Outline of Deuteronomy History of the Covenant

Outline of Deuteronomy • History of the Covenant (1: 1 – 4: 43) • Stipulations of the Covenant (4: 44 – 26: 19) – Moral Law (4: 44 – 11: 32) – Ceremonial Law (12: 1 – 16: 17) – Civil Law (16: 18 – 26: 19) • Ratification of the Covenant (27: 1 – 30: 20) • Leadership Succession Under the Covenant (31: 1 – 34: 20)

Repentance and Forgiveness (ch. 30) As Moses approaches the end of his life he takes time to review the relationship that Israel has with their creator God gives His Law to His people, not as a rigid code, but to set them apart as God’s holy children. However, the children of Israel failed miserably to walk in holiness of life and repeatedly turned their backs of Yahweh and committed idolatry.

Repentance and Forgiveness Moses reminds them (and us) that a relationship with God means a change of heart and a faith rooted deep in HIS love and grace, word and promises, faithfulness and justice. Such faith lives in obedience to the one true God, who gathers and blesses his people.

And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God has driven you, and return to the LORD your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you. (Deuteronomy 30: 1 -3)

Choose Life or Death • The Lord’s declaration to his people to choose life is inseparable from His covenant of grace that He established with them. • Israel’s history clearly demonstrates that they spurned the life of God had reserved for them through His grace, pursuing death instead. • Consequently, by rejecting God’s grace, they rejected the length of days God promised to those who love the Lord, walk in His ways, and keep his commands.

Outline of Deuteronomy • History of the Covenant (1: 1 – 4: 43) • Stipulations of the Covenant (4: 44 – 26: 19) – Moral Law (4: 44 – 11: 32) – Ceremonial Law (12: 1 – 16: 17) – Civil Law (16: 18 – 26: 19) • Ratification of the Covenant (27: 1 – 30: 20) • Leadership Succession Under the Covenant (31: 1 – 34: 20)

Joshua to Succeed Moses (ch. 31)

Joshua to Succeed Moses • Moses didn’t have God’s permission to LEAD the people into the promise land (31: 2) • Moses asserts that the LORD God himself, the real LEADER of Israel, would not only enter the Promise Land with the Israelites but would go before them and destroy their enemies (31: 3) • To help the Israelites VISUALIZE what will happen when the enter the Promised Land he reminds them of Sihon and Og, the king of the Amorites (see 2: 26 – 37; 3: 1 -22)

THE READING OF THE LAW At the end of every SEVEN years, at the set time of the RELEASE, at the FEAST of BOOTHS, when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this all before ALL Israel in their hearing. (31: 10 – 11)

FEAST OF BOOTHS = Dwell in booths for seven days commemorating how the Israelites dwelled in booths when the LORD delivered them out of the hands of the Egyptians (Leviticus 23: 42 -43)

THE READING OF THE LAW • God directed PRIESTS to serve as custodians of the LAW and to ensure that it was read at regular intervals. • All men, women, children, and sojourner gathered together to HEAR and LEARN to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law.

Luther and the 3 rd Commandment • Remember the Sabbath Day and Keep it Holy • WDTM: We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.

Joshua to Succeed Moses (ch. 31)

God Speaks to Moses • You are about to DIE (31: 16) • Your people will WHORE after foreign gods when they enter into the promise land • They will FORSAKE me and BREAK my covenant even though I promised to never FORSAKE them or BREAK my covenant with them. (31: 16)

God Speaks to Moses • God makes a promise… (31: 17 -18) – my anger will be high – I will forsake them – I will hide my FACE from them – They will be devoured – Many troubles and evils will come upon them – WHY? IDOLATRY

Final Acts of Moses • Moses is instructed to write a SONG • Serve as a WITNEESS for God towards Israel when everything falls apart for them. (31: 19) • Serve as words of COMFORT (31: 22) • Moses finishes writing this BOOK of LAW and has it placed in the ARK of the Covenant. • Assembles all of Israel to HEAR his song