Bible Study Outline
"Moses' Third Address: The Future Blessings "
Deuteronomy 30:1-20
Lesson 31
| These Studies was written and submitted by: Joseph M. Willmouth, Pastor of Trinity Bible Church in Biloxi, Mississippi 39532. This contributed article is copyright protected, and the sole property of the contributing author. It may be freely copied and used provided the above credits are included. Document expiration: indefinite. |
These Outlines were prepared for our Sunday Evening Bible
Study at
Trinity Bible Church, Biloxi, Mississippi.
I. The Promise Of Restored Blessings
(vv.1-10).
1. The coming exile and return of the nation of Israel (vv.1-3).
A. God foretells of how Israel will break their covenant with Him and how they will be exiled and dispersed from their land (v.1).B. Even with this forthcoming curse, they would someday repent and be restored to their land (vv.2-3).
1) Repentance means turning around and going in a new direction, the Israelites would someday turn around from going in their sinful direction and turn back to God (v.2).- "return," ("shuwb" {shoob: perfect conjuction means it is viewed with perfection or completeness}); to return or turn back, repent.2) Israel's repentance also involved a wholehearted commitment (obedience) to God's Word (v.2).3) God would restore Israel's former position after they truly repented (v.3).
A) "will turn thy captivity"(1) "turn," ("shuwb" {shoob}); to return, to bring back.B) Expositor's Bible Commentary: "The Hebrew phrase translated ‘restore your fortunes' signifies a total change, a return to a former state, and indicates that Israel would return to the position of being under the blessing of the Lord in their own land."(2) "captivity," ("shebuwth" {sheb-ooth'}); captivity, used here of captivity ended.
2. Blessing restored (vv.4-10).
A. In response to Israel's repentance, God will gather them up to bring them back to their land (v.4).B. Not only will God restore them to their land, but He will make them more prosperous and more numerous than before (v.5).
1) This was a frequent theme of the prophets (Jer.30:18; 32:44; 33:11, 26; Joel 3:1).C. God promised to circumcise Israel's hearts (v.6).2) This ultimately will take place with the 2nd coming of the Messiah just before the beginning of His millennial reign on earth (Isa.59:20-62:12; Matt.24:31; Mark 13:27).
1) This simply means that God would grant the nation a new will to obey Him in place of their former disobedience and stubbornness.D. God's promise to restore the covenant (vv.7-10).2) When they return to the Promised Land with their new heart, they will remain committed to the Lord and will experience abundant blessings.
1) Those nations who had opposed Israel will be cursed or judged (v.7).2) Israel will be obedient to God's Word (vv.8. 10).
3) God will cause Israel to prosper abundantly (v.9).
Application: This
section teaches about God's righteous sovereignty and how His disciplines
those whom He loves. We also see that God doesn't ignore our sins because
of someone's status of being selected by God. Also this passage teaches
us that repentance is more than just a mere acknowledgment of our sin,
but a turning away from our sins and a commitment not to do it any more.
II. The Law Isn't Too difficult
Or Inaccessible (vv.11-14).
1. The Law wasn't too difficult to understand, nor was it beyond the
people's reach (vv.11-13).
A. God had not hid or made His commands so that the Israelites could not understand them, nor did He keep them from having access to His Law (v.11).2. The Law had all ready been written down and given to Israel and it was time to practice it (v.14).B. Their proximity and intimacy are illustrated by assertions and rhetorical questions (vv.12-13).
A. They could speak it; "in your mouth"Application: God created us with the ability to make choices, but with that ability He will also hold us accountable for our decisions, especially when He has revealed His divine will to us. God doesn't hold us accountable for what He has not revealed, so the Israelites had no excuse for not obeying because God had clearly revealed His Word to them and made it available to them. The Apostle Paul quoted this passage in Romans 10:6-8 to show that our righteousness isn't earned by doing great works, but by exercising simple faith in Jesus Christ.B. They knew it; "in your heart"
C. Now they were to put it into practice; "do it"
III. Making The Right Choices
(vv.15-20).
1. God through Moses calls for the people to make a choice (v.15).
A. Life and prosperity.2. The way of obedience and blessing (v.16).B. Death and adversity.
A. "to love the LORD thy God,"3. The result of disobedience (vv.17-18).1) "love," ("'aheb" {aw-habe'}); to love, dearly love.B. "to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments,"2) As in a covenant-treaty, the "love" required is that part of the soul that involves the committal of one's self in loyal devotion to the Lord.
