DEUTERONOMY


wikipedia.org: Book of Deuteronomy – Deuteronomy (Greek: Deuteronomion, “second law”) or (Hebrew: Devarim, literally “things” or “words”) is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible and of the Old Testament, and the fifth of five books [written by Moses] of the Jewish Torah or Pentateuch

A large part of the book [of Deuteronomy] is three sermons delivered by Moses reviewing the previous forty years of wandering in the wilderness and the future entering into the Promised Land. Its central element is a detailed law-code by which the Israelites are to live within the Promised Land. -- Theologically the book constitutes the renewing of the covenant between Yahweh and the "Children of Israel." One of its most significant verses is Deuteronomy 6:4, which constitutes the Shema, a definitive statement of Jewish identity: "Hear, O Israel: YHWH (is) our God, YHWH alone." Conservative Bible scholars are united in their conviction that Moses wrote this book. -- Much of modern critical scholarship, while agreeing that Deuteronomy contains a core of material from ancient Mosaic traditions or writing, dates the book several centuries after Moses time, to the late 7th century BC. This latter view sees Deuteronomy as a product of the religious reforms carried out under king Josiah, with later additions from the period after the fall of Judah to the Babylonian empire in 586 BC.  [link]

Deuteronomy 1-4 – Preparation to enter the Promise Land continues – The main preparation in entering the Promise Land is to go back to remember and recount the past events and past interactions with God that have taken them to this point in their life – The main intent of the book of Deuteronomy is to gain a perspective from the past, the present and therefore the future and to use that perspective as they crossover and receive more and more from the promises and blessings of God in their lives – The book of Deuteronomy [the book of perspective] is the most quoted Old Testament book in New Testament and it is the O.T. book that Jesus Christ quoted from the most

Giants in the Land: Even after wandering in the desert for 38 years the giants that intimidated the Children of God and kept them out of the Promise Land the first time are still there in the land. The giants didn't give up and go away if anything in the years the giants became even more numerous. However God shows His children that He has already cleared a way for others to enter their land. Lot's descendants, Esau' descendants and the generations of others are all living in their land that God has already provided for them and God is more than willing to clear a way for His own Children. The Children of God are to 'fear not' but to observe that God is going before them to make a way for them and then to follow after God in the path that He has already created and made for us. -- 'Deuteronomy 2:19-25 And when thou [children of God] comest nigh over against the children of Ammon [Lot's descendants], distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession. That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims; A people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; *but the LORD destroyed them before them; and they [Lot's descendants] succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead: *As he [also] did to the children of Esau [brother of Jacob], which dwelt in Seir, when he destroyed the Horims [giants] from before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead even unto this day: ... Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the [giant] Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle. *This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee.'

Deuteronomy 5-6 – In giving the people a perspective of God’s abilities Moses exhorted the people to Hear, Learn, Observe and Act in regards to the commands, statutes and promises of God — ‘Deuteronomy 6:3-6 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:’

Remember that thou was a servant: We are admonished to keep a perspective of our past life of sin and bondage. Remember that at one time we were a servant to sin. The bondage and cruelty of sin is something that we have been delivered from and it was only in the love of God and by the capabilities of God that He delivered us, we did not deliver ourselves. If we forget that sin actually deceived us and took advantage of us we might be tempted to go back to some of our old ways however those old ways were not God's ways and they are no longer our ways either. - 'Deuteronomy 5:15 And remember that thou was a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the Sabbath (rest) day [rest in the accomplished works of God not in the abilities of yourself or of other people].'

Deuteronomy 7-8 – Do not be unequally yoked [linked up] with non-believers it will subtly destroy you — ‘Deuteronomy 7:4-5 For they will turn away thy son from following Me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire’

Prosperity in the land is no reason to forget God: Once in the land and comfortable it's no reason to forsake the ways of God. True life is not about what we can get our hands on but it is about what we can get our heart around in learning, living and growing in the ways of God. - 'Deuteronomy 8:3 And He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.'

Deuteronomy 9-11 – We are to look to God and not our circumstances or predicaments — ‘Deuteronomy 9:3 Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is He which goeth over before thee …’

Righteousness: It wasn't Israel's righteousness that made God choose Israel and it isn't any righteousness that makes God choose us. The fact is that God has chosen everyone to be in fellowship and to be in service to Him and the fact is that everyone; Hebrews, Christian and Gentiles have all failed God to the exact same extent. The ultimate fact though is that God has seen our failures and shortcomings and God has chosen to show His greatness to be much greater than our weaknesses. It is the greatness of God that overcomes our failures and it is through the greatness of God and not our own individual standing or national standing that we can enter into and have a relationship with God. - 'Deuteronomy 10:12-14 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and His statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.'

