What Deuteronomy Teaches Me About God’s Character? (Deuteronomy 1-4)

A Few Thoughts to Consider

Why did God give us the book of Deuteronomy?

“The book of Deuteronomy can rightly be called a compendium of the most important ideas of the Old Testament.”^[1] The central theme of Deuteronomy revolves around the renewal of the covenant between God and the Israelites. As the leader and mediator, Moses emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commandments, the consequences of disobedience, and the blessings that come with faithfulness. Deuteronomy is a call to faith and commitment, urging the Israelites to uphold their covenant with God as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.

Bill Arnold makes the following helpful observations. He notes that “Deuteronomy crystallizes the themes and messages of the first four books of the Bible, while at the same time it establishes the theological foundation for the books of history and prophecy to follow.”^[2] “Deuteronomy is truly a solid fulcrum by means of which one gains a clearer insight into the message of the entire Old Testament.”^[3]

As for the breakdown of this book, Arnold notes, “Early in the history of scholarship on the book, interpreters of Deuteronomy observed that its recurring self-references create a system of four superscriptions, dividing the book into speech, law, covenant, and blessing.”^[4] We notice these four superscriptions in the following verses:

·      Speech | “These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel.” – Deuteronomy 1:1

·      Law | “This is the law Moses gave the Israelites.” – Deuteronomy 4:44

·      Covenant | “These are the words of the covenant that the Lord commanded Moses to make with the Israelites.” – Deuteronomy 29:1

·      Blessing | “This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, gave the Israelites before his death.” – Deuteronomy 33:1

The structure of Deuteronomy revolves around three speeches by Moses. As Arnold notes, “The first speech combines a historical review with a sermon (1:6–4:40), the second presents the Torah for Israel (5:1–29:1 [Heb. 5:1–28:69]), and the third speech ratifies a covenant ceremony on the plains of Moab (29:2–30:20 [Heb. 29:1–30:20]).” Arnold goes on to say, “These speeches are introduced, framed, and sometimes interrupted by brief narrative notations, and followed finally by narratives and poems related to the death of Moses (31:1–34:12).”^[5]

In Deuteronomy 1-4, Moses gives a speech to the people and recounts the Israelites' journey from Mount Sinai to the plains of Moab. He reflects on their history, reminding them of God's guidance and provision. Moses emphasizes the need for obedience to God's commandments, recounting instances of disobedience and its consequences. The section serves as a foundation for the covenant renewal, setting the stage for the Israelites to enter the Promised Land with a renewed commitment to follow God's laws. Deuteronomy 4:1-4 is one of the critical parts of Moses’ speech,

“Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and ordinances I am teaching you to follow, so that you may live, enter, and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. ² You must not add anything to what I command you or take anything away from it, so that you may keep the commands of the Lord your God I am giving you. ³ Your eyes have seen what the Lord did at Baal-peor, for the Lord your God destroyed every one of you who followed Baal of Peor. ⁴ But you who have remained faithful to the Lord your God are all alive today. 

A Meditation to PRAY

Praise | I praise you for your enduring statutes and judgments. Your words testify to your steadfast love and commitment to guiding your people toward a life of obedience and blessing.

Release | You have made your will known. Help me to live in obedience to you. I release my inclination to do things my way. As the Israelites were cautioned against idolatry, I, too, surrender any idols in my heart, anything that might lead me away from your presence and your truth.