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DEUTERONOMY Outline & Overview
Deut. 1-4: The book begins with the historical stage being
set in verses 1-7. The setting is on
the Plains of Moab on the edge of the promised land. In v.5, there is the first reference to
Torah (“this law”). Then
the LORD turns Moses’ focus upon the covenantal promise of the land
to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) in v. 8. The LORD reminds Moses of the promises
made in Gen. 12:2 and 15:5 in v. 11, 12.
The first four chapters focus our attention on a number of key
themes that will be clarified and explained throughout the book:
commandments-statutes-judgments (1:18; 4:1,5,6,14; 4:40,44f) and covenant
(4:13); the Exodus from Egypt (1:30; 4:10f,20); the Land (1:21,22; 2:29,31;
3:2,18,20; 4:1,2,5,14); Repentance (1:41,45; 4:29); Forgiveness (4:31);
Rebellion-sin-forgetting what the LORD has done “before their
eyes” (1:26f,32,35,43; 4:3,9,23,24f,34); “Remember”
(4:9); “Fear not” (1:21,29; 3:2); Wilderness (1:19,31,40; 2:7);
God the Divine Warrior (1:30,42; 2:25,33f; 3:2,21-22). There is also a recurring rhetorical
question: “What god is there in heaven or in earth,
that can do according to thy works, and according to thy mighty
acts?” (3:24; cf.4:32f). The succession
of Joshua is also introduced (3:28). Particularly in chapter 3,
the focus seems to be on God’s faithfulness to Israel as Divine Warrior. Israel is conquering her enemies and God
through Israel is making a new creation, establishing Israel over the land
to be fruitful, and multiply, to replenish the earth, to subdue the land,
and have dominion over it (Dt. 3:6f,18-20; cf.
Gen. 2:28). Christ’s future
ministry is foreshadowed in Moses’ ministry (4:21-22,31). Summary: Historical prologue and the
covenantal conditions for possessing the land.
Deut. 5-11: Moses calls to Israel as Mediator who represented them at Horeb (5:5), and proclaims the Torah of God given at
Sinai, recorded in Exodus 20 (cf. Dt. 5:6f). He reminds them of their fear of
God’s presence at Sinai (5:22f).
He reminds them that they heard God from the midst of the fire
(5:24f). Chapter five and six
reemphasizes the importance of covenantal obedience to God’s
commandments in order to possess the land.
In Dt. 6:4f, Moses tells the Israelites
that the imperatives spoken to them in the Torah is
founded upon the indicative- - that is, who God is as he has revealed
himself to Israel. He tells
Israel of the foundational response of love and not
fear of God, and the importance of passing on this “good news”
to their heritage (6:6f). He tells
them in chapter 6 that unbelief is forgetting what God has done for them
and thus commanded obedience from them.
In Chapter 7, Moses tells them that to destroy the people of the
land and avoid syncretism because it will result in idolatry and unbelief
(7:3f). God chose Israel because of his divine love for them
(7:6-9). Israel is told to trust in
God’s provision and protection as they take the land, remembering the
Exodus from Egypt, and the mighty power he displayed as their Divine Warrior
(7:18f). Chapters 8-11 are reminders
of what Moses said in chapter 4, with similar themes listed above running
through chapters 1-11. Summary:
Because of God’s works,
they should believe and be obedient to God’s words! Christ’s
ministry on behalf of his people is foreshadowed in his doing of
God’s works and delivering God’s words.
Deut 12:26: The same words begin chapter 12 that are the same
words used in 4:1 and 5:1: “These are the statutes and the
judgments…” Chapter 12 is concerned with breaking down altars-
- ridding the land of idolatry- -and setting up the true worship of God:
the worship which God commands to his people. The blood of animals is introduced in
sacrificial worship (12:23f).
Chapter 13 introduces true prophets of God’s words. Chapter 14 describes clean and unclean
foods that Israel is expected to follow in their diet. God is revealing how they are set apart
even in their diet to be holy unto the LORD their God (14:3-21). God tells them the importance of giving
their firstfruits of all their produce and cattle
(14:22f). This is to provide for the
Levitical priesthood, but also those who are poor
and oppressed: the strangers, the orphans, and the widows (14:27f). Chapter 15 teaches Israel how they are to handle debts and debtors.
Chapter 16 introduces Israel to the annual celebration of the Feasts of
Passover, Weeks, Unleavened Bread, and Tabernacles, ultimately to remember
their Exodus from Egypt (16:1-17).