Deuteronomy 12-13 – We are to keep God in our thoughts and in our mind at all times – Fellowship continually with God – Rejoice always in the Lord your God — ‘Deuteronomy 12:12-18 And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates … and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto’

Laws and Judgments of God: The laws and judgments of God might seem severe however God is dealing with mankind in an accurate assessment of the consequences of our own decisions and actions both good and bad. God is also working with a civilization, the Hebrews/Jews, that God needs to stay intact for thousands of years throughout many diverse circumstances and through much persecution and still through it all to accurately represent God to the Gentile world and also to successfully complete their own unique tasks of delivering both the Holy Scriptures [Bible] and also in delivering the Messiah [Jesus Christ] into the world. It's true that God did not choose the Jews because of their individual or corporate righteousness but it is true that God did choose Abraham and his descendants the Jews to represent Him and to accomplish some very important tasks for Him and most certainly the Jews have gloriously accomplished the tasks that God has chosen for them to perform [Note: continuing the Levitical Priesthood is not one of the tasks Israel has at hand to perform - the Levitical Priesthood was supposed to come to an end on the day of the crucifixion of Jesus when the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51)]. Further into their future there are yet more tasks for the Jews to perform and complete especially in the End Time 144,000 witnesses [all Jewish] of Revelation and at the Second Coming of Jesus it is the Jews who are present to greet Jesus and to welcome Him at His second coming [the Christian Church is in Heaven and at one point in the Second Coming the Church does return with Jesus but before that it seems that Jesus returns alone to the Jews first]. - 'Deuteronomy 12:1 These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth.'

Deuteronomy 14-16 – The Lord’s fierceness and the Lord’s mercy towards man – Contrasted with man’s fierceness and man’s mercy [lack of mercy] towards his fellow man – ‘Deuteronomy 13:17 And there shall cleave [cling (Old English)] nought [not] of the cursed thing [i.e. tarot cards, spells, sex magic, bondage, mysticism, manipulation – type of things from the conquered cities] to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of His anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as He hath sworn unto thy fathers …’

Spiritual Discernment: In now knowing the likeness, image, attributes and personality of God [as presented in the Laws of God] it is now possible and necessary to apply spiritual discernment from the written Laws of God to the events and actions of the day and to discern the nature of the spirit presiding over the events. Discerning whether the spirit is the Holy Spirit of God, holy Angels of God or of the unwanted unholy Satanic realm and its accompanying Occultic human realm. 'Deuteronomy 13:1-5 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a *sign or a *wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave [cling] unto Him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death [God's eternal separation not man's judgment]; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.'

Deuteronomy 17-18 – Moses is the stand-in prophet – The real Prophet (Jesus) is yet to come – ‘Deuteronomy 18:15-19 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee [land of Israel], of thy brethren, like unto Me [Divine]; unto Him [Jesus] ye shall hearken; … I will raise them up a Prophet from among their [Jewish] brethren [Judah], like unto thee [human], and will put My words in His mouth; and He [Jesus] shall speak unto them all that I shall command Him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto My words which He shall speak in My Name, I will require it [eternal death separation] of him [sinner].’ {Note: ‘Exodus 4:16 and thou [Moses] shalt be to him [Aaron] instead [in proxy] of God.’ – Moses was standing [in proxy] as God before the people of Israel. Also Note: Aaron and his sons had to offer sin sacrifices for themselves before they touched the holy implements and began their priestly duties but Moses (as God’s proxy) did not sacrifice for his own sins before he touched the materials and began to implement the Levitical Priesthood. Moses touched the blood [Exodus 29:20] and the oil and anointed Aaron and his sons with the blood from the ram and with the oil but Moses had not atoned for his own sins first because Moses was a proxy for God to set up and establish the Levitical Priesthood. If anyone has ever wondered why the Levitical Priesthood didn’t last well for starters it didn’t start out truly holy it started out with Moses anointing Aaron not God anointing Aaron [God wrote the 10 Commandments with His finger – He could have anointed Aaron with His finger if He wanted to]. The Melchizedek Priesthood is Truly Holy throughout starting with God the Father, the Holy Spirit and with Jesus Christ as only the Melchizedek Priesthood is intended to last eternally. — Final Note: The Children of God [Jews] are redeemed by God by the Promises of God, the Covenants of God and by the actions of God not by the Levitical Priesthood the Tabernacle or even the Temple.}

