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We are still in the thick of the specific commands by which Israel will set themselves apart as fully devoted to the LORD their God.  Remember that this is all delivered by Moses at the borders of the Promised Land – his final appeal to Israel to keep all that the LORD has commanded. 

Yesterday’s reading followed a theme of civil and economic justice, and today’s text bounces through a variety of instructions that hint at the role of the priests in Israelite life.  The first of these is a reminder of how the Levites will be provided for, since they will serve as the LORD’s priests and have no inheritance of land. 

Following a brief warning about the practices of the people of Canaan, Moses returns to the question of how to discern between false prophets and those whom the LORD has sent.  It begins with a promise: “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from you brothers…” 

The LORD warns that a prophet can neither “speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him,” nor speak “in the name of other gods.”  Since the first stipulation is hard to gauge, a test is given: “If the [prophet’s] word does not come to pass or come true,” then “that is not a word the LORD has spoken.”  It sounds like a violation of the third commandment, and consequently “You do not need to be afraid of him.” 

In chapter 19 Moses revisits the six cities of refuge that were designated in Numbers 35.  These cities were safe spaces for those who unintentionally and without malice killed someone.  The remainder of this chapter focuses on other issues of justice, such as property boundaries and determining the credibility of an accusation.  Listen as the priests play a role in the justice system alongside the local judges.

Our reading today ends with the manner of making war against Israel’s enemies.  Notice the call to courage; the role of the priest; and the type of soldier who is to fight in Israel’s army.  Watch also as a distinction is made between battle against ordinary enemies and those whom “the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance.”  These are to be completely destroyed, devoted to the LORD. 

Our verse for this week is Matthew 22:39: And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 

Deuteronomy 18 through 20.  Now let’s read it! 

At the end of yesterday’s reading, Moses reminds Israel that “the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow…shall eat and be filled, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.”  The LORD’s blessing is listed as a consequence of their care for these groups. 

Our reading today launches along that same refrain.  We’ve seen before that the LORD sees each seventh year as a “year of release” of both debts and slaves.  This is the theme of chapter 15, but nested within is a challenge: “There will be no poor among you; for the LORD will bless you…if only you will strictly obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today.” 

When you turn to chapter 16, listen to how this theme of blessing now permeates the commands regarding Feasts and Festivals.  As they celebrate the Passover, their care for the sojourner, widow, and orphan, is directly connected to remembering that they were slaves in Egypt.  So with the Feast of Booths – a reminder of how the LORD provided for them in the wilderness. 

Moses turns now to the courts, where judges “shall not pervert justice,” nor “show partiality,” These instructions regarding civil justice bookend another warning about worshipping other gods – and the penalties that offense carries.  If proximity is an indicator of connection, then it’s possible that perversion of justice and perversion of worship have something in common.

These three chapters have been building to the crescendo at the end of chapter 17: instructions regarding Israel’s future kings.  Notice throughout that the focus is not on whether or not a king is a good idea, but on the LORD’s vision for that king, which is distinctive among the nations.  The king shall neither amass wealth through many marriages nor build military power with an overwhelming cavalry. The king is not the lawmaker, but is to be a student of God’s law.  In this his blessing – and that of his dynasty – will be found. 

Our verse for this week is Matthew 22:39: And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  

Deuteronomy chapters 15 through 17.  Now let’s read it!

I want to remind you of how helpful it can be to read Deuteronomy as a treaty – a covenant – made between a sovereign ruler and his people.  One of the reasons many scholars encourage this is because the structure of Deuteronomy bears such a striking resemblance to treaties made between kings and subject nations in this time period.  The LORD is using a model that Moses, who grew up in the Egyptian court, would have been familiar with.  But instead of delivering this only to the Israelite leadership, He expects it to be presented to all the people. 

The book began with a rapid-fire account of the historical setting, followed by a general command to obey.  What would follow in a political treaty, and what follows here, is an outline of the specific ways that Israel is to show their commitment to the LORD.  