1) "to walk in his ways," means to obey his precepts (i.e., commandments, statutes, and judgments).2) This will will lead to life; it will increase the size of the nation and bring the Lord's blessing on them in the land.
A. If Israel chooses to disobey God and follow after other gods and worship them, then they would be destroyed (17a).B. The nation separate from the Lord would not live long in the Promise Land, which they were contemplating to enter and take for themselves (v.18).
4. The sureness of God's Word (vv.19-20).
A. After invoking both heaven and earth to witness that he has placed the options of life and death, blessings and curses, before the nation of Israel, Moses made his final appeal to his people to choose life (v.19).Application: Moses stressed the personal involvement and commitment of the people with the Lord. When they obeyed it would bring about good results (both physical and spiritual), but when they disobeyed it brought about bad results (both physical and spiritual). Although no one is justified by the Law, they could be blessed because of their obedience to it. John Maxwell says, "The power of choice was emphasized by Moses, but is still realized today." Not only does this passage teach us the importance of making the right choices, but it also teaches us the importance of keeping close to the Lord also.B. If the people choose to obey and love the Lord they and their children will then live long in the Promised Land and prosper (v.20).
Bible Study Outline
"Preparing For The Promised
Land: Leadership, God's Word & It's Warnings "
Deuteronomy 31:1-26
Lesson 32
I. The Selection Of A New Leader
(vv.1-8).
1. Moses' leadership of the nation Israel is about to end after God
had called him 80 years ago (vv.1-2; Ex.7:7).
A. Moses was now 120 years old, so he had been serving for 40 years.2. Moses encouraged the Israelites to enter into the Promised Land without him by assuring them that God would cross over ahead of them and that He would destroy the nations of the land as he had destroyed Sihon and Og (vv.3-6).B. Moses now says that he is no longer able to keep up with the task of leading the people.
1) The phrase "I am no longer able to come and go" was a common Hebrew idiom for engaging in a day's work.2) Moses did not die because his natural strength was gone (34:7), but because it was time for Israel's entrance into Canaan and Moses was not to enter the land because of his sin at Kadesh, where he struck the rock twice when God had told him to only speak to the rock (1:37-38; 3:23-27; 4:21-22; Num.20:1-13).
A. God would personally lead the way and Joshua was His chosen leader (v.3; Num.27:18-20).3. Moses commissions Joshua as directed by God (vv.7-8).B. Moses also encourages the people by telling them that God would destroy the Canaanites nations under Joshua's leadership, as He had done previously at Sihon and Og (vv.4-5a; Num.21:21-35; 32:33)
C. Moses charged the nation to be obedient and not to be afraid of the Canaanites (vv.5b-6).
1) The Lord would not only go with them, he would never leave them or forsake them.2) Moses would soon remind them that God's presence was contingent on their allegiance to Him
A. In Chapter 1, verse 38, Moses had reminded the people of God's decision to replace him with Joshua.Application: Joshua wasn't just randomly picked out of the crowd, nor was he selected because he was well known by the nation of Israel. Joshua was picked by God and mentored by Moses. By the time that Joshua was publicly set aside as Israel's leader, he was well qualified to become a leader. The church needs to learn this lesson also. We often select people who have had no training and have very little biblical knowledge to serve in positions that they are not qualified for. In other words, we use unbiblical methods to select unbiblically qualified people to lead us in our churches. Is it any wonder the many churches are dying! Warren Wiersbe states, "The absence of gifted and qualified leaders is sometimes evidence of God's judgment on His people (Isa.3:1-4, 12; 57:1)." He goes on to state that, "...ancient Israelites would have been humiliated if young people and women were serving in places of leadership. It was the elderly men who had the wisdom and experience to lead the people." Church leaders need to be committed disciples long before they are placed into any leadership position.B. Now Moses publicly encourages Joshua concerning his new appointment and assures him of the Lord's presence.
1) Moses repeated to Joshua, personally, what he had just said to the people, adding that Joshua was to divide the land among the people.2) The substance of Moses' exhortation to Joshua, here in these verses, is repeated in verse 23 as the Lord's command to him.
