DEUTERONOMY: LIFE ON THE EDGE
Unit 2: Listen! Love God above All
Setting Context Lesson Outline
(Sanctity
of Life Lesson)
January 15 Be Resolute
About Life's Value
Deut.
5:6-21; 19:1-13; 24:6-22; Matt. 5:17-26
Deut.
5:17; 19:7-13; 24:6-7; Matt. 5:17-20
January 22 Be
Exclusive
Deuteronomy
1:1–4:43
Deuteronomy
4:5-10, 15-19, 39-40
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SETTING
While
we look at the five Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and
Deuteronomy) as five separate books (Pentateuch), it is essentially one piece
of writing. Genesis gives the beginnings: creation, man, sin, salvation,
covenant, and Abraham’s family. Exodus sees Abraham’s family become the nation
of Israel as they travel from Egypt to Mt. Sinai. Numbers finds them at Mt.
Sinai. From Sinai they will travel to Kadesh-barnea
twice within a forty year period. They will wander in the wilderness between
them. Numbers ends where Deuteronomy begins, in the plains of Moab preparing to
conquer the land of promise. Here Moses makes his final case for obeying and
worshiping the LORD their God.
THE COVENANT
The
covenant that begins to reveal God’s specific plans in salvation starts in
Genesis 12 with Abraham. The Abrahamic covenant is made by God in such a way
that all the provision are God’s responsibility to accomplish. This is called
an unconditional covenant because God assumes all the responsibilities. The
three major components of the Abrahamic covenant are land, seed, and blessing.
The
land promise is fulfilled in the Mosaic covenant. This covenant is called a
conditional covenant because it maintains “blessings and cursings”
depending on whether or not Israel keeps the conditions. This covenant will
become obsolete because man is not capable of meeting salvific conditions.
Of
course the seed promise will be fulfilled through King David by Jesus Christ
and the blessing promise will be fulfilled when the new covenant replaces the
Mosaic covenant. The new covenant of Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36 is an
unconditional covenant whereby, once again, God does all the saving.
THE TEN COMMANMENTS
The heart of the books of Moses
is the Ten Commandments. They reveal how man must relate to God (tablet one)
and how he should relate to other men because of how he relates to God (tablet
two). The rest of the Old Testament calls Israel to either continue or return
to following these Ten Commandments. Deuteronomy provides a commentary on the
Ten Commandments which links obedience and worship.
|
The Ten Commandments |
Tablet 1: DIVINE |
Tablet 2: HUMAN |
|
Authority |
Commandment
1 |
Commandment
5 |
|
Dignity |
Commandment
2 |
Commandment
6, 7, 8 |
|
Commitment |
Commandment
3 |
Commandment
9 |
|
Rights &
Privileges |
Commandment
4 |
Commandment
10 |
Form of the Deuteronomic
Covenant.
Modern biblical scholarship has
established that the Sinai covenant and its renewals were formally patterned
after a particular type of human covenant, namely the suzerainty treaty of the
ancient world (an agreement between a great power and a lesser power).
Archaeological discoveries in the 20th century have brought to light a number
of such international political documents, the most interesting coming from the
ancient Hittite empire and dating from approximately the 14th century b.c. Study of those treaty
documents has revealed a fairly consistent pattern. Comparison with biblical
passages describing the Sinai covenant shows a remarkable parallel. The
structural parallel between the suzerainty treaties and the Book of Deuteronomy
is outlined in the table, “Parallels Between Hittite
Suzerainty Treaties and the Book of Deuteronomy,” which omits many minor
details of similarity.
