Deuteronomy

​Deuteronomy is a “must read” for any serious student of the Bible.  That it is one of the most significant books of the Old Testament is evidenced by at least 28 quotations by Christ and various authors of the New Testament.[1]  Jesus quoted from this book three times to refute Satan’s temptations when He was led out into the desert for forty days without food (Matthew 4:1-11; Deu. 6:13, 16; 8:3). Once when asked by a Pharisee what the greatest commandment in the law was, Jesus quoted Deu. 6:5, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”

TraveMeditation
Deuteronomy 1:1—These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel across the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Di-zahab. 
 
Deuteronomy means “second law,” a term mistakenly derived from the Hebrew word mishneh in Deu. 17:18. The book is not merely a copy of the law but rather a restatement for a whole new generation.  At least 12 times Moses addressed his words to “all Israel.” Its Hebrew title is Elleh Haddebharim, meaning, “These Are the Words,” taken from the first verse.[2]  Scholars believe the book was written around 1406 BC, at the end of the Israelites forty years of wandering in the desert.  One of its most famous verses is Deu. 6:4 the Shema, the basic confession of faith in Judaism that forms an important part of Jewish evening and morning prayer and is used even today as a Jewish confession of faith. “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One!”[3]
         
The dominant theological theme in this book is the renewal of God’s covenant and Moses’ call to obedience, as evident in Deuteronomy 4: 1,6 and 13; chapter 28, and 30: 1-3 and 8-20. The setting occurs in Moab, 40 days before the Israelites entered the Promised Land.[4]
        
 Other important themes in Deuteronomy are:
·           Travel and warfare—the Israelites defeat King Sihon and King Og and take over their territory.
·           Reinforcing the Law and standards of conduct
·           The succession of leadership from Moses at the age of 120 to Joshua. 
Thirty-four chapters are packed with great truth to help us better understand God and walk in obedience to His perfect will.  Something to think about . . . in reveration!
 
Inspiration
Deuteronomy is a treasure chest of theological concepts that have influenced the religious thought and life of ancient Israelites, Jews, and Christians.—William Sanford LaSor, David Allan Hubbard and Frederic William Bush in their volume Old Testament Survey 
 
©2020 Daniel York ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)


[1] https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/holy-bible/old-testament/the-pentateuch/deuteronomy/
[2] https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/holy-bible/old-testament/the-pentateuch/deuteronomy/
[3] https://www.insight.org/resources/bible/the-pentateuch/deuteronomy
[4] What Is the Dominant Theme of the Book of  Deuteronomy?  by Flora Richards-Gustafson, Demand Media