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Reading Deuteronomy
Reading Deuteronomy
In the Daily Bible reading schedule we enter a long section that is difficult to duplicate by reading in your own bible. Smith arranges the law into topical sections. You read a few verses here, and then jump to a few verses there, and then… I did dutifully copy down all the scriptures in the order that he gave them, but there is just a lot of page turning and losing of your train of thought. You do get a different perspective and a great overview of the content of the law. You also miss out on the flavor of the individual books.
The book is called Deuteronomy in English to indicate that it is a 'second study' of the law. The first generation of Israel under this covenant had died. Moses now prepares the second generation to live under this covenant. It was called "the Book of Exhortations" by some Rabbis. In Hebrew this book is called 'The Words' and the title is taken from the opening phrase "These are the words" [that Moses spoke to all Israel…].
James Smith wrote that "The viewpoint of the book is that of a sermon, “a farewell message, by a wise and devoted leader.” Most writers agree that this book is a series of such sermons although they disagree on the number of them and how to distinguish where one ends and another begins. For reading purposes I have liked Smith's analysis: 1) chapters 1-4; 2) 5-26; 3) 27-28; 4) 29-30; 5) an 'appendix' in chapters 31-34. That makes a long sermon from chapters 5 through 26. Yet this 'sermon' has been likened unto many of the great discourses given throughout history. For reading purposes you can further divide this second reading into two parts. Chapters 6-11 are the exhortation part while chapters 12-26 contain much of the legal material.
Throughout this book Moses emphasizes that God's people need to love and obey Him. The provisions of the blessings of the covenant were predicated upon such faithful keeping of His word. The warnings of punishment were attached to not keeping His word. One passage that is often mentioned as a key verse of the books is 10:12-13. "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?"
There are other really great passages in this book. Deuteronomy was often quoted by Jesus (see the record of his temptation in Matt. 4). Jesus in fact said that the greatest of the laws is to be found in 6:5 (Matt. 22:34-40): "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."
Read through this book in your own bible and write down your favorite statements. Warning, get a big notebook with lots of pages for this!
For you on this list, what is your favorite verse in this book?
