifth book. It combines the covenant name of God and the words our God. There is a God, the God who made this world. He is the God of the covenant who enters into covenant with his people. He is our God. He is a God who speaks – he spoke at Horeb and he speaks here too. He is the Lawgiver but not only the Lawgiver but the one who calls on us to move on. Matthew Henry says “Though God brings his people into trouble and affliction, into spiritual trouble and affliction of mind, he knows when they have dwelt long enough in it, and will certainly find a time, the fittest time, to advance them from the terrors of the spirit of adoption.”
2. Consider his gifts
Here there is a focus on the Promised Land. It is
1. Land to be seen
1. Land to be seen
7, 8 Break camp they are told and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighbouring peoples in the Arabah, in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates. See, I have given you this land. The first thing they need to do is to see this land – to observe it. Often the first thing we need to do is to realise what God has in store for us, what he has and will make available. We ought to know about the Christian life and what it holds – about justification, adoption, etc. Practice is important but we need to know the teaching first.
2. Land to be possessed
2. Land to be possessed
Verse 8 says See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land. Having seen it, we must take possession of it. It is no use to us if we simply look at it. Merely looking at a healthy meal will do us little good. It needs to be consumed. Knowing you have property is not the same as actually living in it. We need not only to know the doctrine but also to have the experience of living the Christian life. Are we working at it?
3. Land promised beforehand
3. Land promised beforehand
The Land is, of course, the land that the LORD swore he would give to your fathers - to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - and to their descendants after them. Moses is reminding the people of their long history. Today people are more interested in their roots than perhaps at any time. Roots are certainly important. We ought to know something about our roots as Christians. We learn something of it in Eph 1:3-6 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
You notice that God does not prepare the people to enter Canaan by discussing war, strategy, etc, but chooses more exalted themes. There is a final lesson for us in that.
You notice that God does not prepare the people to enter Canaan by discussing war, strategy, etc, but chooses more exalted themes. There is a final lesson for us in that.
