In the remainder of Moses’ second sermon – which began at 5:1 – he continues to apply and clarify the Law. In these chapters he adds flesh to the skeleton of the Law with statutes that apply to specific situations. This study will highlight certain statutes and seek to explain their historical-cultural context. Some of […]
The foundation of the covenant is its prohibition against worshiping any god other than Yahweh. Nothing is more fundamental to the people’s place as God’s chosen people than their exclusive worship of Him. Thus violations of the first two commandments are to be dealt with in the harshest terms. In Chapter 13 Moses lists specific […]
Moses reaches the end of his discussion of the importance of the Law that he began in 5:1. In this chapter he repeats many of the themes and warnings he has discussed throughout this address. It is critical that the people love God and obey Him as they enter and conquer the land. They must […]
Moses begins to conclude this portion of his second sermon (which began in 5:1) by explaining how the incidents he has described affect the people going forward. His concluding remarks will lead into the specific application of the Law which begins in 12:1. Along with 30:15-19, this is one of the key passages in Deuteronomy. […]
In these verses (along with verses 18-19) Moses records his response to the people’s sin with the golden calf. After rebuking them and making them realize the seriousness of their actions he rushes back to God and appeals to Him to spare the people. What drives him are God’s words in verse 14 – “Let […]
No one earns Canaan. No one deserves the Promised Land. This is the message Moses wants to convey to the people with this part of his sermon in Chapter 9. He goes to great lengths to make sure they know their upcoming conquest has nothing to do with them. It is all about purging the […]
The first six verses of this chapter discussed trials and discipline. In those verses Moses explained the purposes of the rough times the people experienced over the last forty years. What at first appeared to be harsh treatment at the hands of God was actually a measure of His grace and love. God used the […]
How are we to respond to trials? How do we know when God is behind a trial? What does God want us to learn through a trial? What is the proper response to prosperity and blessing? How do we know when our prosperity is from God? What brings us closer to God – trial or […]
In the second half of Chapter 6 Moses preached to the people about their lives in the Promised Land after the conquest. In Chapter 7 he discusses the conquest itself. He instructs them as to their role in driving out the inhabitants of Canaan and reassures them that God’s presence and power will be with […]
Moses moves on from the Shema and gives the Israelites a series of imperatives for after they enter and conquer the land. He does not address what they will do to settle the land but tells them what they must remember after the battles are done and they have taken possession. Once they no longer […]
thegamutblog 