Deuteronomy 1 - 4: Summary
INTRODUCTION.
A. Author: Moses
B. Date: At the end of the forty-year period in the wilderness on the plains of Moab due east of Jericho and the Jordan River.
C. Overview of this lesson:
1. Chapters 1-3 - Moses reviews the forty-year journey.
2. Chapter 4 - Moses gives a summary of God’s covenant with the Israelites.
I. A REVIEW OF THE FORTY YEARS OF WANDERING. (1:1 - 3:29)
A. Leaving Mt. Sinai to the first spy expedition into the land of Canaan. (1:1-25)
B. Israel's rebellion after the first spy expedition and their punishment. (1:26-46)
C. A brief history of the forty year wandering. (2:1-37)
1. Note why Israel was not given the land of Moab, Mt. Seir, and the land of Ammon.
a. The Moabites were descendants of Lot’s son, Moab, by his firstborn daughter. (vs 9; cf. Genesis 19:37)
b. The Ammonites were descendants of Lot’s son, Benammi, by his younger daughter. (vs 19; cf. Genesis 19:38)
2. Moses reflects upon Israel's victory over Sihon, king of Heshbon and his people; victory given to them by God.
D. Israel's victory over King Og of Bashan and his people, including the Sidonians, the Amorites, all the cities of the plain, and all Gilead. (3:1-11)
E. Moses divided the land to the east of the Jordan as requested by the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh. (3:12-20)
F. Moses pleaded with the Lord to allow him to enter the promise land. The Lord refused, but did allow Moses to see the land. The Lord passed the leadership to Joshua. (3:21-29)
II. MOSES EXHORTED THE ISRAELITES TO OBEY THE LORD. (4:1-40)
A. Verses 1-8
1. Moses instructed the Israelites to listen to the statutes and judgments of God and to go and possess the land that God would give them. (vs 1)
2. The Israelites were to neither add to nor take away from the commandments of the Lord. (vs 2)
3. Moses reminded Israel that God destroyed Baal Peor and kept the Israelites alive. Israel was kept alive because they held fast to the Lord. (vs 3-4)
4. Moses told the Israelites to be careful to observe the statutes and judgments of the Lord. If they did so, then they would be considered as a great nation being wise and understanding. (vs 5-8)
B. Verses 9-14
1. Moses instructed the Israelites to diligently remember all that God had taught them and done for them. They were to teach this remembrance to future generations. (vs 9)
2. Moses reminded the people of God giving them His law while at Mt. Sinai (Horeb). (vs 10-14)
C. Verses 15-19
1. Moses reminded the Israelites that God did not appear to them in any given form. He spoke to them from the fire. (vs 15)
2. By God not appearing to the Israelites in a given form, the Israelites would not be tempted to fashion an idol after the appearance of God. (vs 16-19)
D. Verses 20-22
1. Moses reminded the people of their deliverance from Egypt by the hand of God. (vs 20)
2. Moses explained to the people why he would not be joining them in their conquest of Canaan. (vs 20-22)
E. Verses 23-31
1. Moses reminded the Israelites that they were to neither forget their covenant with the Lord nor worship graven images because God is a jealous God. (vs 23-24)
2. Moses seemed to have forewarned the Israelites of their future idolatry. (vs 25-31)
a. Moses referred to the Israelites being long in the land, being corrupt with graven images, and doing evil. (vs 25)
b. Moses warned that the Israelites would perish from off the land because of their idolatry. (vs 26)
c. The Israelites would be scattered among the nations and would be left few in number. (vs 27-28)
d. If, after leaving the Lord, the children of Israel would seek the Lord, then they would find Him. He would be merciful to them and would not forget the covenant made with their fathers. (vs 29-31)
F. Verses 32-40
1. In this last section of Moses speech, he told the Israelites to consider how special and unique was their relationship with God. (vs 32-40)
a. Ever since the creation of man until His relationship with Israel, no one had heard the voice of God from the fire. Israel was the first. (vs 32-33)
b. Until Israel, God had never delivered one nation from another using His great powers and resources. (vs 34)
c. Israel saw the signs proving God’s greatness. From out of heaven, Israel heard the voice of the Lord as it instructed them in the way commands of the Lord. (vs 35-36)
d. Because of His love for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God chose their seed and delivered it from the Egyptian bondage. The Lord God would clear out the nations so that Israel might have the land of inheritance. (vs 37-38)
e. Based upon all that God had done for Israel, they were to know that there was none other than the Lord God. He was the God of heaven and of the earth. (vs 39)
f. Therefore, Israel was to keep His statutes and His commandments. They were to teach His statutes and commandments to their children. If this they did, then God would prolong their days upon the earth. (vs 40)
III. LESSONS LEARNED.
A. “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” (Deut. 4:2, KJV)
1. God’s wish for His people to follow His commands as written is still present today. (Hebrews 13:8 - “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” KJV)
2. Consider also Revelation 22:18-19.
B. “Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. 6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” (Deuteronomy 4:5-6, KJV)
1. If we hold fast to the word of God, we, too, will have a good reputation.
2. Consider the example of the brethren in Thessalonica. (I Thessalonians 1:6-10)
C. “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; 10 Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children. 11 And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. 12 And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.” (Deut. 4:9-12, KJV)
1. We are to diligently keep our souls, lest we also forget the things that the Lord has done for us. (II Peter1:10; II Peter 1:5; Hebrews 11:6)
2. We must also remember to teach our children what the Lord has done for us. (Ephesians 6:1-4)
D. “(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.” (Deut. 4:31, KJV)
1. Neither will the Lord forget His covenant with us. (Hebrews 6:9-20)
2. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise. (II Peter 3:9)
CONCLUSION.
A. In concluding this lesson, let me remind of Deuteronomy 4:40:
1. “Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.” (Deut. 4:40, KJV)
B. Let us learn and be reminded of the necessity of always serving the Lord. If we do, then we shall be rewarded. If we do not, then we shall be punished. Make the decision to serve the Lord today.
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Old Testament Series: Deuteronomy 1 - 4: Summary -- September 17, 2000 -- File # 668
by John M. Duvall – Lawton ,OK