« June 22, 2010 | Home | June 23, 2010 »
How to Read Deuteronomy
(Every time we begin a new book, I will post a short aide on How to Read that book that will hopefully help you get the most out of your reading)
Content: Rehearsal of the covenant for a new generation of Israelites just before the conquest.
Author & Date: Tradition holds that Moses is the author. Deuteronomy covers the final weeks east of the Jordan.
Emphases: The oneness and uniqueness of Yahweh, the God of Israel, over against all other gods; Yahweh’s covenant love for Israel in making them his people; Yahweh’s universal sovereignty over all peoples; Israel as Yahweh’s model for the nations; the significance of the central sanctuary where Yahweh is to be worshiped; Yahweh’s concern for justice – that his people reflect his character; the blessings of obedience and the dangers of disobedience.
How to read Deuteronomy: Deuteronomy is essentially a restatement of God’s covenant for a new generation in the style of an ancient Near Eastern suzerainty treaty-covenant. Remember that because of the people’s disbelief on the edge of the Promised Land, they were sentenced to wander in the wilderness until the generation died off (except Joshua and Caleb). And now the new generation is ready to enter the Promised Land, but needs to be reminded of what it means to be God’s people. The suzerainty treaty-covenant is a covenant made between a king and his servants that would include a preamble and historical prologue (chs. 1-4), stipulations (the laws in 5-26), document clauses (reminders of the terms of the covenant in 27 & 31), sanctions (the blessings and curses in 28-29 & 32-33) and witnesses (4:26;30:19-20; 31). Some of the main features to look for include:
1) The importance of serving God only – the Shema in 6:4-5 (see memory verse) was the distinguishing mark of Judaism and is the most important commandment, according to Jesus.
2) The reminders that Israel is about to possess the land, fulfilling the oath God made to Abraham.
3) The demand that Israel not only avoid idolatry but destroy the Canaanite people and their places of worship. The only way they can bless the nations is to obliterate all forms of idolatry and walk in the ways of God.
4) The importance of worshiping regularly at one central sanctuary (the tabernacle) instead of many high places throughout the land (like the pagans).
Deuteronomy may seem like a repeat of things we’ve already learned, but it is very difficult to understand the rest of the Biblical story without understanding Deuteronomy.
Memory Verse – Deuteronomy 6:4-5 – “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
Much of this material is drawn from “How to Read the Bible Book by Book” by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you sign up to receive future readings sent directly to your email inbox.!
Books: Deuteronomy, How to Read No Comments »
Comments
Stay connected! Be notified via e-mail when others leave comments on this site, click here and sign up now!