Spiritual Discernment (Part 2): Two or more witnesses - one person cannot substantiate an accusation against another person. If there is a charge or an allegation by one person against another person or persons then at least two impartial people need to hear the accusation and to then diligently search out the allegations to determine their validity. Two or three people having witnessed the events or having examined the events are needed to confirm an accusation. This is an important aspect of Spiritual Warfare because Satan continually seeks to discredit the Children of God and of course we already have a fallen sinful nature so we naturally play right into the schemes, tricks and tactics that Satan tries to use against us. It is very necessary to try to avoid the traps of Satan and to deal with each individual in a reasoned, calm, respectful, diligent, professional and godly manner. When a problem is found to exist and there is always a problem ready to exist then the solution is to try to reconcile the individuals involved and to try to bring everyone into a closer relationship with God and with one another. When Satan's accusations ultimately are being used by Christians to bring people closer to God and closer to one another then Satan has become disarmed however if we give room to innuendos and accusations against one another than it can quickly become a powerful weapon to be used against the Church. 'Deuteronomy 19:15-18 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;'

Deuteronomy 19-22 – The Ability to Wage Warfare — ‘Deuteronomy 20:1-4 When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the LORD your God is He that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you’

Spiritual Warfare: The warfare of the Bible is spiritual [Exodus 17:11] and the primary tactic is siege warfare. - 'Deuteronomy 20:10-12 When thou comest nigh [draw near] unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee. And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:' -- The warfare of Satan is siege warfare. Satanic Siege Warfare: 1. The first part of siege warfare is to surround the targeted objective, city or person. 2. Once surrounded the subject is then cut off from all future supplies, reinforcements and outside moral. 3. The resulting deterioration inside creates a desperate atmosphere where the subjects begin to compete with each other and to attack each other and even themselves all while the attacking forces stay safely outside the destruction zone and simply observe the destruction while making any necessary adjustments, adding additional harassments [flaming projectiles] as needed to hasten the surrender. 4. When the destruction has run its course and the object has surrendered then the invading forces can simple enter in unscathed and unopposed to confiscate and seize full control of what is available. - The Apostle Paul writes about the predicament and focus of siege warfare for the Church. 'Hebrews 10:22-25 Let us draw near [to God] with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised; And let us [draw near] consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking [being a participant of siege warfare] the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.'

Deuteronomy 23-25 – How to Return from War — ‘Deuteronomy 23:9-11 When the host [army] goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee [yourself] from every wicked thing’

Spiritual Warfare (Part 2): Warfare, aggression, killing and the accompanying destruction is an unclean act. - 'Numbers 31:19-50 And do ye [soldiers] abide without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify both yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day. ... And levy a tribute unto the LORD of the men of war which went out to battle ... Thy servants [soldiers] have taken the sum [roll call] of the men of war which are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us. We have therefore brought an oblation [thanks offering] for the LORD' -- At a later time in history Jewish city officials and soldiers from Jerusalem asked the prophet John the Baptist how they should conduct themselves in their secular professions. Hidden in their questions was whether or not a Jewish person collecting taxes for Rome or a Jewish Temple soldier controlling the people for Rome and at times killing for Rome could still be in favor with God. John the Baptist told them yes, if they continued to conducted their life in a godly manner. - 'Luke 3:12 Then came also publicans [Jewish public contractors - city officials working for Rome [a foreign power], source wikie.com -- Note: private contractors usually have no or minimal city authority although now the lines are blurring] to be baptized [by John the Baptist], and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. And the [Jewish Temple] soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no [civilian] man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.' [Note: In modern times if you have served in the military consider getting baptized, re-baptized, baptized a second time or baptized again. Get baptized and make a renewed or a continued commitment and vow to God. Baptism will do a lot for you (spiritually), it will do a lot to remove you from any unholy realm that has gained a hold on you or has a hold on you and it will do a lot to return you and bring you into cleanliness and holiness before God.]

