Ralph Porter

© 2002

AUTHOR

    Many wish to attribute a later date and author to Deuteronomy

    The book clearly indicates that it was written by Moses.

    Our Lord frequently quotes from it, giving credit for its contents to Moses.

    The historical appendix which describes Moses' death may have been added by

         another.

DATE

    The events described in Deuteronomy occurred during the eleventh month of the

         fortieth year. Israel wandered in the desert, 1406 B.C.

BACKGROUND

    Israel is at the Jordan, in Moab, ready to enter Canaan.

    Moses' forty years of leadership are drawing to a close.

    After a long delay in the wilderness, the generation that failed to believe God and

         rebelled against Him has died and their children are ready to move on.

PURPOSE AND THEME

    Moses, knowing that he is about to die, delivers a final message of warning to

         God's people.

    The book summarizes his previous years of teaching ministry with them.

    He uses the experiences of the previous generation to teach the younger generation

         the dangers of unbelief and rebellion.

    He demonstrates the importance of maintaining a proper relationship with God

         who has chosen them in love as His own people, and of obeying His commands.

              If they obey Him, He will bless them.

              If they rebel, He will judge them.

    He is concerned that the covenant people remain faithful to God so as not to

         surrender to the contaminating influence of the Canaanites.

    In that way God will be able to bless them and they will be a light in the midst of

         surrounding pagan darkness.

ORGANIZATION

    The author's understanding of the covenant relationship between God and His people has affected the

        organization of his presentation.

    The basic ingredients of a covenant agreement are all present:

        I.      Preamble   1:1-5

       II.     Historical prologue   1:6-4:49

      III.    Stipulations   5-26

            A.    General requirement of allegiance to the sovereign   5-11

            B.    Specific commandments   12-26

     IV.    Curses and blessings   27-30

      V.    Arrangements for succession and public reading   31-34

    In spite of the parallels with the covenant format, the historical situation and grammatical structure

        seem to place these elements within a different format which controls the content of the book.

    As Moses is about to die and the people will have to enter Canaan without him, he gathers the people

        together on five occasions to speak to them.

    This book reveals his five messages to the people.

THE SECOND LAW: 5 Messages to Remind God's People to Remain Faithful

Ralph Porter

Author

    Although many wish to attribute a later date and author to Deuteronomy,

         *    The book clearly indicates that it was written by Moses.

                   All of it was spoken by Moses (except the appendix).

                   31:9 indicates he wrote it also.

         *    Our Lord frequently quotes from it, giving credit for its contents to Moses.

         *    The historical appendix which describes Moses' death may have been added

                   by someone else.

    It seems best to accept the testimony which includes Deuteronomy, along with the

    other books of the Pentateuch, among those which Moses wrote.

Date

    The events described in Deuteronomy occurred during the eleventh month of the

    fortieth year Israel wandered in the desert, 1406 B.C.

Background

    Israel is on the banks of the Jordan, in Moab, ready to enter Canaan.

    Moses' forty years of leadership are drawing to a close.

    After a long delay in the wilderness, the generation that failed to believe God and

    rebelled against Him has died and their children are now ready to move on.

Purpose and theme

    Basically Deuteronomy is not an historical book.

         Only 32:48-34:12 continue the historical narrative.

         It's really a book of sermons.

    Moses, knowing he's about to die, delivers a final warning to God's people.

         It is actually five sermons he preached to them.

         He leaves it in written form so that it will serve as a permanent reminder in the

              future.

         The book summarizes his previous years of teaching ministry while he has been

              with them.

    Moses uses the experiences of the previous generation to teach the younger

    generation the dangers of unbelief and rebellion.

    Moses demonstrates the importance of maintaining a proper relationship with

    God who has chosen them as His own people, and of obeying His commands.

         If they obey Him, He will bless them.

         If they rebel, He will judge them.

    Theme:    Yahweh alone is our God.

                          Love Him with all your heart and obey Him.

    Moses is concerned that the covenant people remain faithful to God so as not to

    surrender to the contaminating influence of the Canaanites.

    In that way God will be able to bless them and they will be a light in the midst of

    surrounding pagan darkness.

Organization

    Two logical ways have been commonly proposed to organize the contents of the

    book. Both have considerable evidence to support their use.