Parallels
Between Hittite Suzerainty Treaties and the Book of
Deuteronomy
|
Structure
of Hittite Suzerainty |
Structure
of Deuteronomy, |
|
1. Preamble.
“These are the words of the Great King…” |
1. Preamble
(1:1–6). “These are the words which Moses spoke…” |
|
2. Historical
Prologue. The events leading up to the treaty. |
2. Historical
Prologue (1:7–4:49). Events leading up to the making and renewing of the
covenant. |
|
3. General
Stipulations. The loyalty due to the suzerain. |
3. General
Stipulations (5–11). The loyalty due to God. |
|
4. Specific
Stipulations. Detailed law relating to the vassal’s obedience to the
suzerain. |
4. Specific
Stipulations (12–26). The detailed Hebrew casuistic law. |
|
5. Divine
Witnesses. Called to witness the making of the treaty (“heaven and
earth”). |
5. Divine
Witness (32). The witness of “heaven and earth” (30:19; 32:1). |
|
6. Curses
and Blessings. Contingent upon disobedience or obedience. |
6. Curses
and Blessings (27, 28). Contingent upon disobedience or obedience. |
In
Deuteronomy the Hebrews seem to have adapted the form
of international suzerainty treaties to express their own covenant relationship
with God. Why did they choose that particular form? Perhaps the Hebrews had
been bound to their Egyptian masters by that kind of treaty, so they wanted to
dramatize their liberation by making a new treaty, this time with their God at
Sinai. Also, the Sinai covenant formed the constitution of a new but small Near
Eastern nation. Whereas other small nations commonly depended for their
existence on the generosity of a suzerain power (e.g., Egypt) Israel was to be
a free nation, owing allegiance only to God. Israel’s “treaty” with God meant
that it could acknowledge no other master. Its freedom and strength lay in its
wholehearted commitment to God alone.1
__________
1Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel,
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible
(Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1988). 534-35.
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CONTEXT
I. Preamble to the Covenant (1:1–6). “These are the words which Moses
spoke…”
II. Historical Prologue to the Covenant (1:7–4:49). Events
leading up to the making and renewing of the covenant.
1. The Past Dealings
of the Lord with Israel (1:6–3:29)
(1) Events at Horeb (1:6–18)
The Command to
Journey On (1:6–8)
The Incapacity of
Moses (1:9–15)
The Instructions
of Moses (1:16–18)
(2) Instructions at Kadesh Barnea (1:19–25)
(3) Disobedience at Kadesh Barnea (1:26–33)
(4) Judgment at Kadesh Barnea (1:34–40)
(5) Unsuccessful
Conquest of Canaan (1:41–46)
(6) The Journey from
Kadesh Barnea to Moab
(2:1–15)
Instructions
concerning Edom (2:1–8)
Instructions
concerning Moab (2:9–15)
(7) Conflict with Transjordanian Enemies (2:16–3:11)
Instructions
concerning Ammon (2:16–25)
Defeat of Sihon, King of Heshbon (2:26–37)
Defeat of Og, King of Bashan (3:1–11)
(8) Distribution of
the Transjordanian Allotments (3:12–17)
(9) Instructions to
the Transjordanian Tribes (3:18–22)
(10) Denial to Moses
of the Promised Land (3:23–29)
2. The Exhortation of
Moses (4:1–40)
(1) The Privileges
of the Covenant (4:1–8)
(2) Reminder of the Horeb Covenant (4:9–14)
(3) The Nature of
Israel’s God (4:15–24)
(4) Threat and
Blessing Following Covenant Disobedience (4:25–31)
(5) The Uniqueness
of Israel’s God (4:32–40)
3. The Preparation
for the Covenant Text (4:41–49)
(1) The Narrative
Concerning Cities of Refuge (4:41–43)
(2) The Setting and
Introduction (4:44–49)
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LESSON
Moses
closes his historical review of God’s work in Israel from Egypt to the plains
of Moab with an appeal to worship through obedience.
(1) The Privileges
of the Covenant (4:1–8)
All
the nations around have sought divine wisdom by the trial and error method. God
has uniquely blessed Israel by telling them what he expects. Following His
directions in loving obedience will impress the watching world by the richness
of their laws and thus, the loving nearness of their God.