II. The Regular Reading Of The
Law (vv.9-13).
1. Moses had written down what God had done and said to him over the
years (28:58; 29:20, 27; Ex.17:14; 24:4-8; 34:27;
Num.33:2) and he gave the law to the priest who carried the Ark
of the Covenant (v.9).
A. It has been debated whether this is just the book of Deuteronomy or the entire law (i.e., the first five books of the Bible; the "Pentateuch").2. The priest were to teach and read the Law to the people (vv.10-13).B. Although the Law was to be placed beside the Ark of the Covenant (31:26), the two stone tablets that contained the Ten Commandments were placed inside (Ex.25:16; Heb.9:4).
C. In the future, Israel's kings were required to write a copy of the Law, study it, and keep it with them (17:18-20).
A. The priest were to publicly read the Law before all the people at the Feast of Tabernacles (Sept-Oct; 16:13-15) in the year of canceling debts which occurred every seven years (15:1-11).B. Only the men were required to make the pilgrimage to the central sanctuary for the major feasts during the year (16:16), their families could go along, but it was not required, but all Israelites were required to attend during the 7th year.
1) Each Sabbath year, at the Feast of Tabernacles, the Law was to be read and expounded publicly to every man, woman, child, or strangers so they could hear, fear, and obey (Neh.8).C. The children would benefit from this reading because they would learn to fear the Lord also (v.13).2) This was important for at least two reasons.
A) It would be rare for an individual to possess a copy of the Scripture, so knowledge was only gained through the public reading of God's Word or the teaching of the parents.B) The experience of their pilgrimage to the central sanctuary was symbolically reenacting their original exodus from Egypt and their trusting God by leaving their homes behind.
1) This reading did not obviate the teaching ministry of the home (6:1-9) or that of the priests (17:11; 24:8; Lev 10:11).2) It would also dramatize the learning of the Law for those children and others, who had not been reached by the other teaching procedures in home and tabernacle.
3) The process of making known the revelation of God should never cease so that reverence for the Lord and obedience to his word would never cease.
Application: God
placed a great deal of importance upon the care and the reading of His
Word. Even if the people only heard it once in every seven years, it still
had the ability to enable people to know God and serve Him. Let's not underestimate
the ability of God's Word to touch the heart of every man, woman, child
or stranger that comes into contact with it. Isaiah
55:11, "So shall my word be that goeth
forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish
that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
(KJV).
It also teaches us that as Christians, it is important for us to read God's
Word for ourselves and to our children.
III. Israel's Warning (vv.14-26).
1. The formal commissioning of Joshua (vv.14-23).
A. God commissions Joshua privately, with only Moses being present, as the new leader of Israel (vv.14-15).2. Moses completes the book and gives it to the Levites along with a warning (vv.24-26).B. The word of warning of Israel's future disobedience (vv.16-22).
1) God told Joshua that the people of Israel would soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they were about to enter (v.16).C. The word of encouragement to Joshua (v.23).- By God telling Moses and Joshua of the future disobedience to Him, it would help Joshua to resist the tendency of the people to turn to foreign gods.2) When Israel breaks their covenant with God, He turns His anger against their wickedness and hides His face from them (vv.17-18).3) God commanded Moses and Joshua to write down a song and teach it to the people, to remind them of their covenant (vv.19-22).
A) By putting the message down in a song the people would be able to remember it better.B) The song is found in 32:1-43.
1) In spite of the predicted rebellion, God formally commissioned Joshua as the new leader of the nation of Israel.2) God assures Joshua that He would be with him.
A. Moses completes the book of the Law from beginning to the end (v.24).Application: There are several things that we learn about God in these passages. First, that God knows the future. Second, God judges and punishes disobedience. Third, God is faithful to faithless man. And Fourth, God knows our inclinations (MOT).B. Moses commands the Levites to place the Law next to the Ark of the Covenant which would
remind them of their rebellious nature (vv.24-26).
Bible Study Outline
"The Song Of Moses "
Deuteronomy 31:28-32:47
Lesson 33
by Joseph M. Willmouth
These Outlines were prepared for our Sunday Evening Bible
Study at
Trinity Bible Church, Biloxi, Mississippi.
I. Moses Assembles The Elders
To Deliver His Song (31:28-30).