    The first proposal acknowledges that the author's understanding of the covenant

    relationship between God and His people has affected the organization of his

    presentation.

         In Moses' day a common treaty form was the Suzerainty Treaty.

              For the Hittites it was essentially a unilateral agreement, imposed by a

              powerful king on a lesser vassal, committing the vassal to recognize the great

              king's authority and to promise loyalty and submission.

         The basic ingredients of a covenant agreement are all present in the book of

         Deuteronomy, in the forms commonly used at that time. For that reason some

         commentators outline the book on that basis.

    Kline's outline is one of the earliest and simplest examples:

         (If you compare the treaty form to this outline, you will see how the author

         develops his theme as the treaties were written.)

        I.    Preamble   1:1-5

       II.    Historical prologue   1:6-4:49

      III.    Stipulations   5-26

      IV.    Curses and blessings   27-30

       V.    Arrangements for succession and public reading   31-34

         The stipulations section of these treaties was usually composed of two parts:

              General requirement of allegiance to the sovereign   5-11

              Specific commandments   12-26

    The parallel with the author's organization in the book seems to reveal a deliberate

    imitation of the covenant format.

    But when you study Deuteronomy itself, without Kline, while these divisions are

    closely paralleled, they are not the organizing structure of the book.

    In spite of the parallels with the covenant format, the historical situation and

    grammatical structure seem to place these elements within a different format

    which controls the content of the book.

    The layout of the book revolves around five final messages Moses preaches to

    Israel, just before his death.

    As Moses is about to die and the people will have to enter Canaan without him, he

    gathers them together on five occasions to speak to them. This book reveals his

    five messages to the people:

       Historical prologue   1:1-5

         First message: historical review of God's dealings with Israel   1:6-4:43

         Second message: review of the commandments God has given to His people

              4:44-26:19

         Third message: two alternatives for God's people   27-28

              If they obey Him, they will be blessed

              If they rebel, God will judge them

         Fourth message: logically subordinate to the preceding one, relates these two

         alternatives to their past history and to God's future plan for His people   29-30

         Fifth message: final exhortation to Israel to follow the teaching He has given them

         31:1-29

         Historical appendices   31:30-34:12

Argument

    I.    Historical Prologue   1:1-5

              Deuteronomy is introduced by an historical prologue which identifies the

              circumstances under which its message was delivered.

              Israel was located in Moab, on the banks of the Jordan, ready to enter Canaan

              and to claim the land God had promised them.

              They had waited a long time. What might have been an eleven day journey,

              had become a 40 year sojourn, wandering around the wilderness because of

              their unbelief and rebellion That time was now concluding and Israel was

              finally ready to enter the land.

    II.    First message: Historical review of God's dealings with Israel   1:6-4:43

              An historical review of God's dealings with Israel

              Previous to his death, Moses called the people together for a history lesson.

                   He reviewed the painful experiences of the previous generation in order

                   that we might learn the importance of obedience.

                   He reminds us of how God had led the people to the land once before.

                   However because of their unbelief and rebellion, they were judged and

                   entrance to the land was postponed.

                   That generation never did enter the land.

        B.    Forty-year wilderness wanderings   2:1-16

                   The forty-year sojourn in the wilderness was described.

                   That entire generation died as the Lord's hand was against them.

        C.    Victorious approach to the land   2:17-3:29

                   Then God began to direct them once again toward the land.

                   God has given them victory over the surrounding nations that opposed

                   them.

                   He has prepared new leadership to direct them as they move into the land.

        D.    Consequent warnings to Israel   4:1-40

                   Moses warns us to learn from experience of the preceding generation.

                        Obey God's commandments and be sure not to forget.

                        Teach your children to obey the Lord.

                        Guard against idolatry.

                   Above all else remember to be faithful to God and to His covenant.

1. To keep the commandments   4:1-8

2. To remember the things seen   4:9-14

3. To guard against idolatry   4:15-40

        E.    Appointment of cities of refuge   4:41-43

                   This message was concluded with the establishing of three cities of refuge

                   on the east side of the Jordan. These cities permitted a person who had

                   accidentally killed another to escape the vengeance of the deceased

                person's family.

