Deuteronomy The Heart of the Mediator Revealed Hear, O Israel ... you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart; and 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. And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.—Deuteronomy 6:4-9, RSV David Kahn The Israelites had been wandering for 40 years. Finally they came before the Jordan, to the brink of the longed-for promised land. Moses knew he was shortly to die. The time spent in the wilderness as mediator between the Lord and the people had taught him many valuable lessons. He knew the heart of the Lord and of the people. He could see that the people’s hearts were still rebellious and unprepared for the promises and responsibilities of their covenant with God. In this day came his last opportunity to prepare their hearts to keep the law. What could he say to them? How could his words help them discern the Lord’s providence and watchfulness so that they could appreciate and respond to this special covenant, a privilege which no other people in the world had? How could he prepare them for this day, fill them with awe and reverence, inspire them to love and serve the Lord and only the Lord with their whole lives and hearts, and then instruct them in all things needful? The Book of Deuteronomy, named from a Greek word meaning the Second Law, is hardly a dry book of laws and statutes. The Jewish name for the book, Debarim (Hebrew meaning "words"), comes from the opening phrase "These are the words" and is a more appropriate title. The book is a discourse by Moses to the Israelites on the east bank of the Jordan before they entered Canaan, and it reflects everything important Moses had in his heart and needed to tell: the love of God for the people, and the need for the people to love God. Indeed, if there is one central theme that can be drawn out, it is that the keeping of all the Law is needfully linked to the first commandment: to love the Lord with all the heart, soul, and strength. Without that love it would be impossible to satisfy the Law. At least twelve times in the book the people are instructed to love the Lord. The book contains the whole philosophical foundation of Jewish religion; a full description of the covenant relationship between the Lord and Israel. And it makes clear that love for the Lord is the appropriate response to his abounding favor toward his people. Authorship and Later References The orthodox view of Deuteronomy is that it was written by Moses except for some short narrative sections. Chapter 27 is referred to in Joshua 8:31-35, when Joshua carried out Moses’ instructions to proclaim the blessings and curses of the Law at Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, which indicates the book was in existence at the time of Joshua. There are later references to the book also. Deuteronomy 24:16, "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children nor children for their fathers," is alluded to in 2 Kings 14:6; 2 Chronicles 25:4; Ezekiel 18:20; and Jeremiah 31:29,30. Jesus and Paul refer to passages in Deuteronomy as the words of Moses in Matthew 19:7,8; Mark 10:3,4; John 5:46,47; Acts 3:22 and 7:37; and Romans 10:19. Some sections are clearly intended for a people living in a later time, such as the laws concerning kings in chapter 17, laws which Solomon failed to observe. Chapter 12 mentions a central place for offerings to the Lord, such as Jerusalem later became, centuries after Moses died. Some time after 723 BC, when the northern kingdom fell to Assyria, remnants of the inhabitants joined in affinity with the southern kingdom in Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah, who effected a great reformation following the sins of king Ahaz. He is thought to have done some work on reorganizing and canonizing books of scripture, as may be intimated in Proverbs 25:1. After Hezekiah died, his son Manasseh reintroduced idol worship and forced the reformers and their books into hiding. Later, in the reign of Manasseh’s grandson Josiah, during renovation work in the temple in the 18th yearof his reign, "Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses" (2Chronicles 34:14), which stimulated many further reforms. Many believe this book was Deuteronomy. Synopsis Moses expressed the philosophy of the Law in terms of a covenant agreement between the people and the Lord, stressing the consequences of obedience or disobedience: "If you will listen to these commandments and obey them faithfully, then the LORD your God will keep with you his covenant and his constant love just as he promised to your ancestors" (Deuteronomy 7:12). The outline of the book is roughly similar to that of a treaty between a king of one state and another subject state, in a style typical of treaties made in that area of the ancient world, such as between the Hittites and Assyrians. Such treaties contain the following divisions:
This covenant with Israel was agreed to and ratified by the people (Exodus 19:8; Deuteronomy 26:17), and was thereafter inherited by their descendants. Such was the all-encompassing nature of this covenant with God that the Israelites were forbidden to make covenants with other people, especially the people dwelling in Canaan (Deuteronomy 7:2). The reason is that these entanglements would carry with them conditions that might cause the Israelites to compromise their own laws, to tolerate idols in their land, or in some other way interfere with the Lord’s overruling care. Throughout the book Moses showed why the Lord deserves the people’s love, and why it is necessary and appropriate to follow all the commandments and statutes. He first traced the history of the Lord’s marvelous dealings with the people, how he saved them from Egypt, provided them with manna and every necessity, and led them to victory over their enemies. He reminded them of the care God gave them and the consequences of rebellion (chapters 1 to 4). Then the Law was given, starting with the ten commandments and fundamental principles (chapters 5 to 11). Moses exhorted the people first and foremost: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. From this great commandment follow the principles of all the laws as Jesus taught in Matthew 22:37. From following this commandment the people would receive an obedient heart (Deuteronomy 30:6, Today’s English Version), with which they would have no difficulty observing the law. This was followed by the complete set of statutes which are clearly shown to protect the society against evil and to preserve the worship of God (chapters 12 to 26). These statutes effectively replace the ones given in Exodus since they cover the same ground. Finally Moses pronounced blessings on the people for obedience and curses for disobedience (chapters 27 to 30). The close of the book records the blessing of Joshua and the death of Moses (chapters 31 to 34). One Like Unto Me When the people witnessed the voice of the Lord coming from the fire and clouds on the mountain, they realized that they might not survive such encounters in the future. So they asked Moses to act on their behalf as a mediator (Deuteronomy 5:22-29; 18:16,17). The Lord was pleased to hear the people say this. It clearly showed their need for a mediator. It also pointed to the need for Christ to be a mediator for mankind. One of the best known passages in Deuteronomy is Moses’ prediction of his successor, Jesus: "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken" (Deuteronomy 18:15). Moses knew this because God himself so informed Moses: "The Lord said unto me ... I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him" (verses 17,18). Jesus quoted many passages from Deuteronomy (including all three times he answered the adversary when tempted in the wilderness). This is not surprising since both Moses and Jesus serve as mediators, and Moses pictured Jesus. Their mediatorial roles are similar in that they have both gone so far as to stand in the breach at the peril of their own lives—Moses at Mount Sinai and Jesus on the cross. But their roles as mediators also differ in notable ways because the terms and conditions of the covenants are different. The Law covenant was impossible to keep for anyone except Jesus. Jesus, on the other hand, administers not a new forbidding "letter of the law," but the spirit of the law. His ministry is on a more spiritual level. Compliance to his precepts is on a higher level, an internal level which is sometimes seen only by the suppliant and God. His requirements are less demanding on particulars, yet more demanding on principles. The law stipulated "thou shalt not kill," but the law of the spirit is not to even meditate such an offense. The law stipulated "thou shalt not commit adultery," but the law of the spirit is not to even harbor such thoughts in the heart. Thus the Lord’s commentary on the law of God was from the internal, spiritual perspective. Deuteronomy 6:5 reads: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." It is cited in Matthew 22:37 and Mark 12:30. Our Lord added nothing to this statement because it was complete. Deuteronomy 8:3, "Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord"—cited in Matthew 4:4. Deuteronomy 6:13, "Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him"—cited in Matthew 4:10. Deuteronomy 6:16, "Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God"—cited in Matthew 4:7. Deuteronomy 5:18, "Neither shalt thou commit adultery"—cited in Matthew 5:27 and taken to a higher level. Deuteronomy 24:1-3, regulations concerning divorce: our Lord in Matthew 5:32 instructed us to look at the issue from a higher perspective. Deuteronomy 23:21,23, "When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it." Jesus in Matthew 5:33-37 says it is better simply to let your word be your bond without oaths: "Let your communication be, yea, yea; nay, nay." Deuteronomy 19:21, "Thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot"—but Jesus advised us not to press this requirement on our behalf, and rather "turn the other cheek" and let your adversary "have thy cloke also" (Matthew 5:39,40). Lessons Learned The Israelites who left Egypt were led to the border of the promised land in less than two years. But though the Lord had cared for them as a father cares for his child (Deuteronomy 1:31), they were insubordinate and refused to follow the Lord into the land, fearing the inhabitants. As a result they lost their opportunity, even though they were repentant afterwards (Deuteronomy 1:35,41). They had no trouble following the Lord when the path was clear and easy to follow. They considered themselves the Lord’s people, in name at least. But when obstacles loomed ahead, they obeyed their fearful hearts rather than the Lord. It was not until that generation had died (Deuteronomy 2:14) that their children allowed themselves to be led by the Lord, and were given victories over kings Sihon and Og on the east side of Jordan. Those first victories were important because Moses used them to lay the groundwork for establishing the Lord as the military leader of Israel (Deuteronomy 3:21-24). Evidently that generation, which followed the Lord into battle and then into Canaan, was of a more faithful character, more willing to follow the Lord, than the first generation. Why was this so? What experiences shaped their character in the desert? Moses answered this question for us in Deuteronomy 8:2-6: "Remember the long way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments. He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. The clothes on your back did not wear out and your feet did not swell these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a parent disciplines a child so the LORD your God disciplines you. Therefore keep the commandments of the LORD your God, by walking in his ways and by fearing him." Moses outlined all the Lord’s dealings with Israel up to that time. He impressed them with the many reasons they needed to love and obey the Lord, keep the Law, and teach the same to their children (Deuteronomy 4:32-40; 6:20-25). The wisdom and righteousness of the Law demonstrated the Lord’s goodness in many principles such as fairness, equality, impartiality, and compassion for the poor, to the people of Israel and to their neighbors (Deuteronomy 4:6-8). The Law Added to the Original Covenant The reason the Israelites were favored with God’s covenant is "because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt" (Deuteronomy 4:37; 7:8). The Abrahamic Covenant said that God would be the God of Abraham’s seed and that they would be his people (Genesis 17:7,8). God also promised to give his seed the whole land of Canaan and that they would bless all the families of the earth. The Law Covenant was also tied to the promised land: "Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you ... that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess" (Deuteronomy 5:33). Obedience to the Law was requisite to Israel’s blessing in the land received through the original covenant. In this sense the Law Covenant was part of the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant; "it was added" to the original (Galatians 3:19). A continued blessing was appropriate only under the condition of obedience, and the Law provided a measure, a standard, of their national obedience. Its precepts also served to fashion the Israelites individually into people of faith if they were followed. Also it prepared a remnant to receive the Messiah in due time, to become the nucleus of the promised seed destined to bless all the families of the earth. The Law of Moses required a fully participating heart. It was impossible for anyone to completely and perfectly keep the law, aside from Jesus, due to their fallen condition. However, through the mercy of God, many blessings were promised which could be attained in proportion to one’s honest efforts in keeping the Law as fully as one could. This was often exhibited in Israel’s history collectively, for when the people turned to the Lord sincerely, they were blessed for it. By this means, and by Moses’ closing admonitions in this fifth and final book of the Torah, we see that the law, in its truest light, necessitated a full love for the Lord, and yielded blessings for those with this heart condition. It is similar today. Those who love the Lord with all their heart receive rich blessings beyond their fondest expectations. |