Search The Scriptures —Study 23 — Deuteronomy 32:1-47

Study 23 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 32: 1-47

  

The analysis of this magnificent poem is as follows:

(a)             The writer’s purpose and hope, verse 1-3 (see Note 1 below).

(b)             God’s perfection, and Israel’s perversity, verses 4-6.

(c)              God’s goodness to Israel, verses 7:14

(d)             Israel’s backsliding, verses 15:18

(e)              Divine judgement upon Israel, verses 19-29.

(f)               The victory of heathen nations over Israel is of God’s permitting, verses 30-35.

(g)             But He will finally avenge His people and show them His mercy, verses 36-43.

1.      What is said of God is His essential attributes?  And what, in contrast, of the nature of Israel?

2.     What did God do for Israel (at least seven things are mentioned in verses 7:14), and how did Israel requite His loving-kindness?

3.     What is God’s purpose in His judgements, and what will be the final outcome?

Notes

1.      Verse 2. ‘May my teaching drop as the rain’: an expression of the writer’s hope that this words may act upon the hearts of men as the rain and dew upon the soil. 

2.     Verse 4. ‘The rock’ (see also verses 15, 18, 30, 31, 37): a figure expressing the through of a refuge and place of defence.

3.     Verse 8. ‘According to the number…’: i.e., He reserved for Israel an inheritance adequate to their numbers.

4.     Verse 15. ‘Jeshurun’: a poetical name for Israel, signifying ‘the upright one’ Cf. Dt. 33: 5, 26; Is. 44:2

5.     Verse 29. “Discern their latter end’; i.e., discern whither their perversity must lead.

6.     Verse 34. God is not unmindful of the sins of Israel’s enemies.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 22 — Deuteronomy 31

Study 22 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 31

1.      What made it possible for Israel, and what makes it possible for us, to ‘be strong and of good courage’ and not to ‘fear or be in dread’ even when great human leaders pass away? See verses 1-8 and cf. Heb. 13:7, 8.

2.     In how many different ways did the Lord, through Moses, seek to safeguard Israel against the backsliding which He knew, nevertheless, would take place?  What alone can keep us steadfast?  Cf. 1 Pet. 1:5; Gal. 5:16. Cf. also Dt. 32:46, 47.

3.     How does this chapter emphasize the need for something beside the law of God to promote obedience? Cf. Rom. 8:3, 4; 2 Cor. 3:5, 6.  

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Search The Scriptures —Study 21 — Deuteronomy 29 and 30

Study 21 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 29 and 30

1.      Picture the moving scene described in 29:1, 2, 10, 11, and consider what strong reasons the people had for being loyal to the Lord. Why, then did Moses fear that they would not prove steadfast? See 29:4, 18, 19; cf. Acts 20: 29, 30.

2.     For what purpose is revelation given, according to 29:29? Cf. Jas. 1:22. What is God’s character as revealed in chapter 30? And what is His people’s responsibility?

3.     Compare 30:11-14 with Rom. 10:6-9 and note ways in which the Old Testament law and the New Testament gospel are identical.

Note. 29:19. ‘The sweeping away of moist and dry alike’: a proverbial expression meaning ‘to destroy all’.  It expresses here that the outcome of the idolater’s attitude and action is utter destruction. 

  

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Search The Scriptures —Study 20 — Deuteronomy 28: 15-68

Study 20 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 28: 15-68

Verses 15-19 are in direct contrast to verses 1-6. Thereafter the curses are described in five paragraphs, which are somewhat similar in content: (1) verses 20:26; (2) verses 27-37; (3) verses 38-44; verses 45-57; (5) verses 58-68.

1.      Examine these five paragraphs, noting their similarities.  What are the evils contained in these curses?

2.     This chapter shows God’s people brought under a judgement worse than any that has befallen a heathen nation. It was fulfilled to some degree in the Assyrian and Babylonians captivates, but mainly in the Fall of Jerusalem in AD 70, and the subsequent history of the Jews. How does this emphasize the teaching that it is better not to begin to seek God rather than subsequently to turn away?  Cf. Mt. 12:43-45; Heb. 2:1-4; 10:26-31; 2 Pet. 2:20-22.

Note. Verse 46. ‘A sign and a wonder’: a sign of divine judgement, and a wonder causing astonishment.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 19 — Deuteronomy 27: 1-28:14

Study 1 9 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 27: 1-28:14

1. What ways does God use, through His servants, Moses, the elders and the priests, to impress upon His people how absolutely He requires obedience to all the laws of chapters 5:26?
2. What abiding principles emerge from chapter 27 concerning (a) the authority of ministers to pronounce judgment on sinners in God’s name (cf. 1 Tim. 5:20; Tit. 1:13; 2:15), and (b) the failure of the law to bring life? E.g., although Israel literally obeyed verses 2-8 (see Jos. 8:30-35), they soon broke the other laws. Cf.  Rom. 8:2-4; Gal. 3:10-12.
3. Contrast the nature of the blessings of 28:1-14 with the New Testament phrase ‘every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places’ (Eph. 1:3). What difference between the old and new covenants is here indicated?  To what extent do the promises of Dt. 28:1-14 still apply to us?

