Dr. J. Vernon McGee :: Notes for Deuteronomy

OUTLINE Outline for Deuteronomy

DEUTERONOMY

“The Book of Experience and Obedience”

WRITER: Moses
Moses talked with God face to face. Moses knew God.

He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. (Psalm 103:7)

The children of Israel saw the acts of God but did not know Him. Moses knew His ways. Deuteronomy is the result of this intimate knowledge plus the experience of 40 years in the wilderness.
Deuteronomy 34:5-12 was probably written by Joshua and belongs to the Book of Joshua. When the Book of Joshua was written, it was placed on the scroll of the Pentateuch, making a Hexateuch.

TITLE: Deuteronomy means “second law.” This is not to infer that it is a repetition of the Law as given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. It is the Law interpreted in the light of 38 years of experience in the wilderness. New situations and problems arose that were not covered by the Law specifically. There needed to be an application of the Law to life situations. (A notable example of this [Numbers 27] is the case of the inheritance of the daughters of Zelophehad, who had left no sons.)
Deuteronomy, therefore, is more than a mere recapitulation of the Law of Sinai; it is another illustration of the law of recurrence (see Deu 29:1). Specific laws that needed emphasis are repeated and enlarged upon (e.g., the Ten Commandments in chapter 5). Deuteronomy is a commentary on the Mosaic Law.
There are 4 Hebrew titles of Deuteronomy:

1. Debarim — “The Words” or “These be the Words”
2. The Kith, or the Fifth of the Law
3. The Book of Reproofs
4. The Iteration of the Law

KEY: Love and obey

Love of God — Deu 4:37; 7:7, 8; 23:5
Obey God — Deu 4:40; 11:26-28; 30:8-20
Love for God — Deu 6:4, 5; 30:6, 16, 20

This book teaches man to love and obey God. The word “love” occurs 22 times; “obey” occurs 10 times. The motive for obedience is love. The Lord Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). The true motive for obedience is stated in Deuteronomy 6:4, 5. God’s love for man is the motive for His government and the giving of laws. Man’s love of God is the motive for his obedience. This is not the gospel, but the principle of it is here. This is the pathway of blessing. It is likewise the answer to those who do not find love in the Old Testament. There is love in the Old Testament, and there is law in the New Testament. Moses pleads with them to obey.
Why obey? Pleading of Moses:

1. Israel belonged to God (Deu 14:1)
2. God loved them (Deu 4:37)
3. God wanted to preserve and prosper them (Deu 4:1)
4. Their show of gratitude (Deu 4:7, 8)

COMMENT: A new generation had arrived on the east bank of the Jordan River (Deu 1:5) one month before entering the Promised Land (Deu 1:3). Those of the generation which had left Egypt were dead and their bones were bleaching beneath the desert skies because of their unbelief and disobedience.

They had broken God’s law — sins of commission;
They had failed to believe God — sins of omission.

The Law was “weak through the flesh” (Romans 8:3).
Moses gives to this new generation his final instructions from the Lord before he relinquishes leadership of the nation through death. He reviews the desert experiences, reemphasizes certain features of the Law, reveals their future course in light of the Palestinian Covenant, teaches them a new song, blesses the twelve tribes, and then prepares to die. A requiem to Moses concludes the book.
This new generation was unfamiliar with the experiences of Mt. Sinai, and they needed to have the Law called to their attention and interpreted in the light of their experience and future dwelling in the Promised Land.
The Book of Deuteronomy has been the center of attack by the critic. First the authorship of the book was challenged. The original criticism was that Moses could not have written it because there was no writing in existence in Moses’ day. That has subsequently been soundly refuted. Next the critic stated that the purpose of the book was to glorify the priesthood at Jerusalem, but neither the priesthood nor Jerusalem is mentioned in Deuteronomy.
The probable reason for the satanic attack upon the Book of Deuteronomy is that the Lord Jesus Christ quoted exclusively from this book in beating back Satan’s temptation. Little wonder Satan hates this book.

1st temptation — Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4 compare Deuteronomy 8:3
2nd temptation — Matthew 4:7; Luke 4:12 compare Deuteronomy 6:16
3rd temptation — Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8 compare Deuteronomy 6:13 and 10:20

The Old Testament prophets quoted from Deuteronomy frequently. There are also over 80 references to it in the New Testament.
Deuteronomy exalts the Word of God:

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deuteronomy 6:7)

STRIKING FEATURES: