Israel is camped east of the Jordan. The wilderness years are over, Moses has been told he will not be going in, and what he does with the time left is talk — three long addresses that take the nation back over everything that has happened and set out the terms they are to live by in the land. Jesus quoted this book to overcome the devil in the wilderness, and it is sadly overlooked by many Christians.

Jesus quoted it to overcome the devil in the wilderness. Make it your business to find all the times the New Testament writers quote or allude to this book — there are over eighty of them. Only six books of the New Testament do not quote Deuteronomy: John, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Timothy, I Peter, and II Peter.

The book consists of the last three messages Moses gave to Israel when camped on the plains of Moab before entering Canaan (1:1-6; 3:29; 4:46; 29:1). Ahead of them were difficult days — faith tested to the limit, and a new leader, Joshua, following the death of Moses.

Moses takes the people back over their history, reminding them of the miracles that brought them out of Egypt and through the wilderness, and he outlines the basic laws of God’s covenant — His binding promise to His people — that will be the foundation of life in Canaan. Historically the book follows Numbers — compare Numbers 33:48-49 and Deuteronomy 1:5.

The name of the book in our Bible is unfortunately taken from a mistranslation of 17:18, which the Septuagint and Vulgate incorrectly rendered as “second law” (Deuteronomy). It is not a second law-giving. It is an elaboration of the principles and responsibilities of the people of God as they live in covenant relationship with Him. It differs in style from Exodus and Leviticus — those two books were addressed primarily to the priests; Deuteronomy is addressed to the common people.

These people had been children at the time of the Exodus. They now have to choose for themselves to follow the covenant (30:19). They cannot have a second-hand faith based on their fathers’ response to God at Sinai. Deuteronomy is the book of directions — showing the people how to walk in covenant peace, joy, and victory with both God and man.

Two Ways to Approach This Book

A. The Three Messages of Moses

• Message 1: 1:1-4:43 — Historical review: God’s faithfulness from Horeb to Moab
• Message 2: 4:44-26:19 — The law and its application in the land
• Message 3: 27:1-30:20 — Blessings and curses; the choice set before Israel
• Followed by the appointment of Joshua and the death of Moses (31:1-34:12)

B. Deuteronomy as a Covenant Document

In the ancient Near East, when a conquering king established his authority over a people, he drew up a formal covenant document outlining the responsibilities of both parties. These documents always followed a consistent pattern:

• Preamble — naming the author and his identity
• Historical prologue — showing the goodness of the great king toward the vassal
• Stipulations — the specific terms of the covenant
• Calling upon divine witnesses
• Blessings and curses for keeping or breaking the covenant
• Directions for the public reading of the document

God entered into covenant with Israel following precisely this pattern. You can see it in Exodus 19:3-8 and 20:1-17. Deuteronomy maps onto it directly:

• 1:1-5 — Preamble: introduction of the covenant mediator (Moses)
• 1:6-4:49 — Historical prologue: covenant history to date
• 5:1-26:19 — Stipulations of the covenant
• 27:1-30:20 — Curses and blessings
• 31:1-34:5 — Arrangements for public reading and succession

Elements of a Covenant

• Ability to perform — the great king establishes his credentials and freedom from conflict
• Consideration — “You will do… I will do…”
• Terms and conditions — what happens if the terms are kept or broken
• Signs, seals, and witnesses — the covenant is formally ratified

Importance for the New Covenant

This book is of great importance to those who live under the New Covenant. The frequency with which it is quoted in the New Testament demonstrates that.

Read Galatians carefully — it shows that all the curses of the Old Covenant have been paid for in the finished work of Jesus. We are redeemed from the curse of the Law to stand before the Father as if we had never sinned. When the New Testament speaks of blessing, it includes all the blessings outlined in this book — and adds life in the Holy Spirit. The new and better covenant Jesus has purchased for us must include everything the old covenant offered, and certainly not less.

The Key to Success — Then and Now

• Read Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1 — the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy, but especially Deuteronomy for the ordinary Israelite) was the source of power, joy, and the pathway of the Old Covenant
• Read II Kings 22-23 — see its power when read and acted upon by a backslidden nation

Closing the Torah

This brings us to the end of the first five books of the Bible — the Torah. The Israelite under the Old Covenant looked upon these books as foundational to walking in faith. All children were expected to have memorized these books before the age of twelve.

As we have read through the Torah, we have seen:

• The beginning of the universe, of man, and of sin
• The way of salvation through substitutionary offering
• The revelation of saving faith that rests in God’s gift
• The holiness of God and the Law that drives us to faith
• The covenants upon which all Scripture stands — with Abraham, at Sinai, and on the plains of Moab

All of this will be developed in later Scriptures — but here is the seedbed. Much of the remainder of Scripture is an exposition and echo of these five books. The New Testament is the story of how every promise and blessing found here came to fulfillment and substance in Jesus Christ.

It is a great milestone to have read through the books of Moses. As you now move into the rest of Scripture, watch for the echoes of these books — and see how all the seeds planted here grow and bear fruit.