1. Moses assembles the elders of all the tribes, together with the
official persons, to gather round him, that he might tell them the song
(v.28).
A. The summons to "gather," was addressed to the persons to whom he had given the book of the law.2. Moses briefly reminds the leaders again about Israel's sinful nature and what they eventually do after his death (v.29).- "gather" (qahal {'kaw-hal': Hiphil, imper [indicates an order or a command]}): to assemble, gather.B. The elders and officers, as the civil authorities of the congregation, were collected together by him to hear the song, because they were to teach it to all the nation.C. Moses declares that all that he is about to say is being openly witnessed before God and His creation.
- "call" and "record" ('uwd {ood}); to call as witness, bear witness.
3. In verse 30, Moses now begins to deliver the song to those who represented the nation of Israel.
Application: There are several truths that we can glean from these few introductory verses; First, God holds those in leadership positions responsible and accountable to insure that His Word is passed along to His people (James 3:1). Second, we need to be reminded that even those who have been called by God have the potential to live sinful, ungodly lives. And so we need to be reminded of that from time to time to help us not to forget this truth, lest we too backslide into sin. Third, Moses was faithful until the end. He didn't retire from serving the Lord even when he was about to die. Many Christians today think that there is a retirement age in the church and quit serving because they think that they have earned the to a right to. But, we are to be faithful until the Lord takes us home, and the only thing that should affect how we serve is our physical or mental capabilities.
II. The Song Of Moses (32:1-43).
1. The call to listen (vv.1-2).
A. Moses calls the court room of creation to order (v.1).2. God's faithfulness and goodness is compared to Israel's unfaithfulness (vv.3-14).1) Isaiah and Micah did the same in several places (Isa 1:2; 34:1; Mic 1:2; 6:1-2).B. Moses declares that anyone who obeyed God's teachings would become fruitful and prosper (v.2).2) While Moses calls on all of creation to be his witness to what he was declaring, the message of the song is not directed to heaven and earth but to the nation of Israel.
3) This method was a poetic way of emphasizing the importance of the song's themes.
4) As in the treaty form, all creation is a witness to the covenant-treaty between the Lord and Israel.
5) This song was to be repeated by the Israelites, both as a warning against disobedience and as a basis for hope when "their strength is gone" (v.36).
1) This was an effective simile in a country of limited rainfall.2) Like rain, dew, showers, and abundant rain bringing fertility to the new grass and tender plants, Moses hoped that his teaching--his words--would prove pleasant and beneficial.
A. Moses proclaimed the name of the Lord and called on others to ascribe greatness to him (v.3).3. Israel rejected God because they prospered, and provoked God's anger and judgment (vv.15-27).1) Moses calls on Israel to give serious consideration to the character and work of God.B. God is the Rock (v.4).2) Basically, the name of the Lord signifies his person (12:5; 28:10; 28:58).
3) The Hebrew word for "greatness" (godel) occurs five times in Deuteronomy: 3:24; 5:24 ("majesty"); 9:26; 11:2 ("majesty"); 32:3.
1) The grammatical structure of this verse makes the nature of God stand out forcefully and dramatically.C. Israel's indictment (vv.5-6).2) He is strong and stable, so He can be relied upon.
3) God's "works" are activities of creating, aiding, and guiding Israel.
A) His "works are perfect, and all His ways are just" (Psa.18:30).B) God's character is marked by faithfulness; no wrongdoing exists in Him. He is upright and straightforward.
1) In contrast to God's faithfulness and righteousness, Israel's behavior has not resembled their Father's behavior.D. The song calls on Israel to remember God's divine acts of kindness in the past (vv.7-14).2) They have acted corruptly by rejecting God's ways.
3) The effect of these statements is to magnify the position of the Lord as the one who brought Israel into existence and to chastise Israel for her failure to recognize Him in this position.
1) If the people doubted God's goodness, all they had to do was look at their past by asking those who were older than them (v.7).2) God was completely sovereign over all the nations and when He divided the earth among the Gentile nations, He first provided for the needs of His own people (vv.8-9).
3) Moses describes God's early care for the nation of Israel (vv.10-14).
A) God led, protected, and developed the nation of Israel (vv.10-12).B) God provided for the nation of Israel (vv.13-14).
