INTRODUCTION: The apostle has been writing a very practical nuts and bolts approach to pastoral ministry, but we must remember that application and doctrine (in Scripture) are not locked away in different cupboards. They always go together, and in this passage we see how practical doctrine is, and how doctrinal our practice necessarily is. THE …
The Death of Moses
As we come to the end of the book of Deuteronomy, we see the final blessing given to Moses—a glorious view of the promised land. And we are invited to look at God’s larger purposes, as Moses did, by faith. “And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to …
Tread Upon the High Places
Despite the dire warnings God has given Israel through Moses, He does not leave them without a blessing. And we know that in the time of the new covenant, these blessings come to full fruition for God’s final Israel, the Christian church. “And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the …
The Song of Moses
We have been anticipating this song, but the time has now come to learn it. The theme of the song echoes many of the themes of the entire book of Deuteronomy. Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth . . . (Dt. 32:1-52). The …
The Law of Liberty
Although Israel will ultimately fail in their invasion of Canaan, the second Israel will never fail in His invasion of the world. Although the ancient people of God were corrupted by idolatry, the people of God today cannot ultimately fall in the same way. Jesus Christ is victor. “And Moses went and spake these words …
The Rebirth of Israel
This chapter, filled with promise, brings hope to all those battered by the curse of the law. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. And in this place Moses points to the coming glory. “And it shall come to pass, when all these things shall come …
The Secret Things
The covenant is now presented to the people. They will not be faithful to it, and this defection is important in the teaching of the New Testament. “These are the words of the covenant which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel . . .” (Dt. 29:1-29). The first nine verses …
Because They Did Not Eat the Fat, or Drink the Sweet
The covenant sanctions include fearsome curses. This section is significantly longer than the blessings, but given the situation the warnings are to the point. This section is not so much an argument as it is a painted picture—it contains a good deal of repetition. These are warnings, not proofs. The proof comes in the judgment. …
The Inclusivist Snare
John Stackhouse is a professor of theology and culture at Regent College in Vancouver, BC. He is part of the Christian Vision Project, and he writes in favor of “inclusivism” here. Inclusivism, as he defines it, says that there are many outside the Christian faith who are saved because of their demeanor of faith, without …
Fear of Being Blessed
In this chapter, we come to the covenant sanctions. The first part contains the blessings which follow obedience, the latter portion, four times as long, contains the curses. The terms have been set out, the covenant renewed. What will happen if Israel keeps covenant? What will happen if they do not? “And it shall come …