WBS.228
FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP
OLD
TESTAMENT SURVEY – 8
DEUTERONOMY - DEBARIM
Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brethren,
rejoice in IAUE. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous,
but for you it is safe.
The
Torah, The Law, The Law of Moses, The Books of Moses, The Pentateuch. The first
five books of the Tanak, the Old Testament, are referred to by many names; and
they stand out above all the rest of the books of Scripture for one very
particular reason. In the past several
weeks, we have discussed the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. These books were not only “inspired” by the
Holy Spirit, they were literally spoken to Moses directly by IAUE, and Moses recorded
IAUE’s words in the same way a secretary would take dictation.
Leviticus 1:1 And
IAUE called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the
congregation, saying..
Does this mean that the Torah should be
regarded as “more inspired” or “more important” that the rest of the
Scripture? I think religious Hebrews,
today, would say it does. I believe that this special distinction is something
to be considered; not that men today should be abiding by the Levitical law;
because that law has been “disannulled” and replaced by the law of Messiah, the
high priest after the order of Melchisedek.
Hebrews 7:11 If
therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people
received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise
after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a
change also of the law.
13 For he of whom these
things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance
at the altar.
14 For it is evident that
our Master sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning
priesthood.
15 And it is yet far more
evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another
priest,
16 Who is made, not after
the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 For he testifieth, Thou
art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before
for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
19 For the law made nothing
perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh
unto Elohim.
The Levitical law is not relevant to the body
of Messiah as a code of conduct; but the spiritual purposes of the Torah are
still very much relevant, today. In it, IAUE sets forth the foundation for
absolutely everything that affects man.
The accepted biblical principal of study called, “the law of first usage”
(the manner in which a word or concept first appears in Scripture often sets
the standard by which it is to be understood in its usage throughout the
Scripture.) finds virtually all of the “first usage” in the Torah. The Torah introduces and sets the stage for
all spiritual revelation that IAUE will ever give to man. It defines the on-the-scene and reveals the
behind-the-scene forces that are in play that are each trying to bring the plan
and purposes of IAUE to fruition and fulfillment, as well as those that are
doing their very best to thwart it.
Speaking of this very thing, the apostle Paul
declares this of the Torah to the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 10:6 Now
these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil
things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as
were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and
rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit
fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and
twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us tempt Messiah, as
some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as
some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they
are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
DEUTERONOMY
(Greek
for “Second Law”)(Hebrew: Debarim – “words”)
We have distinguished Deuteronomy from the
first four books because this 5th book of the Law was not taken down
by dictation. Moses was not in the
tabernacle listening to and writing down the words of IAUE to produce this book
of the law. This was Moses retelling what
IAUE had already spoken to him.
Remember, the generation that heard Moses
speak the original giving of the law had all died. This was the children of that generation; and
though they grew up with the Torah; they were about to go in and take the land
promised to Abraham as a possession.
Moses was also about to die and would no longer be with the people of
Israel. Moses wanted to speak into the
ears of this second generation the words of IAUE afresh; and to recount much of
the history of the 40 years’ experience in the wilderness. He wanted them to understand that IAUE was
going to enable them to destroy the nations before them and possess the
Promised Land; and to understand that they would hold and enjoy the land in
direct proportion to their faithfulness to keep the laws of IAUE.
This record of the retelling of the law and
history by Moses was as inspired of IAUE as it was when He first dictated them
to him. They were IAUE’s words being
restated by his servant.
Perhaps the best known portion of Deuteronomy
is Chapter 28 in which the first 13 verses set aside the blessings that would
come and overtake them if they kept the words of the law; and the remaining 55
verses that cited all the calamity that would befall them if they forsook the
voice of IAUE from obeying His law.
In the prior chapter (28), Moses demanded
that when they crossed the Jordan river; before they began to claim the land and
dispossess the nations within it, they were to raise up large stones and
plaster them, and write thereon all the words of this law. They were to serve as the standard for the
promised land at the entry point of the land.