Chapter 12 begins with a command to “tear down the altars” of the inhabitants of Canaan and “seek the place that the LORD your God will choose…to put His name and make His habitation there…there you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices.”  This is accompanied by assurances that they can eat wherever they like, but must only sacrifice exactly where God tells them to.  As the entire chapter begins and ends with warnings to avoid the practices of the other nations, this all likely has to do with keeping Israel from idolatry.  

Chapter 13 lays out restrictions about prophecy.  Already we’ve seen Abraham, Moses, Aaron, and Miriam referred to as prophets, and the LORD told us in Numbers 12 that it’s His choice alone who He speaks through.  The art of prophecy – of speaking the words of a god – was known and accepted by all ancient peoples.  The LORD here sets a firm boundary that is in keeping with his commands to not chase after other gods.  The punishments for this crime are severe: it’s possible that the LORD views serving other gods not just as false worship, but as treason.

Chapter 14 reminds Israel of the body and food restrictions we saw in Leviticus.  Remember that the consistent theme is not whether a food is gross, or healthy, but that the children of Israel are to set themselves apart from the nations around them.  This concludes with a call to tithe – or give a tenth of – their produce.  Listen here, as before, to the LORD’s reminders to care for the Levites, “because he has no portion or inheritance with you,” and that “the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow…shall come and eat and be filled.”

Our verse for this week is Matthew 22:39: And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 

Deuteronomy 12 through 14.  Now let’s read it!

At the end of yesterday’s reading, Moses pushes against any pride Israel might feel in the future.  “Beware, lest you forget the LORD…lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’”  Likewise he warns them in chapter 9, “Do not say in your heart, ‘It is because of my righteousness that the LORD has brought me in to possess the land.’” 

But while Moses has presented God’s promises in the context of His historical faithfulness, he presents these warnings by reminding Israel of how often they’ve strayed.  Don’t forget the Golden Calf you made… Don’t forget how you rebelled at Kadesh… Yesterday Moses reminded this present generation that they are heirs to the covenant of their fathers. Today, he reminds them that they are also heirs to their parents’ stubbornness. 

Therefore, Moses begs in chapter 10, translate the circumcision of your foreskin onto your hearts, “and be no longer stubborn.  For the LORD your God is Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, the awesome God… He is your praise.”  You’ll notice that nested in this concert of praise is a call to justice: this is how you can show that your heart is circumcised. 

Chapter 11 closes the first half of Moses’ second speech.  In the grand scheme of the Deuteronomy covenant, this is where the general command to obey the LORD is tied to future blessing.  “And if you will indeed obey my commandments, to love the LORD your God, and to serve Him with all your heart and soul, He will give you rain for your land… grass in your fields, and you shall eat and be full.”  Likewise, failure to obey is bound to future curse: “The LORD… will shut up the heavens… and the land will yield no fruit, and you will perish quickly off the good land the LORD is giving you.” 

Our verses for this week are Matthew 22:37-38: “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.” 

Deuteronomy chapters 9 through 11.  Now let’s read it!

Moses turns in chapter 6 to instructions on passing this covenant on to the next generation.  “When your son asks you…you shall say…” is both a command to pass on memory and a promise of posterity. 

Just as the LORD didn’t simply draw Israel out of Egypt for the sake of that generation, so He is giving this people Canaan not only for them, but for all who will come after.  As Canaan is to be an everlasting possession, so the story of the LORD’s providing it is to be an everlasting memory.  It is the LORD your God that you, and your children, shall fear.

This is put succinctly in Chapter 6:4-9.  This text is called the “Shema” in Hebrew, for its first line: “Shema, Israel!...Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.”  Even further, “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” 

Chapters 7 and 8 remind us that Israel’s obedience is an act of gratitude: rooted in both past and future history.  Every book of their journey is represented here: the LORD’s power displayed in Exodus, the LORD setting apart Israel as “holy” in Leviticus, and the LORD’s provision through the 40 years of Numbers.  Further, the LORD is bringing them into “a good land, a land of brooks and water, of fountains and springs… a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees… a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing.”  

Our verses for this week are Matthew 22:37-38: “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.”

Deuteronomy 6 through 8.  Now let’s read it!