Note.  27:15-26. Note that the offences mentioned here are mainly such as might escape the detection and punishment of courts of law.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 18 — Deuteronomy 26

Study 18 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 26

This chapter concludes both the social regulations and also the whole section of the specific laws to be observed by the people in the promised land.

1.      Verses 1-11: the law of first-fruits, to be given to God, in acknowledgement of His mercies. In what way did the law require each Israelite to reflect upon and give thanks for national mercies, and for what mercies was he specially to give thanks?  Have not we far greater cause to do this? Cf. Ps. 103: 1-5; Col. 1:12-14.

2.     Verses 12-16: the law of tithes, to be given to their ministers, and to others unable to provide for themselves. Note how richly God promises to give to those who thus give to Him and to others. Cf. 14:28, 29; Pr. 3:9, 10; Mal. 3:8-12; Lk. 6:38.

3.     Verses 16-19 are the closing exhortation of the discourse begun in chapter 5. What covenant obligations did God and Israel respectively undertake? What may we learn from these verses concerning God’s purposes for us as His covenant people? 

                                                 

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Search The Scriptures —Study 17 — Deuteronomy 24 and 25

Study 17 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 24 and 25

1.      Chapter 24. The principle behind all these regulations is that of the eight commandment: equity and honesty in all walks of life. Make a list of the ways in which this is to be practiced according to this chapter. Examine your own life by these standards in order to discover points on which you are prone to fail.

2.     What application does Paul make of 25:4? See 1 Cor. 9:9; 1 Tim. 5:17, 18.

3.     Taking Amalek as a type of ‘the flesh’, that is, of our fallen carnal nature, compare what is said here with Ex. 17:14-16; Gal. 5: 17, 24.  When and where is such an enemy most likely to attack, and how ought such an enemy to be regarded by us?

                                                              

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Search The Scriptures —Study 16 — Deuteronomy 22 and 23

Study 1 6 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 22 and 23

  
These laws are connected mainly with the sixth and seventh commandments.

1.      22:1-21. In what ways do these laws safeguard life, property and reputation, and this put into operation the sixth commandment and the law of love to one’s neighbour?

2.     22:13-30.  How do these laws uphold the principle of chastity implicit in the seventh commandment? How do the laws and customs of our contemporary society compare?

3.      23: 1-25. What steps were to be taken to maintain the purity of the congregation and thus of the worship of God. How is this applied in the New Testament to the Church on earth and to Heaven itself? Cf. 1 Cor. 5; Rev. 21:27, and see study 13.

Notes

1.      22:5. The distinction of the sexes, even in outward appearance, ought to be strictly maintained.

2.     22:9-11. Applied spiritually, these law forbid the association of things morally incompatible; cf. 2 Cor. 6:14-16

3.     22:14, 17. ‘The tokens of virginity’: i.e., the sheet, which became stained with blood on the first coitus.

4.     23:15, 16. The reference appears to be a slave fleeing form a foreign country, and taking refuge in a city of Israel.

                                                                    

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Search The Scriptures —Study 15 — Deuteronomy 20 and 21

Study 15 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 20 and 21

These laws relate indirectly to the sixth commandment and God’s requirements of perfect justice in all walks of life.

1.      What general principles may be deduced from chapter 20 regarding (a) the conduct of military warfare, and (b) spiritual warfare in the army of Christ?  Cf. Lk, 14:25-33.

2.     What illustration do these chapters give both of the compassion and the severity of God?

3.     What application do the writers of the New Testament make of 21:22, 23? Cf. Jn. 19:31; Gal. 3: 13; 1 Pet. 2:24.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 14 — Deuteronomy 18 and 19

Study 14 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 18 and 19

In chapter 18 the offices of priest and prophet are included in the civil law since, Israel being a theocracy, these men were part of the government. Chapter 19 begins the section of laws governing social life, which are the detailed application of the last six commandments.

1.      What were the special ministries of priests and prophets? Observe in chapter 18 how both alike were God’s provision for His people’s needs.  Of what kind of person in heathen religion did the prophets in Israel take the place? How may we still distinguish between true and false prophets?   Cf. Is. 8:19, 20; 2Pet. 1:19; 2:12.

2.     In whom was the prophecy of 18:18, 19 finally fulfilled? See Acts 3:22, 23; 7:37. Do we listen to Him as we should? Cf. Mk. 9:7.

3.     In what way do the regulations concerning cities of refuge both protect against injustice and at the same time enforce just penalty? See further Nu. 35.

4.     How do the regulations of chapter 19 seek to apply the spirit as well as the letter of the sixth (verses 1-4), eighth (verse 14) and ninth (verses 15-21) commandments respectively?

Note 19:14. This law is intended to guard the inheritance of the poor against the greed of wealthy neighbours. Cf. 27:17; Pr. 23:10, 11.

                                                             

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