Also, six tribes were to stand upon Mount Gerizim and pronounce the
blessings upon the people; and six tribes were to stand upon Mount Ebal to
pronounce the curses upon the people.
The Levites were to cry out with a loud voice (presumably from the plain
between the two mounts) and declare specific curses to which the twelve tribes
responded with “Amen!” so the entirety of the peoples would be personally
accountable for their actions before IAUE once they entered the land.
In chapter 17, Moses foretold that once they
were in the land they would seek to have a king. He stated that the king would be required to
transcribe a copy of the book of this law (Deuteronomy) by hand and to read
from it every day of his life.
Deuteronomy 17:18 And it
shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write
him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the
Levites:
19 And it shall be with
him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to
fear IAUE his Elohim to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to
do them:
An interesting observation is that in Matthew
4:1-11, when Messiah was fasting in the wilderness and the devil came to tempt
him, each time Messiah responded to the temptation with “It is written,” and
each Scripture he quoted was from the book of Deuteronomy.
Moses declared this law in the hearing of the
people. He commanded it to be written
upon the plastered stones when the crossed the Jordan. He commanded the tribes to speak the blessings
and the curses from the mountain tops; and he also commanded that these words
be publicly read to all the people every seven years.
Deuteronomy 31:9 And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the
priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of IAUE, and unto
all the elders of Israel.
10 And
Moses commanded them, saying, At the
end of every seven years, in the
solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,
11 When
all Israel is come to appear before IAUE thy Elohim in the place which he shall
choose, thou shalt read this law
before all Israel in their hearing.
12 Gather
the people together, men and women, and children, and thy stranger that is
within thy gates, that they may hear,
and that they may learn, and fear IAUE they Elohim, and observe to do all the
words of this law:
13 And
that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to
fear IAUE thy Elohim, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan
to possess it.
One
of the last declarations of Moses to the people he had shepherded for 40 years
was to encourage them in the face of the battles that were to come.
Deuteronomy 31:3 IAUE
thy Elohim, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from
before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before
thee, as IAUE hath said.
4 And IAUE shall do unto them as he did
to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them,
whom he destroyed.
5 And IAUE shall
give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the
commandments which I have commanded you.
6 Be strong and of a good
courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for IAUE thy Elohim,
he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Remember
why this generation’s fathers were not with them to enter the Promised
Land? Ten of the twelve spies returned
to the camp and reported that the land was filled with giants and that they
seemed as grasshoppers in their sight.
The peoples feared and were unwilling to proceed out of fear for their
lives. Only Joshua and Caleb declared
that they were well able to take the land.
Now, Moses is commanding the people NOT to be afraid like their fathers
were afraid. He reminded them of how
IAUE enabled them to defeat kings Sihon and Og.
They were giants. The people had
already experienced how easily these giants were defeated. The ones in the land they were to destroy
were not going to be one whit more difficult to defeat for IAUE was with them.
Deuteronomy
closes with the death of Moses and the baton of leadership being passed to
Joshua.
This
final book of the Torah reminded the people over and over again that they were
a special people. They had been chosen
by IAUE to be HIS people; and His law was going to make them different from the
peoples of all other nations, and the measure of His blessing upon them would
be experienced in accordance with their obedience. Their distinctiveness as the people of IAUE
depended upon their obedience to the voice and law of IAUE. Every man, woman and child were personally
responsible for their obedience to the law; and they also were responsible for
holding each other accountable to the law. This reminds me of the honor code at
the United States Military Academy. “A
cadet will not lie, cheat or steal or tolerate those who do.” The Israelites were a unit of people that had
bound itself communally to observe to do all the law of IAUE and not to
tolerate a single person that disobeyed the voice of IAUE, even if that person
was a husband, wife or child.
It
certainly makes one reevaluate how responsive we are in our obedience to the
Holy Spirit, today, both as an individual and as a member of the body of
Messiah; and how well we take up our responsibility to each other.
Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart
of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13 But exhort
one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened
through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we
are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence
stedfast unto the end;
Kingdom
heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the
performance of the will of IAUE.