God also reveals the outward and visible structure Israel is to have with authorities such as judges and
officers representing God’s authority in heaven over Israel (Theocracy) (16:18f). Chapter 17 reveals further God’s
theocratic government. God
establishes the structure of the “visible Israel” with Levites, judges, and officers who
are to “wield the sword” as God’s representative
authorities over Israel. The
chapter ends with a warning of having a king over Israel. The
point seems to be that Israel is a Theocracy with God as king and not a Realpolitic State such as the other pagan nations.
Chapter 18 describes the authority of the Levites and their
provision as priestly leaders of Israel. There is
another warning of false prophets and magicians dwelling among Israel and a promise of a prophet like Moses to be
raised up in the future (18:15f)- - prophets are
raised up by God and thus derive their authority from God to speak his
words to Israel. God
reveals further laws to govern Israel in the land in chapter 19; laws to
protect Israel from murderers and the legal principle of “an eye for
eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” to be meted out
(19:21).
Chapter 20 gives Israel laws and methods concerning war. These laws are founded upon God, the
Divine Warrior (21:1-14). God gives Israel laws concerning marriage, family, specifically those concerning rebellion in the covenantal family
(21:15f). Chapter 22 gives laws
concerning possessions. Chapter 23
further describes Israel’s holiness in worship and that no
unbeliever is allowed to enter into covenantal worship (23:22f). Laws against various practices such as
usury, vows, etc. are continued in chapter 23. Chapter 24 is concerned with marriage
laws and the punishment of stealing in Israel. Chapter
25 and 26 contain further laws concerning death, fighting amongst brothers
in Israel, and the first fruits are again emphasized—the belong to
the LORD by faith. Summary: God is
setting up a government of his holy nation Israel to enforce the laws which he has delivered to Israel, and to punish wrongdoers. Christ is foreshadowed in that he came as
prophet, priest and king of his people to inaugurate God’s rule over
his people upon the earth and to visibly reign.
Deut. 27-28: Moses describes the blessings for covenantal
obedience in possessing and living prosperously in the land; he warns the
Israelites of curses for covenantal disobedience. Summary: “If you listen diligently
to the LORD and observe all the commandments…blessings beyond
imagination!” “If you
will not listen to the LORD and observe all the commandments…curses
beyond imagination!” Order in Israel will be turned to chaos; Eden will become like the wilderness; Israel will be punished like the Egyptians- -the
enemies of God.
Deut. 29-30: Moses reminds the Israelites again of what they
have seen and heard in Egypt. Again,
Moses warns of covenantal disobedience and describes Israel’s future as like Sodom and Gomorrah (29:23f).
God tells Israel to obey the things revealed and remember the
reasons, or the secret things belong to his Divine wisdom (29:29). In chapter 30, God tells Israel they will inevitably disobey the covenant, but
if they will return and repent he will forgive them. The great promise of God is that even
though Israel is unfaithful to the covenant, God will keep his
promises! God will circumcise the hearts of his people so they can lives obediently (30:5f). In verses 11-20, God reminds the
Israelites that obedience is founded not upon their sacrifices, but
ultimately their love for God.
Summary: It is love for God that causes them to desire to obey the
covenant. Christ fulfilled the law
and came and circumcised the hearts of his people fulfilling the promises
to Abraham and his seed and taking the curses of the law upon him on the
cross.
Deut. 31-34: Chapter 31 describes the final events in
Moses’ life before the Israelites cross over to possess the promise
land under Joshua their mediator.
God reminds the Israelites to “be strong and of good courage;
to not be afraid” of the people now inhabiting the land they are to
possess, for the LORD will go before them and secure their victory
(31:6f). Among Moses’ last
words is a very sober prophecy in 31:29f: Israel will forget all that he had told them and
disobey the covenant. Chapter 32 is
a veritable gold mine of revelation describing God’s attributes and
faithfulness to Israel- - to his people.
Chapter 33 changes from Moses’ first person speech to that of
a third person narrator. Chapter 33
describes the blessings to each of the tribes of Israel. Chapter
34 concludes the book with the death of Moses, his burial, his uniqueness
as a prophet of God. From v. 10 it
would seem this ending may have been written at a period much later than
the first person events described in the previous chapters of Deuteronomy.
OUTLINE OF DEUTERONOMY
I.
Historical
Significance of the Covenantal Torah in Israel’s Past [1-4]
A.
Introduction
(1:1-5)
B.
Possess the
Land based on God’s Covenantal Promises (1:6-4:49)
1.
Remember the
land promised to the patriarchs (1:8-18)
2.
Remember the
wilderness wanderings because of fear and disobedience (1:19-2:8)
3.
Remember
God’s faithfulness in his deliverance from the wilderness to Moab (2:9-3:29)
C.
Listen and
obey the Statutes and the Judgments in order to Possess the Land (4:1-4:49)
1.
Remember the
commandments of God declared by Moses TODAY (4:1-8)
2.
Remember the commandments of God declared by Moses
at SINAI (4:10-24)
3.
Remember The
reality of covenantal disobedience and God’s mercy (4:25-31)
4.
Remember The
uniqueness of God’s revelation to Israel (4:32-49)
II.
Significance of Covenant Torah with Israel Today
[5-11]
A.
Retelling of
the Torah at Sinai (5:1-6:3)
1.
Be careful
to obey all that the LORD has commanded (5:32-33)
2.
Covenant
land based upon covenant obedience (6:1-3)
B.
Covenant
Obedience and Commands founded upon God’s Revelation (6:1-25)
1.
God’s
revelation of himself to Israel (6:4-9)
2.
The
importance of Israel’s remembering the covenant and God’s
faithfulness when they possess the land (6:10-25)
C.
The
Importance of Israel’s Covenantal Purity (7:1-26)
1.
Avoidance of
marriage into pagan nations and the practice of idolatry (7:1-5)
2.
God’s
electing love for Israel (7:6-26)
D.
Prosperity
in the Land because of Covenantal Obedience (8:1-8:20)
E.
Do not fear
the inhabitants of the land but trust in God’s faithfulness as in the
Exodus (9:1-10:11)
1.
Fear the
LORD through obedience as you possess the land (10:12-10:22)
F.
Obey
God’s Commands because of Love for God (11:1-11:32)
1.
Remember
God’s love in the Exodus (11:1-4)
2.
Remember
God’s love in the wilderness (11:5-12)
3.
Possession
of the land is founded upon covenantal obedience out of love for God (11:13-25)
4.
Blessings
and curses (11:26-32)
III.
Significance
of the Covenantal Torah in Israel’s Future (12-26)
A.
Destroy
Idolatry and Worship the LORD only (12:1-32)
B.
Destroy
False Prophets (13:1-14:2)
C.
Dietary Laws
for Israel: clean and unclean animals (14:3-21)
D.
Offering the
Firstfruits of Cattle and Produce (14:22-29)
E.
Monetary
Laws for Israel (15:1-23)
F.
Observance
of Feasts (16:1-17)
1.
Feast of
Passover (16:1-8)
2.
Feast of
Weeks (16:9-12)
3.
Feast of
Tabernacles (16:13-17)
G.
Governing
Officials over Israel (16:18-19:21)
1.
Judges and
officers (16:18-17:7)
2.
Levite
Priests (17:8-18:8)
3.
Prophets
(18:9-22)
4.
Various laws
to protect the citizens of Israel (19:1-21)
H.
Laws for War
(20:1-21:14)
I.
Laws for
Marriage and Family (21:15-23:2)
J.
Relationship
to Pagan Nations (23:3-25)
K.
Various Laws
Concerning Divorce, Stealing, Opression, Tithing
(24:1-25:15)
L.
Laws
Designed for God’s Glory and Israel’s Good (26:16-19)
IV.
Blessings for
Covenantal Obedience; Curses for Covenantal Disobedience [27-28]
A.
Specific
Curses for Individual Disobedience (27:11-26)
B.
Specific
Blessings for National Obedience (28:1-14)
C.
Specific
Blessings for National Disobedience (28:15-68)
V.
Renewal of
the Covenant with Israel Prior to Entering the Promised Land [29-30]
VI.
Moses’ Final Words of Promise and Warning
[31-34]
A.
Obey and
Fear the LORD (31:1-8)
B.
Moses
Records the Words and Entrusts them to the Levites and Joshua (31:9-14)
C.
God Appears
to Moses and Reveals that His Faithfulness to the Covenant despite Israel’s Inevitable Disobedience (31:15-21)
D.
Moses’
Final Blessing to Joshua and Instructions for the Torah of God (31:22-29)
E.
The Song of
Moses (32:1-47)
F.
Moses’
Death will Precede the Entrance into the Land (32:48-52)
G.
The Blessing
of Moses upon the Twelve Tribes of Israel (33:1-29)
H.
The Death of
Moses and Joshua His Successor (34:1-9)
I.
The Legacy
of Moses’ Words and Deeds (34:10-12)
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