Search The Scriptures —Study 9 — Deuteronomy 9: 1 - 10:11

Study 9 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 9: 1 - 10:11

1.      After they conquered the promised land, what further danger would follow on the heels of victory? How does Moses in this passage seek to safeguard them against it? Cf. Lk. 18:9-14.

2.     What does the example of Moses teach as to the responsibility and power of intercessory prayer?  Note the costly nature of his prayer and the uncompromising dealing with sin that accompanied it. On what grounds did Moses base his plea for the people, and what was the outcome? Cf. Jas. 5:16.

3.     The incident as a whole demonstrates that God’s dealings with His people are entirely of grace.  It thus illustrates aspects of the saving grace of God revealed in the New Testament.  Try to discover how the following points are illustrated in this Chapter: (a) the combination of grace and justice (Rom. 3:24-26); (b) the triumph of grace over sin (Eph. 2:5; Rom. 5:20, 21); (c) the provision of a mediator (Heb. 8:6; 9:15); (d) the establishment of a covenant (1 Cor. 11:25).   

Note. 9:22. ‘Taberah’ ‘burning’: see Nu. 11:1-3.  ‘Massah’: ‘proving’; see Ex. 17:7; cf. Dt. 6:16. ‘Kilbroth-hattaavah’: graves of lust’; see Nu. 11:34.  

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Search The Scriptures —Study 8 — Deuteronomy 8

Study 8 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 8

1.   What threefold purples did God have in leading Israel through the experiences of the wilderness? How did our Lord apply verse 3b to His own case in Mt. 4:4? With verse 5 cf. also Heb. 12:7, 10, 11

2.   In days of prosperity what subtle danger would beset them, and how were they to guard against it? Compare the advice which Barnabas gave to the Church in Antioch (Acts 11:23b).

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Search The Scriptures —Study 7 — Deuteronomy 7

Study 7 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 7

1.      In what four ways were the Israelites to deal with the idolatrous inhabitants of Canaan (verses 1-5)? What points regarding the Christian’s duty of separation from sin and the world do they illustrate? Cf. Eph. 5:11; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; Jn. 5:21.

2.     In verses 6-11 what three reasons does God give the people for this drastic attitude? What New Testament principles correspond to this? Cf. 1 Pet. 1:15, 16; 2:9-12.

3.     In verses 12-16 what three blessings does God promise will attend the faithful pursuit of this policy? What blessings are promised in the New Testament to the Christian who practises spiritual separation?  Cf. 2 Cor. 6:17, 16; 1 Jn. 2:15-17.

4.     In verses 18-26 how does God answer their question of verse 17? What does this teach about the power given to the Christian to ‘be separate’? Cf. 2 Cor. 14-16; Jn. 16:33; Rom. 5:10; 1 Jn. 5:4.

Notes

1.       Verse 2. ‘Utterly destroy’: The Hebrew word means ‘to separate to a deity’ and hence ‘to put to death’ or ‘destroy’ as here, and in verse 25, 26.

5.   Verse 20. ‘Hornets’ are powerful insects, whose attack in large numbers is dangerous and may prove fatal. Some take the word, however, here and in Ex. 23:28 and Jos. 24:12, in a figurative sense, as meaning some plague or terror that spreads dismay.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 6 — Deuteronomy 6

Study 6 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 6

In chapters 6-10 Moses outlines some general implications of the ten commandments before proceeding to apply them in detail to particular situations.

1.      What was God’s purpose in giving the law, and what was the primary duty of the Israelites? What was he to do, and what was he to beware of an not to do?

2.     Verses 10-15 concern forgetfulness of God in a time of prosperity. What ways of guarding against this danger can be found either explicit or implicit in this passage?

3.     What insight is given in this chapter into the necessity and method of family religion?

Notes

1.       Verse 6. ‘Be upon’: literally ‘imprinted on’.

2.      Verse 13.  Alluded to by Christ in answer to Satan (Mt. 4:10). 

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Search The Scriptures —Study 5 — Deuteronomy 4:41 - 5:33

Study 5 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 4:41 - 5:33

With chapter 5 begins Moses’ second discourse, extending to chapter

 26 Chapter 4:44-49 is the introductory superscription.

1.      What is the significance of the pronouns ‘you’ and ‘your’ which occur throughout the ten commandments? Cf. Lv. 19:3; Ps. 62: 12; Je. 17:10 (‘every man’).

2.     The ways in which the people reacted to the hearing of the commandments (5:23-27) indicate abiding principles concerning the ways in which all men should react to God’s law.  What kind of effect do the reactions here suggest that God’s law should produce? Cf. Heb. 12:21; Rom. 7:9; Gal. 3:24.

