Bible Study                                     Notes 1999

4 May 1999

Text:  Deuteronomy 29-31

GRAVE CONCERN OF MOSES   Deut 29

1.   Despite "the great trials which you have seen, the signs and those great wonders... YET the LORD has not given to you a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this very day"   Deut 29:4

2.   "That there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood"   Deut 29:18

3.   Following the personal "dictates of (the) heart"   Deut 29:19 (Inviting the wrath of God   Deut 29:19-24)

4.   Forsaking the covenant of the Lord   Deut 29:25-28

GREAT HOPE IN THE COVENANT - MERCIES OF GOD   Deut 30

Definition of "Returning to God"   Deut 30:1-2 (Cf. 2 Cor 7:10-11)

1.   It involves calling to mind the Word of God                  Deut 30:1

2.   It involves returning to the Covenant of the Lord      Deut 30:2

3.   It involves obedience with all the heart and soul      Deut 30:2, 10

The Promise of God's Blessings Fully Delineated in Response to Returning to Him

1.   "The Lord will bring you back from captivity... and gather you again from all the nations where the Lord has scattered you"        Deut 30:3-4

2.   The Lord will "have compassion on you"   Deut 30:3

3.   There will be repossession of the land   Deut 30:5

4.   The promise of blessing of prosperity in the land promised    

      Deut 30:5

5.   The Lord will "circumcise your heart"... (the spiritual aspect) "and the descendants"... that they may "love the Lord with all the heart and soul"; and obey Him once again   Deut 30:6, 8

6.   The curses (Deut 28:15-68) will be placed on the enemies       Deut 30:7

7.   The Lord will rejoice over His redeemed once again   Deut 30:9-10

THE TRUTH OF THE WORD OF GOD IS NOT THAT DIFFICULT TO COMPREHEND!   Deut 30:11-20; 29:29

1.   The commandment is NOT TOO MYSTERIOUS!     Deut 30:11

2.   It is NOT FAR OFF      Deut 30:12

3.   It is NOT IN HEAVEN      Deut 30:12

4.   It is NOT BEYOND THE SEA     Deut 30:13

5.   The Word is VERY NEAR YOU... in your mouth... and in your heart

      Deut 30:14

RESTATED IN SIMPLE LANGUAGE   Deut 30:15-20

1.   The command to relate to the Lord   Deut 30:16, 20

      a)   To love Him with all the heart and soul   Deut 30:16, 20

      b)   To walk in all His ways   Deut 30:16

      c)   To keep His commandments, statutes and judgements 

            Deut 30:16

      d)   To obey the Lord   Deut 30:20

      e)   To cling to Him   Deut 30:20

2.   The Promise of Blessing   Deut 30:16-20

      a)   That "you may live"   Deut 30:16

      b)   That He "may multiply you"   Deut 30:16

      c)   That the blessing of the Lord will be upon the land   Deut 30:16

      d)   God is "your life and length of your days"   Deut 30:20

3.   The Warning of Judicial-punitive action   Deut 30:17-19

      a)   If the heart is turned away to worship false gods, there will be dire consequences   Deut 30:17

      b)   Heaven and earth called as witnesses   Deut 30:19

4.      Encouragement to "CHOOSE LIFE"   Deut 30:19

JOSHUA INAUGURATED AS THE NEXT GENERATION LEADER   Deut 31

1.   The context of Moses' impending death      Deut 31:1-2

      a)   The problem of old age (120 years old) Deut 31:1

      b)   By the decree of God   Deut 31:2

2.   A reminder that God's Presence with His people is far more important than that of Moses   Deut 31:3-5

      a)   "The LORD your God Himself crosses before you..."   

            Deut 31:3, 6

      b)   He will destroy the enemies   Deut 31:3-5

      c)   Israel's part is "to be strong and of a good courage"   Deut 31:6

3.   Joshua primed to take over the reins of leadership   Deut 31:7-8

      a)   Joshua had been prepared for years (through being associated with Moses; through serving the Lord with him, etc)

      b)   He was now being "primed"   Deut 31:7-8

            i)    "Be strong and of a good courage" - Joshua's most necessary mindset

            ii)      "You must go with this people... you shall cause them to inherit it..."  Responsibility outlined and entrusted   Deut 31:7

            iii)      "The LORD... He is the One who goes before you... He will be with you... he will not leave you, nor forsake you..."  

                  Deut 31:8   Joshua's most necessary faith in God

THE WRITING OF THE LAW AND ENTRUSTING IT TO THE PRIESTS   Deut 31:9-13

1.   The actual (physical) writing of the law and entrusting it to the Priests (formal, symbolic act)   Deut 31:9

2.   The charge to the Priests:-

      a)   To specially read the Scriptures at the Feast of the Tabernacles every seven years

      b)   To make sure that the whole nation, especially the children grow up well in their faith   Deut 31:12-13

      c)   To reach out to the "strangers" in their midst with their faith  

            Deut 31:12

3.   Joshua inaugurated as the next leader   Deut 31:14-15

      a)   The venue: The Tabernacle   Deut 31:14

      b)   Special Appearance of the Glory of the Lord on this occasion

            Deut 31:15 ("a pillar of cloud")

      c)   Special, personal word of encouragement to Joshua   Deut 31:23

4.   A sad and solemn prophetic word   Deut 31:16-30

      a)      Prediction that (ancient) Israel will depart from the Lord and worship idols    Deut 31:16

      b)   The judicial-punitive hand of God will have to be raised against their wicked ways   Deut 31:17-21

5.   A special anthem, "The Song of Moses" to be written for the people by Moses    Deut 31:19-22

      a)   As a witness   Deut 31:19, 21

      b)   As a source of instruction   Deut 31:19

6.   "The Book of the Law" to be placed beside the Ark of the Covenant   Deut 31:24-26

7.   Another word of admonition   Deut 31:26-30

      a)   The Book of the Law as Witness   Deut 31:26

      b)   Strong words of admonition given to the people "If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the LORD, then how much more after my death?"   Deut 31:27-29 (Cf. Acts 20:28-32)