Deuteronomy 15

1 - 18 The Sabbatical Year of Remission

Every seventh year, the Isrealites should grant a remission of debts. If there is someone in the community in need, then do not be heard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor. Slaves should be freed after seven years.

19 - 23 The Firstborn of Livestock

The first male ox shall be eaten (with the household). Still, don't eat the blood.

Question of the Day: Give us a question, J.P.!

Deuteronomy 14

1 - 2 Pagan Practice Forbidden

Practices from other religions forbidden (i.e. lacerating oneself or shaving "forelocks" for the dead). Reason: For you are a people holy to the Lord your God; it is you the Lord has chosen out of all the peoples on earth to be his people on earth to be his people, his treasured possession" (2)

3 - 21 Clean and Unclean Foods

Clean and unclean foods are described in the order of animals, things that live in water, and birds. Finally, don't eat anything that dies of itself (not a good idea anyway), but you may give them to aliens. This section concludes, "You shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk." I wonder if this is a question that came up later and was added.

22 - 29 Regulations Concerning Tithes

This is the prescription for giving to the church. I'm a fan of Dave Ramsey, and his advice on tithing is given here. (However, he doesn't base it on any specific biblical passage). But a tithe is a tenth of income - and Dave recommends a tenth after taxes (take home pay).

Question: How does giving affect the giver?

Deuteronomy 13

1 - 18 Counteracting Sedition

1. Don't follow people who say dreams or visions told them to follow other gods (1 - 5).
2. Don't let people come to you secretly and try to get you to worship other gods (even your own brother or step-siblings) (6 - 11).
3. If another town goes astray, then that's an act of war (12 - 18).

Question of the Day: Some of the reactions to apostasy might seem a bit extreme today. Why were they so "harsh" back then?

Deuteronomy 12

1 - 12 Pagan Shrines to Be Destroyed

When entering a new land - destroy their places of worship completely. The Lord will choose a new place of worship. And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you together with your sons and daughters . . . (12)

13 - 28 A Prescribed Place of Worship

Only offer burnt offerings at places of worship. Then there's a prescription of the preparation (don't eat the blood . . . ). Be careful to obey all these words that I command you today, so that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, because you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God (28).

29 - 32 Warning against Idolatry

There is a warning about following other culture's gods. You must diligently observe everything that I command you; do not add to it or take anything from it (32).

Question of the Day: This passage seems to talk about how to worship (and how not to). What is supposed to happen when we worship?

Deuteronomy 11

The Essence of the Covenant (Continued) 1 - 12:1

My notes say that this section concludes Moses' preliminary instructions. Primary emphasis is on the love of the Lord as "the crux of covenental obedience" (putting that into English, I guess he means if we love the Lord, we will keep His commandments). You shall love your God, therefore, his decrees, his ordinances, and his commandments always (1)

The Lord blesses those who keep his commanments: If you will only heed his every commandment that I am commanding you today - loving the Lord your God, and serving him with all your heart and all you soul - then he will give the rain for your land in its season . . . (13 - 14).

Question: It seems kind of the opposite of our culture to "love the law" - why is this true?

Deuteronomy 10

1 - 11 The Covenant Broken and Restored (continued)

Moses returns to the mountain where God helps him make a set of the Ten Commandments. The Lord tells Mosed to lead the people to the land God promised their ancestors.

12 - 22 The Essence of the Covenant

"So now, O Isreal, what does the Lord require of you? Only to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord your God and his decrees that I am commanding you today, for your own well-being." (12 - 13) That sums things up pretty well.

Question of the Day: What does "circumcise the foreskin of your heart" (16) mean?

Deuteronomy 9

1 - 6 Unmerited Success

The Isrealites are told that anything they achieve is because of God's covenant to their fathers. "It is not because of your merits" - this line is repeated three times (in case they forget - they are, after all a "stiff-necked" people).

7 - 29 The Golden Calf

The Isrealites are reminded that they built a golden calf to worship, and that Moses had to plea for God not to "destroy them and blot out their name from under the heavens" (13). Again, it is the covenant that God made that saved these "stiff-necked" people. God keeps his promises!

Question of the Day: J.P. - ask a question - I can't think of one tonight.

Deuteronomy 8

1 - 5 God's Care

The Isrealites are reminded that God led them through the desert and tested them with hunger (in order to show that man doesn't live by bread alone). The Lord disciplines them "even as a man disciplines his son).

6 - 20 Danger of Prosperity

The Promised Land is described, but also the danger that one might say, "It is my own power and the strength of my own hand that has obtained me this wealth." (17) We must remember that it is the Lord who gives us the power to acquire wealth, "by fulfilling, as he has not done, the covenant." (18) But if the Isrealites forget and begin to worship other gods, they are warned that they will "perish utterly."

Question of the Day: In verse 5, God is described as disciplining as a man disciplines as son. Expand on this metaphor. How (when, why, etc.) do parents discipline their children?

Deuteronomy 7

1 - 11 A Chosen People

The author says Isreal will last longer than the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. How many of those have you seen in the news lately. God chose Isreal "because the LORD loved you and because of his fidelity to the oath he had sworn to your fathers, that he brought you out with his strong hand from the place of slavery, and ransomed you from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt." (8) Therefore, the Isrealites must keep the commandments.

12 - 26 Blessings for Obedience

If one follows the Lord, the Lord will bless him protecting him. This passage ends with a warning: "You shall not bring any abominable thing into your house, lest you be doomed with it; loathe and abhor it utterly as a thing that is doomed" (26)

Question of the Day: Why does the Lord not wish for the Isrealites to intermarry? Why not bring "abominable" things into the house?

Deuteronomy 6

1 - 3 Moses as Mediator (Continued)

The Lord wishes for the Isrealites to obey the law "so that you and you son and your grandson may fear the Lord, your God, and keep, throughout the days of your lives, all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you, and thus have a long life." (2)

4 - 9 The Great Commandment

"Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. (5) The Isrealites are even told to keep these words so seriously that they put them on their wrists and on their foreheads as a pendant. My notes say this is just figurative.

10 - 19 Fidality in Prosperity

The Lord promises land (10), goods, and food (11). Then there is another reminder not to follow other gods.

20 - 25 Instruction to Children

Here are instructions of exactly what to say to children when they ask what the statutes and ordinances mean. Verses 21 - 25 pretty much sum up everything that has been summarized in the first 5 books of Deuteronomy.

Question of the Day: Read verse 13. What is meant by "serve"?

Deuteronomy 5

1- 5 The Covenant at Horeb

God makes a covenant with the Isrealites - not with their fathers - but with the Isrealites. My notes say: "God does not punish us for another's sins, but because of the solidarity of human society, the good or evil deeds of one generation smay make their effects felt even in later generations."

6 - 21 The Decalogue

The Ten Commandments

22 - 33 Moses as Mediator

The Isrealites are worried because of the fire and cloud. When God hears this, he tells Moses to be sure the Isrealites keep His commandments. He wants Moses to stay while the rest go to their tents so God can give the statutes and decrees. Moses says, "Be careful, therefore, to do as the Lord your God, has commanded you, not turning aside to the right or left , but following exactly the way prescribed for you by the Lord your God, that you may live and prosper, and may have long life in the land which you are to occupy." (32 - 33)

Question of the Day: My dictionary says a covenant is "a solemn binding agreement" Q: What action does each party (God and humans) agree to do?"

Deuteronomy 4

1 - 8 Advantages of Fidelity

Moses stresses the importance of keeping the teachings the Lord has given the Isrealites "for thus you will give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations . . . (6)

9 - 14 Revelation at Horeb

Moses tells how important the Ten Commandments are that the Lord gave Israel.

15 - 24 Danger of Idolatry

The Lord is "a consuming fire, a jealous God" (24), and therefore no idol in any form should be worshipped. This has already gotten Moses in trouble and he's going to die before they get to the promised land without crossing the Jordan.

25 - 31 God's Fidelity

Awesome verse: "Yet there too you shall seek the Lord, your God; and you shall indeed find him when you search after him with your whole heart and your whole soul (29).