    III.    Second message: Reconfirmation of Mosaic covenant   4:44-26:19

              A review of the commandments God has given to His people

                   God's requirements for His covenant people are again described.

        A.    Historical background   4:44-49

        B.    Exhortations to obedience   5-11

                   God reveals His basic requirement that His covenant people choose to be

                   faithful to Him and obey His commandments.

            1.    Review of the covenant   5-6

                        He reminds us of the time when He established His covenant with them.

                        He urges us not to forget, and to teach our children not to forget Him, nor

                        His covenant.

            2.    Command to destroy heathen influence   7

                        When they enter the land, they are to destroy totally the pagan

                        Canaanites who are dwelling there.

                        They are to be destroyed lest they contaminate God's people, whom He

                        has called to holiness, by their pagan lifestyle.

                        If they are obedient to Him in this matter, He will give them victory.

            3.    Command based on God's grace   8-11

                        We are reminded that the reason we are to obey Him is because of His

                        gracious dealings with us.

                        We ought to remember all that He has done for us and, out of gratitude,

                        respond in obedience.

                        If they are obedient to Him, He will bless them in the land He is about to

                        give them.

                a.    Command to remember God's gracious dealings   8:1-10

                b.    Warning against forgetting God's gracious dealings   8:11-20

                c.    Warning against self-righteousness   9-10:11

                d.    Requirements of God   10:12-22

                e.    Reasons for obedience   11

                    (1)    God's past dealings   11:1-7

                    (2)    God's blessing in the land   11:8-32

            C.    Summary of statutes and ordinances   12-26

                        After presenting the basic command of love and submission to God's

                        authority over our lives, specific commands are issued.

                1.    Commandments emphasizing religious significance   12-18

                             Some of these commands deal with religious issues. . . .

                             It was apparent that God's people were to be different from the other

                        nations of the world in regard to religious matters.

                             Our allegiance and submission to Yahweh alone should be

                             demonstrated in every area of our lives.

                2.    Commandments emphasizing civil significance   19-26:15

                             Moses also gave the covenant people an extended list of commands

                             which emphasize proper conduct in our civic and political lives.

                             These commandments deal with matters such as murder, private

                             property, trespassing, war, family problems, clothing, social assistance,

                             treatment of animals, marriage, slavery, moral conduct and justice.

                             Every area of our lives should be affected by our walk with God.

                3.    Commandment requiring general obedience   26:16-19

                             In conclusion, we're warned to be obedient to God and His laws.

                             We should reveal our distinct relationship to this unique God by our

                             lifestyle.

                             Holiness will glorify Him.

    IV.    Third message: Consequences of their response   27-28

                   Two alternatives for God's people

                    If they obey Him, they will be blessed

                    If they rebel, God will judge them

                 Importance of Deuteronomy   28-30:

                      Key to understanding Israel's history from God's perspective.

                      Prophets repeatedly go back to this summary sermon.

                 Sets graphically before Israel the two alternatives they may choose to follow.

                 The people would be divided between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. The

                 two groups would demonstrate that there are two alternatives.

                      If Israel obeys God's voice, He will send abundant blessing.

                       If they choose disobedience, the results will be an equally abundant

                            cursing.

                 They must choose which they prefer.

            A.    Recording of the message   27:1-8

            B.    Motive for obedience   27:9-10

            C.    Results of response   27:11-28:68

                1.    Division of the people   27:11-14

                2.    Curses to remember   27:15-26

                3.    Blessing for obedience   28:1-14

                4.    Cursing for disobedience   28:15-68

    V.    Fourth message: Second covenant confirmed   29-30

              Logically subordinate to the preceding one, relates these two alternatives to

            their past history and to God's future plan for His people

              The past deliverance of Israel in spite of her rebellion is related to the promise

              of future blessing.

              Once again Israel is invited to enter into a covenant relationship with Jehovah.

              On the basis of this covenant, those who disobey will be judged.

              However, even in the midst of judgment, when the people repent and return

              to Yahweh they are promised that He will restore them and bless them again.

              This is the basis for their hope in the future.

              God will draw them to Himself once again and they will receive His blessing.

              The message closes with the exhortation to make the right choice and

              experience God's blessing.

        A.    Addition of the covenant   29:1

        B.    Obedience because of deliverance   29:2-9