Sunday, October 5, 2014

Deuteronomy, Overview

Godsway 66, Book 5 - Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy is the fifth and final book of the Torah.  In many ways, it is a reiteration of the law described in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, trying to teach God's people what the most important aspects of the law are.  Essentially, it is to live one's life completely trusting in God to provide, to guide, and to protect.

Occasionally, this means that Deuteronomy seems like a meditation on important issues.  For example, chapters 28-30 expand on the notion of covenant between God and human beings, trying to more completely understand what this relationship means for both God and the Hebrew people.  It also means that some of it is repetitive; for example, the Ten Commandments are restated in Deuteronomy.

This book also describes how God is preparing the people to capture the Promised Land and then govern themselves when they do.  This is important given that they will follow a new leader, Joshua, into Canaan, after the great prophet Moses dies at the end of Deuteronomy.