A. In Israel's prosperity, they reject God (vv.15-18).4. Israel's lack of discernment, even when faced with God's judgment (vv.28-33).1) As Israel ("Jeshurun" {yesh-oo-roon'} = a symbolic name for Israel) became affluent they reacted negatively to God, instead of being thankful (v.15).B. God's rejection and judgment of Israel (vv.19-27).2) They made matters even worse by turning to foreign gods (vv.16-18).
1) Israel's apostasy provoked God's anger (vv.19-22).A) The indictment of both sons and daughters for angering the Lord is unusual since it is common to include both sexes under the term "sons," so perhaps this more sharply indicates the total participation of the people in worshiping other gods--the women being implicated as much as the men (v.19).2) The details of God's judgment on Israel (vv.23-27).B) God would withdraw His beneficial presence from Israel (v.20).
C) God would allow other nations to bring His judgment upon them, which would arouse their jealousy and anger (v.21).
D) God's righteous anger is described as a world embracing cataclysm of fire adversely affecting three entities (v.22):
(1) The realm of death (whether the afterlife or the grave for dead bodies).(2) The earth and its harvests (its productivity).
(3) The very foundations of the mountains.
- The metaphor of a fire points to the awful consequences and comprehensive nature of God's judgment.A) This devastating judgment would touch every area of Israel's life (vv.23-24).(1) famine....pestilence.B) They would even face severe wars where both young and old will die (v.25).(2) Deadly plagues......wild beasts.
C) Though Israel deserved to be annihilated, the Lord would not allow it (vv.26-27).
- This would have allowed their enemies to question God's sovereignty and power.
A. Israel's lack of wisdom would lead them to not being able to detect or understand their future even after they had been warned (vv.28-29).5. God's compassion towards Israel and His judgment of her enemies (vv.34-43).B. It would be obvious, even to the enemy, that they could not defeat the Israelites if God had not withdrawn His hand from them (vv.30-33).
1) 1000 enemy soldiers would drive off 10,000 Israelite soldiers (v.30).2) Even Israel's enemies would understand their victory wasn't because of their gods, but because the Rock of Israel allowed it (v.31).
3) Israel's enemies were as evil as Sodom and Gomorra, thus pointing out the level of sinfulness that Israel had fallen to (v.32).
4) So wicked would Israel's enemies be, that to a captive nation their enemy's wine would be like a bitter poison to them, like a snake's venom (v.33).
- This could also be a reference to the evil and dangerous nature of Israel's nature.
A. God's punishment of Israel's enemies (vv.34-35).Application: God doesn't wink at the sin of His people. While ungodly nations face His eternal judgment, His chosen face His discipline. This passage shows that even though God may allow another nation to exercise His discipline, that does not alleviate the consequences for their actions. God doesn't force nations or people to do evil, but He does remove His hand of protection so that Satan can inflict God's chosen (like Job). Also, we see here that God doesn't give up on His own. While Israel could have been totally destroyed, He was faithful to His promises.- Even though God allowed Israel's enemies to defeat them and execute His judgment, God would still hold them accountable for their wickedness and repay their evil.B. God's compassion toward Israel and vengeance on the enemies (vv.36-43).1) Israel would not experience God's compassion until they relinquish all their trust in their own efforts (v.36).2) God's goal in judging Israel is not to annihilate her, so they had to be brought to a point where they understood there was no god besides the God of Israel (vv.37-39).
3) Once Israel turns from their sin and comes to their senses, God would take vengeance on their enemies to make atonement for their actions against God's chosen people (vv.40-42).
4) The song ends with a call to the nations to rejoice with Israel because the Lord will punish His enemies for what they have done against His land and His people (v.43).
III. Moses' Last Charge To The
Nation Of Israel (vv.44-47).
1. Moses finishes presenting the song before the leaders of Israel
(vv.44-45).
2. Moses now gives a final warning to Israel's leaders (vv.46-47).
A. He told them to seriously consider what they had just heard.B. The song could be a powerful deterrent to future rebellion if they obeyed.
C. Commitment to the Lord and to His word would insure a long national life for Israel in the Promised Land.
Application: This
short section makes it clear that when God has revealed His will to man,
man better heed what God has said. To obey God brings blessings, to disobey
God's Word will bring judgment and discipline. We should take God's Word
seriously.