'This
great nation is indeed a wise and understanding people.' 7 For what
great nation is there that has a god near to it as the LORD our God is to us
whenever we call to Him? 8 And what great nation has righteous
statutes and ordinances like this entire law I set before you today?” (Deu 4:6b-8 CSB)
(2) Reminder of the
Horeb Covenant (4:9–14)
Israel
recalls the great Day at Mt. Horeb (Sinai) when they
assembled at the base of the Mountain. There they learned the fear of the LORD
and committed themselves to follow His directions. They quaked in terror at
they were instructed to follow the LORD and teach their children the same.
Moses reminds them of this event and commands their diligent attention to
obedience for them and their children and their children’s children.
(3) The Nature of
Israel’s God (4:15–24)
Moses
draws particular reference to God’s dignity as God has placed the witness of
that dignity in Israel’s hands. They must not worship the creation in place of
the Creator. All the nations have the Sun, Moon, and Stars, but Israel is not
to be led astray by that worship or confuse God’s worship with them. This would
demean God and God is Jealous of His dignity, His people, and His proper
worship.
24 For the LORD your God
is a consuming fire, a jealous God. (Deu 4:24 CSB)
(4) Threat and
Blessing Following Covenant Disobedience (4:25–31)
Moses
understands both the inability of man to love God truly and the overwhelming
compassion of the LORD their God. He calls “Heaven and Earth” to witness the
failure of Israel to keep God’s trust, the judgment of God in dispersing them
to the nations, and restoring love of God to return them in spite of
themselves.
30 When you are in distress
and all these things have happened to you, you will return to the LORD your God
in later days and obey Him. 31 He will not leave you, destroy you,
or forget the covenant with your fathers that He swore to them by oath, because
the LORD your God is a compassionate God. (Deu 4:30-31
CSB)
(5) The Uniqueness
of Israel’s God (4:32–40)
The
one and only God, the Creator and Owner of all things, He has performed a
unique series of events in human history. Israel is the first and only nation
that God has claimed for His own. He has rescued Israel with a strong arm and
has prospered her by the same means. He has spoken to Israel and demonstrated a
love for Her based on a love for Her patriarchs. This
all the reason Israel needs to love and obey the LORD their God.
37 Because He loved your
fathers, He chose their descendants after them and brought you out of Egypt by
His presence and great power, 38 to drive out before you nations
greater and stronger than you and to bring you in and give you their land as an
inheritance, as is now taking place.39 Today, recognize and keep in
mind that the LORD is God in heaven above and on earth below; there is no
other. 40 Keep His statutes and commands,
which I am giving you today, so that you and your children after you may
prosper and so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving
you for all time." (Deu 4:37-40 CSB)
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I. Preamble to the Covenant (1:1–6). “These are the words which Moses
spoke…”
II. Historical Prologue to the Covenant (1:7–4:49). Events
leading up to the making and renewing of the covenant.
1. The Past Dealings
of the Lord with Israel (1:6–3:29)
(1) Events at Horeb (1:6–18)
The Command to
Journey On (1:6–8)
The Incapacity of
Moses (1:9–15)
The Instructions
of Moses (1:16–18)
(2) Instructions at Kadesh Barnea (1:19–25)
(3) Disobedience at Kadesh Barnea (1:26–33)
(4) Judgment at Kadesh Barnea (1:34–40)
(5) Unsuccessful
Conquest of Canaan (1:41–46)
(6) The Journey from
Kadesh Barnea to Moab
(2:1–15)
Instructions
concerning Edom (2:1–8)
Instructions
concerning Moab (2:9–15)
(7) Conflict with Transjordanian Enemies (2:16–3:11)
Instructions
concerning Ammon (2:16–25)
Defeat of Sihon, King of Heshbon (2:26–37)
Defeat of Og, King of Bashan (3:1–11)
(8) Distribution of
the Transjordanian Allotments (3:12–17)
(9) Instructions to
the Transjordanian Tribes (3:18–22)
(10) Denial to Moses
of the Promised Land (3:23–29)
2. The Exhortation of
Moses (4:1–40)
(1) The Privileges
of the Covenant (4:1–8)
(2) Reminder of the Horeb Covenant (4:9–14)
(3) The Nature of
Israel’s God (4:15–24)
(4) Threat and
Blessing Following Covenant Disobedience (4:25–31)
(5) The Uniqueness
of Israel’s God (4:32–40)
3. The Preparation
for the Covenant Text (4:41–49)
(1) The Narrative
Concerning Cities of Refuge (4:41–43)
(2) The Setting and
Introduction (4:44–49)
