Episode #10: "Farewell Address"

HOST: Michael Whitworth

Reading history from a book robs one of an appreciation for the passage of time. The drama of a Civil War battle is usually lost on the casual reader because the result of the battle, much less the war, is already known. Likewise, it is difficult for us to recapture the passion and drama of Deuteronomy, but we can make an attempt. Moses spoke to an assembly of Israelites, the oldest of whom had been mere toddlers during the Exodus. Only Joshua and Caleb knew the crack of the slave-master’s whip and the hot Egyptian sun. The generation of Israelites who had received the law at Sinai with fear and trembling were now buried in the desert sand because of their unfaithfulness. As for Moses, he knew that his end was near and that he had one last opportunity to speak to Israel. This farewell address of sorts forms the book we now know as Deuteronomy. The book itself serves as a link between the wilderness wandering and the campaign for Canaan, and its theology casts an imposing shadow across the rest of the OT; it is often called the “linchpin” of the OT.

Keys to Reading

“The land” is a powerful symbol in the book; the phrase itself occurs well over a hundred times. The book, then, is in someways a hymn of praise to God for keeping his promise to give Canaan to Abraham’s descendants. It is also a reminder to Israel that she is receiving a very precious gift, one that will be taken away if she does not continue to serve her God.

Deuteronomy has striking similarities to treaties of ancient civilizations, especially the Hittites. These treaties between a king and his conquered subjects began with a prologue identifying the parties in question, a history of their relationship (usually emphasizing the king’s kindness to his subjects), a list of stipulations that both parties were required to meet, and blessings and curses upon the one who broke the treaty. Needless to say, Deuteronomy contains every one of these features, though with God as “king” and Israel as the “subjects.”

At several different times, and in different ways, Moses emphasizes to this new generation of Israelites that every blessing, including life itself, is found in Israel’s love for, trust in, and obedience to God. If Israel did not follow God, she would lose Canaan (cf. Deut. 30:15-20).

A very important recurring phrase of Deuteronomy is the command to “remember” or “do not forget,” a command that occurs over fifteen times. Its significance lies in the fact that Moses knew how easy it was to lose sight of spiritual priorities. The endless routine of daily life could distract Israel from serving her God, and by ever reminding herself of God’s nature and her own covenant responsibilities, Israel would dwell in Canaan for a long time.

Deuteronomy & the NT

Few OT books have had as much of an impact on the NT as Deuteronomy. In fact, it is one of the four most-quoted books!

The promise of a greater prophet than Moses (Deut. 18:14-22; cf. 34:10) kept Israel looking for the Christ.

Jesus’ insistence that he was one with God (John 10:30) was rooted in Deut. 6:4.

During his wilderness temptation, Jesus quoted three passages from Deuteronomy (cf. 6:13, 16; 8:3; Matt. 4:1-10).

Just as Israel was chosen as one of the weakest among the nations (Deut. 7:6-7), so also is the church (1 Cor. 1:26-30).