Introduction to Deuteronomy With All Your Heart Introduction to Deuteronomy

Why Read Deuteronomy?

Why Read Deuteronomy? Key Verse: Deut 6:4-5 It is the heart of OT Theology It is the climax of the Books of Moses (Gen-Deut) It is the foundation of the rest of the OT It shows us the heart of what Jesus has done for us It shows us that key to our relationship with God is the heart Key Verse: Deut 6:4-5 Hear, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart And with all your soul and with all your strength

What is Deuteronomy About? The message of Deuteronomy in a Nutshell: GOD IS DETERMINED TO CREATE A PEOPLE TOTALLY DEVOTED TO THE GOD WHO IS TOTALLY DEVOTED TO THEM IN LOVE & FAITHFULNESS FOR HIS GLORY & THEIR BLESSING Key Verse: Deut 6:4-5 Hear, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart And with all your soul and with all your strength

The Background to Deuteronomy The Key Themes of Biblical Theology God’s PEOPLE In God’s PLACE Under God’s RULE The Story so Far: Gen 1-11: Setting things up Gen 12-50: People Exodus: People, Rule Leviticus: Rule Numbers: Place Deuteronomy: People, Place, Rule

Overview of Deuteronomy: Titles Deuteronomion (Greek OT): ‘2nd Law’ OR ‘Law a 2nd Time’ Emphasises Deut as terms of the Covenant Stresses content of laws Devarim (Hebrew OT): ‘The Words (of Moses)’ Emphasises Deut as sermon/address Stresses motivation for laws Bottom Line: Both are helpful angles for us

X Deuteronomy set somewhere around here…

The Structure of Deuteronomy INTRO (1:1-5) ADDRESS 1 (CHS 1-4) ADDRESS 2 (CHS 5-28) ADDRESS 3 (CHS 29-30) MOSES’ LAST ACTS (CHS 31-34) HOW DID WE GET HERE? GEOGRAPHY HISTORY RESTATMENT OF COVENANT (1:6-8) RECOUNT OF HISTORY (1:9-3:29) RECOUNT OF LAW (4:1-40) ‘10 WORDS’ (5:1-21) THE BIG PICTURE OF THE ‘10 WORDS’ (5:22-11:32) THE DETAIL OF THE ‘10 WORDS’ (12-26) CURSE & BLESSING (27-29) THE FUTURE OF THE COVENANT (29:1-30:10) CALL TO DECISION (30:11-19) JOSHUA APPOINTED (31) MOSES’ SONG (32) BLESSING THE TRIBES (33) MOSES’ DEATH (34) INTERLUDE (4:41-49)

Deut 5-28 (Main Address) in More Detail The ’10 Words’   toward God Toward Neighbour Love God with all your heart... Be holy and faithful to the holy God in everything   Because the holy God has chosen and been faithful to you Demonstrate the love & faithfulness of God in every aspect of life in the land   If you do, you will be blessed If you don’t, you will be cursed  

The Key Themes & Chapters of Deut Deut 4: Deuteronomy in a Nutshell Following the law demonstrates how good following God is YHWH is the only true, living, speaking God, so hearing his Word is central to relationship with him Deut 5-6: Love is the Key to the Law 10 C’s are about reln with God & reln with neighbour Love of God is the key to understanding the Laws of God Deut 17-18: The King & The Prophet God’s true ruler loves his people & is faithful to his Word Deut 30: Now Choose Life! The Law points to right relationship with God & life But God needs to circumcise our hearts to get there Deut 32-33: Through Curse…Blessing Israel will fail & come under the curse But this will somehow lead to their ultimate blessing

Deuteronomy & the Rest of the Bible Deuteronomy in Israel’s History The people & kings are assessed in Deuteronomy’s terms Israel’s history reads like an unfolding of Deuteronomy Deuteronomy in the Prophetic Books The Prophets use Deuteronomy to diagnose Israel’s sin Laws seen as symptoms of a heart turned towards/away from God Deuteronomy in the Wisdom Literature Wisdom = Righteousness applied to the mess of life I.e. How the Law should land in real life Deuteronomy in the New Testament Jesus saw his ministry as the true Israel (Matt 4) Jesus saw the 10C’s as the shape of true life (Mk 10) Jesus’ death explained in terms of Deut (Rom 3, Gal 3) Christian Life seen as fulfilment of Deut (Rom 13, Gal 5)

Deuteronomy, Law & Grace Bad Law, Good Grace? Yes, but needs unpacking Jesus, NT writers don’t attack the Law, but its misunderstanding/misuse The Bible’s perspective: Good Law, but not God’s final Word/Salvation The Way Deuteronomy Works: Love & Faithfulness Gives us the model/template for relationship with the God of Love & Faithfulness So it shows how our sinful hearts fall short and need grace BUT it also gives us the shape of Christian life (cf. Rom 13:8-18, Gal 5:13-14) Why Deuteronomy Needs Jesus: The Law is like scaffolding on a building The Law is like a picture of a loved one The Law is like a shadow of reality

The Bottom Line & Other Stuff The Bottom Line: Reading Deuteronomy as Christians: How is this passage a model of receiving, reflecting or returning God’s love and faithfulness in the Land? How does this help me to understand my heart before God? How does this help me to understand what Jesus has done for us? How does this help me to understand what Jesus is doing in us? How does this help me to understand what life in God’s new creation, free from sin, will be like? Other Stuff Deuteronomy in academic OT study Challenging issues in Deuteronomy Reading & Leading Deuteronomy