Background to Deuteronomy

“In the beginning God . . .” The Scripture is a saga of God’s dealings

with man and man’s reaction and relationship to God

Events before the giving of the book of Deuteronomy

Creation – Perfection Gen 1,2 “And God saw that it was good”

Adam and Eve – Testing and sin Gen 3 Noah – Obedience in contrast to the whole world’s

corruption Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great

in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Tower of Babel – False worship Abraham, Isaac, Jacob – Faith

Events before the giving of the book of Deuteronomy

Joseph and Egypt – Submission and leadership

400 years in Egypt– God has not forgotten His promise– God raises up a leader

Events before the giving of the book of Deuteronomy

The wilderness experience– Testing

Would they trust God? Would they obey God? Would they follow God?

Events before the giving of the book of Deuteronomy

The wilderness experience – The giving of the Law

God’s covenant and commandments Israel’s promise

Ex 19:8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do.

Israel’s failure– Murmuring – Disobedience– Rebellion

– Judgment

Events before the giving of the book of Deuteronomy

40 years in wilderness– Every male 20 years old and older would die in

the wilderness– Moses would not enter into the promised land

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Introduction:– Deuteronomy means "second law"– Moses is restating the Law to the new

generation– Not a new or different law

Background

A new generation– All of these were 20 years of age and under at Kadesh-

Barnea– It was important that they know God's Word afresh

A new challenge– They had been a pilgrim people in the wilderness – Now they were to enter their Promised Land and

become a settled nation– There would be great battles to fight

Background

A new leader– Moses was about to die– Joshua would take over the leadership

New temptations

Background

A deeper message– Love found 22 times in Deut

Seldom found in Genesis -- Leviticus Love for God Love of God for His people

– Heart found in 45 verses in Deut The Word must be in their hearts Sin begins in the heart They must love God from the heart

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The Theme -- Remember

Remember

Your bondage in EgyptDeut 5:15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the

land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

– In their treatment of servants Deut 15:15– In their observance of the feast of tabernacles

Deut 16:12– In their treatment of the poor Deut 24:18– In their leaving gleanings for the fatherless and widows

Deut 24:22

Remember

God's judgment upon Pharaoh and all EgyptDeut 7:18 Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;

– This would be a source of courage Be not afraid of them

– This would be a source of faithRomans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were

written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Remember

God's dealings with youDeut 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which

the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

– God's mercy in forgiving– God's grace in leading– God's purpose in testing

Remember

The LORDDeut 8:18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it

is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

– All blessings come from HimJames 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,

and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

– He is the only source of salvationActs 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none

other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Remember

Your rebellious waysDeut 9:7 Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the

LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD.

– This is not something in which to glory1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and

stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

– It is something to keep you humble– It is something to keep you aware of your weakness

Remember

Your godly heritage in Abraham, Isaac and JacobDeut 9:27 Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac,

and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin:

– Follow their ways– Do not follow the ways of the ungodly

generation before you or you will be ungodly as they were

Remember

The day of your salvationDeut 16:3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it;

seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.

– Continually keep this day in your remembrance– Annually celebrate the Passover

Remember

Amalek– Deut 25:17 Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye

were come forth out of Egypt;– The battle against Amalek

Exodus 17:11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

Deut 25:19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.

– King Saul forgot 1 Sam 15:2,3

Remember

The history of IsraelDeut 32:7 Remember the days of old, consider the

years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.

– The scattering of the people at the Tower of Babel

– The calling of God's people– Their faithfulness in following the Lord and not

having any other gods before Him

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The message– Go in and possess the land – Hear God's Word– Love Him with all your heart – Hearken (obey) to all of the commandments

Key words

Land - 153 Possess 65 Inherit 36 Hear 44, Hearken 27 Love 20 Heart 46 All, every

Key words

Commandments– Command 41– Commanded 39– Commandment 6– Commandments 43– Statutes 29– Law 24– Judgment 13– Judgments 20