III. General Stipulations of the Covenant (5–11). The loyalty due to God.
1. The Opening Exhortation
(5:1–5)
2. The Ten
Commandments (5:6–21)
(1) The Commandments
Pertaining to Humankind’s Relationship to God (5:6–15)
Commandment 1. Divine Authority—Deut 5:6-7 [Deut 6-11]
Commandment 2. Divine Dignity—Deut 5:8-10 [Deut 12]
Commandment 3. Divine Commitment—Deut 5:11 [Deut 13:1-14:21]
Commandment 4. Divine Rights & Privileges—Deut
5:12-15 [Deut 14:22-16:17]
(2) The Commandments
Pertaining to Humankind’s Relationship to Others (5:16–21)
Commandment 5. Human Authority—Deut 5:16 [Deut 16:18-18:22]
Commandment 6. Human Dignity—Deut 5:17 [Deut 19:1-21:23]
Commandment 7. Human Dignity—Deut 5:18 [Deut 22:1-23:14]
Commandment 8. Human Dignity—Deut 5:19 [Deut 23:15-24:7]
Commandment 9. Human Commitment—Deut 5:20 [Deut 24:8-24:16]
Commandment 10. Human Rights & Privileges—Deut 5:21 [Deut
24:17-26:15]
3. The Narrative
Relating the Sinai Revelation and Israel’s Response (5:22–33)
(1) The Rehearsal of
the Theophany (5:22–27)
(2) The Preparations
for the Covenant Stipulations (5:28–33)
4. Commentary on the
Ten Commandments (6-26
Commandment
1.
Divine Authority (Deut 6-11)
(1) The Nature of the
Principles (6:1–25)
Exhortation to Keep Them (6:1–3)
The Essence of the Principles (6:4–5)
Exhortation to Teach Them (6:6–9)
Exhortation to Give the Lord Exclusive Recognition and
Worship (6:10–15)
Exhortation to Give the Lord Exclusive Obedience (6:16–19)
Exhortation to Remember the Past (6:20–25)
(2) The Content of the
Principles (7:1–11:32)
The Dispossession of Nonvassals
(7:1–26)
The Lord as the Source of Blessing (8:1–20)
Blessing as a Product of Grace (9:1–10:11)
Love of the Lord and Love of Humankind (10:12–22)
Obedience and Disobedience and Their Rewards (11:1–32)
IV. Specific
Stipulations of the Covenant (12:1–26:15)
Commandment
2.
Divine Dignity (Deut 12)
(1) The Central
Sanctuary (12:1–14)
(2) The Sanctity of
Blood (12:15–28)
(3) The Abomination of
Pagan Gods (12:29–31)
Commandment
3.
Divine Commitment (Deut 13:1-14:21)
(1) The Evil of False
Prophets (12:32–13:18)
(2) The Distinction
between Clean and Unclean Animals (14:1–21)
Commandment
4.
Divine Rights & Privileges (Deut 14:22-16:17)
Commandment
5.
Human Authority (Deut 16:18-18:22)
(1) Judges and Other
Officials (16:18–17:13)
(2) Kings (17:14–20)
(3) Priests and
Levites (18:1–8)
(4) Prophets (18:9–22)
Commandment
6.
Human Dignity (Deut 19:1-21:23)
(1) Laws concerning
Manslaughter (19:1–13)
(2) Laws concerning
Witnesses (19:14–21)
(3) Laws concerning
War (20:1–20)
(4) Laws concerning
Unsolved Murder (21:1–9)
(5) Laws concerning
Wives and Children (21:10–21)
Commandment
7.
