A Summary of the Book of Deuteronomy | GotQuestions.org

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In today's video we're going to survey and briefly summarize the book of Deuteronomy, then afterwards, as always,

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I'll share some helpful resources, so stick around until the end. Moses wrote the book of Deuteronomy, which is in fact a collection of his sermons to Israel just before they crossed the

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Jordan. These are the words which Moses spoke, chapter 1, verse 1. Someone else,

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Joshua perhaps, may have written the last chapter. As for the date of writing, these sermons were given during the 40 -day period prior to Israel's entering the

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Promised Land. The first sermon was delivered on the first day of the 11th month, chapter 1, verse 3, and the

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Israelites crossed the Jordan 70 days later on the 10th day of the first month, Joshua 4, verse 19.

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Subtract 30 days of mourning after Moses' death, Deuteronomy 34, verse 8, and we're left with 40 days.

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The year was 1406 B .C. As for the purpose of writing, a new generation of Israelites was about to enter the

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Promised Land. This multitude had not experienced the miracles at the Red Sea or heard the law given at Sinai, and they were about to enter a new land with many dangers and temptations.

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The book of Deuteronomy was given to remind them of God's law and God's power. Here are some key verses.

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Do not add to what I command you, and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the

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Lord your God that I give you, Deuteronomy 4, verse 2. Hear, O Israel, the

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Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

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These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children.

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Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up,

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Deuteronomy 6, verses 4 -7. He said to them, Take to heart all the words

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I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law.

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They are not just idle words for you, they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the

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Jordan to possess. Deuteronomy 32, verses 46 -47.

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As for a brief summary, the Israelites are commanded to remember four things—God's faithfulness,

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God's holiness, God's blessings, and God's warnings. The first three chapters recap the trip from Egypt to their current location,

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Moab. Chapter 4 is a call to obedience, to be faithful to the God who was faithful to them.

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Chapters 5 -26 are a repetition of the law. The Ten Commandments, the laws concerning sacrifices and special days, and the rest of the laws are given to the new generation.

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Blessings are promised to those who obey, and famine is promised to those who break the law. The theme of blessing and cursing is continued in chapters 27 -30.

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This portion of the book ends with a clear choice set before Israel—I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing.

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God's desire for His people is found in what He recommends—choose life.

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Chapter 30, verse 19. In the final chapters, Moses encourages the people, commissions his replacement

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Joshua, records a song, and gives a final blessing to each of the tribes of Israel.

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Chapter 34 relates the circumstances of Moses' death. He climbed Mount Pisgah, where the

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Lord showed him the promised land that he could not enter. At 120 years old, but still with good eyesight and the strength of youth,

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Moses died in the presence of the Lord. The book of Deuteronomy ends with a short obituary on this great prophet.

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As for foreshadowings, many New Testament themes are presented in the book of Deuteronomy.

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The foremost among them is the necessity of keeping perfectly the Mosaic law and the impossibility of doing so.

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The endless sacrifices necessary to atone for the sins of the people who continually transgress the law would find their fulfillment in the final once -for -all sacrifice of Christ –

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Hebrews 10, verse 10. Because of His atoning work on the cross, we would need no further sacrifices for sin.

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God's choosing of the Israelites as His special people foreshadows His choosing of those who would believe in Christ – 1

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Peter 2, verse 9. In Deuteronomy 18, verses 15 -19,

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Moses prophesies of another prophet, the ultimate prophet to come, who is the

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Messiah. Like Moses, he would receive and preach divine revelation, and he would lead his people –

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John 6, verse 14. Some Practical Application The book of Deuteronomy underscores the importance of God's Word.

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It is a vital part of our lives. Although we are no longer under the Old Testament law, we are still responsible to submit to the will of God in our lives.

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Simple obedience brings a blessing, and sin has its own consequences. None of us is above the law.

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Even Moses, the leader and prophet chosen by God, was required to obey. The reason that he was not allowed to enter the

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Promised Land was that he disobeyed the Lord's clear command. During the time of his testing in the wilderness,

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Jesus quoted from the book of Deuteronomy three times in Matthew 4. In doing so,

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Jesus illustrated for us the necessity of hiding God's Word in our hearts so that we might not sin against Him.

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Psalm 119, verse 11. As Israel remembered God's faithfulness, so should we.

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The crossing of the Red Sea, the holy presence at Sinai, and the blessing of manna in the desert should be an encouragement to us as well.

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A great way to keep going forward is to take some time to look back and see what

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God has done. We also have a beautiful picture in Deuteronomy of a loving God who desires a relationship with His children.

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The Lord names love as the reason that He brought Israel out of Egypt with a mighty hand and redeemed them.

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Deuteronomy 7, verses 7 -9. What a wonderful thing to be free from the bondage of sin and loved by an all -powerful

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God! Want to learn more? Subscribe so you don't miss the next video! Visit GotQuestions .org for more great content.

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And check out the details section below this video, there you'll find one book I recommend, along with links to several related questions.

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