32 - 40 Proofs of God's Love

Moses asks if anything greater than God had happened before? Was it ever heard of? (32) The Lord led the Isrealites out of Egypt because of LOVE (love of your fathers) (37). What does God want from the Isrealites? "You must keep his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you today, that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may have long life on the land which the Lord, you God, is giving you forever" (40).

41 - 43 Cities of Refuge

Moses sets apart 3 cities east of Jordan (a refuge for someone who accidentally kills his neighbor).

PART II: GOD AND HIS COVENANT

44 - 49 Introduction

The author sets up an introduction to the law which Moses set before the Israelites.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: What does God really want for the Isrealites?

Deuteronomy 3

1 - 11 Defeat of Og

The Isrealites capture Og's cities (60 in all).

12 - 22 Allotment of the Conquered Lands

Moses divides the land and charges the men of Reuben and Gad that the land is theirs, but they must keep troops to help the Isrealites fight. Moses tells Joshua: "You eyes have seen all that the Lord, your God, has done to both these kings; so, too, will the Lord do to all the kingdoms which you will encounter over there. Fear them not, for the Lord, your God, will fight for you" (21-22).

23 - 29 Refusal of Moses

Moses wants to cross Jordan into Lebanan, but the Lord is angry at him on account of the Isrealites. He tells Moses to climb Pisgah and to encourage Joshua because he will lead the people there.

Today's Question: God tells Moses no, and we don't really get a sense of Moses' reaction, but I'm sure he was disappointed. How have you reacted in the past when God has clearly said "No" to you?

Deuteronomy 2

1 - 7 Northward along Edom

When the Isrealites reach the Red Sea road, the Lord tells Moses, "You have wandered around these highlands for a long time; turn and go north."

8 - 23 Along Moab and Ammon

8 - 23 We continue with the God takes them through Moab and Ammon

24 - 37 Defeat of Sihon

The Lord tells the Isrealites to cross the Wadi Arnon, and to "put a fear and dread of you into every nation under the heavens." Moses sends messengers to Sihon, king of Heshbon, who refuses to let the Isrealites through. The Isrealites, subsequently defeat them in battle.


Question for the day: Was there ever a time when you heard the Lord say: "You have wandered long enough. It's time to . . . "

I know for me, I resisted going to the band's Bible study for a long time, and it wasn't until the spring of 2005 that I got the courage to go. J.P. and I have been studying the Bible off and on (mostly on) ever since.

Deuteronomy 1

Part One: Historical Review and Exhortation (Dt. 1, 1-4, 43)

1 - 5 Introduction

In the land of Moab, in the 40th year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses gave the Isrealites all God's commands.

6 - 8 Departure from Horeb

Moses tells the story of how the Lord told the Isrealites to leave Horeb for Lebanan (and as far as the Great River [Euphrates]) - this is the land the Lord promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their descendants.

9 - 18 Appointment of Elders

Since then, the Isrealites have multiplied, and since Moses alone couldn't listen to their complaints he appointed elders to make judgement on problems.

19 - 25 The Twelve Scouts

The Isrealites left Horeb, and when they reached the land of the Amorites (which the Lord gave them), Moses sent 12 scouts ahead to check things out. They brought fruit back and declared it was good.

26 - 40 Threats of Revolt

Except for Caleb, the crowd lost faith and refused to go up. The Lord was angry and wouldn't even let Moses see the new land. The Lord, however, allows Joshua to see it and promises the land to the Isrealite children - but the rest have to "proceed into the desert on the Red Sea road."

41 - 46 Unsuccessful Invasion

The Isrealites reply that they have sinned and that they will fight. But the Lord tells Moses to warn them that the Amorites will beat them if they try it. The Isrealites didn't listen and the Amorites "came out . . . like bees" and chased them off.

Question of the Day:

I still think it would be a good idea to have a "discussion question" to get us talking (Hey, I'm an English teacher).

Anyway - Here it is: What can we learn about our present Christian life by learning about the trials of this group of Isrealites?