3.     What was it in the temper of the people that drew from God the words of commendation in 5:28, and the expression of His desire that it might so continue always (verse 29)?

Note. 5:3. ‘Our fathers’: i.e., ‘our forefathers’, viz. the patriarchs. Cf. 4:37; 7:8.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 4 — Deuteronomy 4:1-40

Study 4 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 4:1-4o

This is the second part of Moses’ first discourse, and consists of an exhortation based upon God’s gracious dealings, as described in chapters 1 to 3.

1.      What is said about God in this portion, and about His relation to Israel?

2.     What is said about God in the word of God, spoken by Moses? With verse 2 cf. 12:32; Pr. 30:6; Mt. 5:17, 18; Rev. 22: 18, 19.

3.     Against what sin in particular are the people warned, and by what arguments is the warning reinforced?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 3 — Deuteronomy 3

Study 3 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 3

1.      How did the conquest of Sihon and of Og disprove the faithless fears of forty years before? Cf. 1:28 with 2:36 and 3:4-6.  What use did later generations make of the memory of these victories? Cf. Jos. 2:10; Pss. 135: 10, 11; 136:18-20.

2.     What do verses 21, 22 teach us about the duty of mutual encouragement? Cf. how Paul sought to share his assurance (2 Tim.1:12) with others (Phil. 1:6).

3.     Try to imagine the intensity of Moses’ desire in verses 24, 25. What insight are we given into prayer and its answer by this incident? Cf. Nu. 2. 20:12; Ps. 106:32, 33.

4.     Verse 26: ‘Let it suffice you’.  Moses must be content with his own place in God’s work. He was the law-giver, and Joshua (Hebrew form of ‘Jesus’) was the conqueror. How does Jn. 1:17 throw light on this?

Notes

1.       Verse 11.  ‘Bedstead’: or possibly ‘Sarcophagus’. It was eleven feet long and six broad.

2.      Verses 13-15. This double division of the tribe of Manasseh greatly weakened it, thus fulfilling Gn. 48:14ff., in which Ephraim, although the younger of the two sons of Joseph, is given priority over Manasseh.

3.    Verse 29.  “Beth-peor’: ‘house of Peor’, the Moabite god through which the people sinned (Nu.25).

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Search The Scriptures —Study 2 — Deuteronomy 2

Study 2 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 2

1.   What do we learn from this chapter of the sovereignty of God over the nation? Cf. 32:8; Acts 17:26.

2.   Why were Edom, Moab and Ammon spared on this occasion, whereas the Amorites were exterminated? Note verses 4’ 5; 9’ 19; and cf. am. 1:11-2:3.

3.   What do verses 24 and 31 teach about the relationship between divine grace and human faith? Cf. Eph. 2:8.

Notes

1. Verse 1. ‘Many days’: nearly thirty-eight years; cf. verse 14.
2. Verses 4-8. This is not the same incident as that of Nu. 20:14-21, but a later instruction when Israel had reached the eastern border of Edom.
3. Verses 10-12 and 20-23 are parenthetical notes on ancient history.
4. Verse 30.  A judicial hardening, i.e., to punish one already opposed to God.
5. Verse 34. “Utterly destroyed’: devoted to destruction’. i.e., under God’s curse.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 1 — Deuteronomy 1

Study 1 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 1

1.       The burden of this chapter is the people’s sin in refusing to go forward to the promised land.  How is the sin described (see verses 26, 27, 32) and what made the guilt of it greater (see Note on verses 9-18; also verses 31-33)?

2.     What solemn lesson is taught in verses 40 -45? Cf. Is. 59:1, 2; Je. 11:14; Heb. 12:17.

3.     What does this chapter teach us about the importance of knowing history, especially Bible history? Cf. Pss, 78:1-8; 44:1-8; 1 Cor. 10:6-13; Rom. 15:4.

Note.  Verses 9-18.  These verses seem to be introduced to show that the people were both numerous and well organized when they reached Kadesh, and therefore fully ready to enter the land if their eyes had been upon the Lord.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 0 — Introduction to the book of Deuteronomy

Study 0 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: The Introduction of Deuteronomy's Book

Introduction

The book of Deuteronomy finds the people again on the threshold of the land after the forty years of wandering. Moses, who is about to lay down his great task, address them before his death.  The book consists chiefly of his addresses.  Naturally, there is much matter repeated from earlier portions of the Pentateuch and, just as naturally, it is generally in a rather different form. Laws that were promulgated in the wilderness are adapted for use in the land. New matter, such as that relating to the central sanctuary and the setting up of the Kingdom, is introduced. Finally, Moses, after solemn warnings to the people, appoints his successor, and ascends Mount Nebo to be laid to the rest by God.