Putting the Book of Deuteronomy in Perspective

The book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Old Testament and completes what is known in Judaism as The Torah or, simply, The Law. The title of the book, taken from a combination of two Greek words, means literally "Second Law." The title indicates that the book contains, in a sense, a second giving of the Law of God to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy is basically a book of speeches by Moses to the Israelites who are posed on the east bank of the Jordan River ready to enter the Promised Land of Canaan. Early in the book, he reviews some of the history of the Israelites wandering in the desert. Then he repeats the Ten Commandments and begins to apply them to the imminent invasion of the Promised Land. As Moses speaks, he is well aware that through disobedience, he has forfeited his own opportunity to enter the Promised Land. This is his last chance to instruct and warn the people he has led for 40 years.

J. Sidlow Baxter, in his helpful book, Explore the Book (see details below), calls Deuteronomy a book of transition:

It is a transition to a new generation (the old one died off in the desert)
It is a transition to a new possession (the Promised Land)
It is a transition to a new experience (a settled existence rather than desert wandering)
It is a transition to a new revelation of God (Deuteronomy is the first book to mention the love of God.)

The structure of the book is simple and twofold:

Chapters 1-11-A look back at the wanderings and the giving of the Law
Chapters 12-34-A look ahead as they prepare to enter the Promised Land

A Look Back:

A brief history of the desert wanderings and why the Israelites had to wander
The reason for Moses not being allowed to enter the Promised Land
Obedience to God commanded
Idolatry forbidden
The Ten Commandments repeated
God's love for Israel affirmed

A Look Ahead:

The people told to worship God at only one place
The people told not to worship other gods
Rules about clean and unclean food
Regulations about feasts and offerings
Rules about marriage and other relationships
Curses for disobeying God
Blessings for obeying God
Joshua appointed to succeed God
Closing words of Moses and his death

Important Lessons from Deuteronomy:

There is one true God and many false gods. That is the claim that underlies the entire Bible, not just Deuteronomy. There are religious faiths that assert that everything and everyone is God. The Judeo-Christian faith claims that the one true God created all else. Although there is only one true God, people throughout the ages have created their own gods to worship and serve.

Idolatry is putting anything in the place of the one true God. Deuteronomy tells the people not to put anything less than God in the place of God. Today we may not worship actual idols, but we do elevate many things to take the place of the one who created all things.

Get rid of that which later can cause problems. Israel was told to rid the Promised Land of the inhabitants or they would later turn the hearts of the Israelites away from God. The command is harsh-destroy all the people-but when we apply it to the temptations that draw us away from devotion to God, we can understand the spirit of the command.

God set apart Israel because God loved Israel. In an age when we are so self-centered that we think we can impress God, it is refreshing to hear a word that love is the basis for God choosing people.

There are rewards for obedience and punishments for disobedience. Even people who think that their faith in God will protect them from eternal punishment need to remember that there can be consequences in this life for unhealthy and sinful behavior. There are also benefits from living well. God's refusal to allow Moses to enter the Promised Land illustrates this "law of sowing and reaping."

Don't let the fact this is a book by the Jews for the Jews keep you from reading it. There is much that is helpful for people of many faiths.

Source:

J. Sidlow Baxter, Explore the Book (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing, 1960), 210.