Human Dignity (Deut 22:1-23:14)
(1) Laws concerning
Preservation of Life (21:22–22:8)
(2) Illustrations of
the Principle (22:9–12)
(3) Purity in the
Marriage Relationship (22:13–30)
(4) Purity in Public
Worship (23:1–8)
(5) Purity in Personal
Hygiene (23:9–14)
Commandment
8.
Human Dignity (Deut 23:15-24:7)
(1) Purity in
Treatment of the Disadvantaged (23:15–16)
(2) Purity in Cultic
Personnel (23:17–18)
(3) Respect for the
Possessions of Another (23:19–24:7)
Commandment
9.
Human Commitment (Deut 24:8-24:16)
Commandment
10.
Human Rights & Privileges (Deut 24:17-26:15)
(1) Respect for the
Sanctity of Another (25:5–16)
(2) Dealing with the
Amalekites (25:17–19)
(3) Laws of Covenant
Celebration and Confirmation (26:1–15)
Presentation of the Firstfruits
(26:1–11)
Presentation of the Third-year Tithe (26:12–15)
Exhortation and Narrative Interlude (26:16–19)
V. The Curses and
Blessings of the Covenant (27:1–29:1 [28:69])
1. The Gathering at Shechem (27:1–13)
2. The Curses That
Follow Disobedience of Specific Stipulations (27:14–26)
3. The Blessings
That Follow Obedience (28:1–14)
4. The Curses That
Follow Disobedience of General Stipulations (28:15–68)
(1) Curses as Reversal
of Blessings (28:15–19)
(2) Curses by Disease
and Drought (28:20–24)
(3) Curses by Defeat
and Deportation (28:25–37)
(4) The Curse of
Reversed Status (28:38–46)
(5) The Curse of
Military Siege (28:47–57)
(6) The Curse of
Covenant Jeopardy (28:58–68)
5. Narrative
Interlude (29:1 [28:69])
Epilogue:
1.
Historical Review (29:2–30:20)
(1).
Exodus, Wandering, and Conquest (29:2–8 [1–7])
(2). The Present Covenant Setting
(29:9–15 [8–14])
(3). The Results of Covenant
Disobedience (29:16–29 [15–28])
(4). The Results of Covenant
Reaffirmation (30:1–10)
(5). The Appeals for Covenant
Obedience (30:11–20)
2. Deposit
of the Text and Provision for Its Future Implementation (31:1–29)
(1). The Succession by Joshua (31:1–8)
(2). The Deposit of the Text
(31:9–13)
(3). The Commissioning of Joshua
(31:14–23)
(4). The Anticipation of the
Leaders’ Defection (31:24–29)
3. The
Song of Moses (31:30–32:44)
(1). Introduction to the Song (31:30)
(2). Invocation of Witnesses (32:1–4)
(3). Indictment of the People (32:5–6)
(4). Review of Past Blessings (32:7–14)
(5). Israel’s Rebellion (32:15–18)
(6). God’s Promise of Judgment (32:19–25)
(7). The Powerlessness of Other
Gods (32:26–38)
(8). The Vindication of the Lord
(32:39–43)
(9). Conclusion to the Song (32:44)
4.
Narrative Interlude (32:45–52)
(1). Moses’ Exhortation to Obedience (32:45–47)
(2). Instructions Surrounding Moses’ Death (32:48–52)
5. The
Blessing of Moses (33:1–29)
(1). Introduction to the Blessing (33:1–2a)
(2). Historical Review (33:2b-5)
(3). Blessing on Reuben (33:6)
(4). Blessing on Judah (33:7)
(5). Blessing on Levi (33:8–11)
(6). Blessing on Benjamin (33:12)
(7). Blessing on Joseph (33:13–17)
(8). Blessing on Zebulun and
Issachar (33:18–19)
(9). Blessing on Gad (33:20–21)
(10). Blessing on Dan (33:22)
(11). Blessing on Naphtali (33:23)
(12). Blessing on Asher (33:24–25)
(13). A General Praise and Blessing on Israel (33:26–29)
6.
Narrative Epilogue (34:1–12)
(1.) The Death of Moses (34:1–8)
(2). The Epitaph of Moses (34:9–12)[1]