Deuteronomy 26-28 – Moses has been bringing to a conclusion his leadership over the Nation of Israel – Moses is addressing the Nation of Israel with a series of four speeches covering their past, present and future circumstances with God – Blessings and curses are laid out and the Law has few blessings and many curses while later the Christian Church with Grace will have many blessings and few curses — ‘Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live’

The Assyrian Outsider: 'Deuteronomy 26:5 ... A Syrian [Assyrian] ready to perish was my father [Abraham], ...' Assyrian in the Bible is more of a term than a nationality like the term [Deuteronomy 32:15] Jeshurun [a poetic name for Israel and the name of an 'End of Days' righteous prophet (Daniel 12:13) - source wiki.com] later in the Bible the name David (Beloved) becomes as much a term for Jesus [Ezekiel 34:23] as a name. Assyrian represents an outsider and one of the titles of the antichrist is Assyrian. Moses uses the term Assyrian [outsider] in addressing their father Abraham in saying to remember that Abraham was an Assyrian [outsider]. Abraham was actually a Babylonian born in Ur however Babylon was the in culture and Babylonians were not the outsiders [Assyrians were] but God called Abraham out of society's main culture and created an Assyrian [outsider] out of Abraham. Later the antichrist is referred to as an Assyrian [Isaiah 10:5] seemingly because the antichrist is going to be very [outsider] alien [possibly claiming partial UFO, Alien (divine) heritage] in skills and abilities and outside [Assyrian] of our known existing societal and cultural norms and traditions.

Deuteronomy 29-31 – Moses again confirms God’s Covenants with the Children of Israel – Joshua is appointed the new leader of Israel — ‘Deuteronomy 31:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, that I may give him a charge [authority]’

'Deuteronomy 29:3-4 The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.' - The Children of Israel have already observed, heard and experienced many miraculous Spiritual events in their life although seeing and hearing the physical events the Spiritual application to those same events eluded them. -- Speaking Words of Strength: In preparing the people to enter into the Promise Land Moses spoke words to Joshua and to the people, words that the people needed to hear to be strengthened in their coming journey through the unknown; through the Jordan River and into the Promise Land. 'Deuteronomy 31:3-6 ... and Joshua (Jesus), He shall go over [to the Promise Land] before thee, as the LORD hath said. ... Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.' - Years later the real Jesus would also be spoken to, in the Garden of Gethsemane by a Holy Angel from Heaven, with words to strengthen and encourage Him for His coming journey through the unknown; through the crucifixion cross and into the real Promise Land of Heaven. We don't know the words that the Holy Angel spoke to Jesus that night ... or do we? [Deuteronomy 31:3-6] - Luke 22:43 And there appeared an Angel unto Him (Jesus) from heaven, strengthening Him. - Did Moses prophetically speak the words to Joshua and to the people of Israel as they prepared to crossover that God the Father had the Angel speak to Jesus during His agony in the dark of the night in the Garden of Eternal Decision the Garden of Gethsemane as He prepared to crossover?

Deuteronomy 32-34 – Moses prepares himself for his death – The Song of Moses — ‘Deuteronomy 32:1-4 Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: Because I will publish the Name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He’

Death Outside the Promise Land: Moses the Lawgiver was only allowed to go to the border of the Promise Land, he was only allowed to glimpse the Promise Land from a distance but he was not allowed to enter into the Promise Land. Moses the Lawgiver had broken the law when Moses had unlawfully struck the Rock a second time. In actuality striking the Rock a second time was not the only law that Moses broke it was just one of the more obvious laws that Moses broke. Moses like all the rest of us he was unable to keep the law because the law can't be kept it can only be observed just as Moses observed the Promise Land from a distance, observing but not entering. - The Law does not take us into the presence of God but only to a boundary that actually keeps us apart from God. The original law in the Garden of Eden was a boundary, a boundary between mankind and the experience and knowledge of evil. Mankind crossed God's Law boundary and went into the knowledge of evil [God continued to give mankind the knowledge of good]. With mankind now knowledgeable of evil the Law is not just a boundary from evil but out of necessity the Law has now also become a boundary between mankind and the Holiness of God. - The Law is the Image and Holiness of God and therefore the Law now reveals God to a separated mankind and once seeing God in His Holy Law mankind can easily recognize the need for mankind to be separated from the presence and Glory of the Holy God. Separated from God that is only until a remedy can be provided to fix man's sinful predicament and remove the boundary of sin and of the Law. The remedy for our predicament and separation from God has been provided but not in our life only in a new life in the Resurrection Life provided by God's Son Jesus Christ. The Son of God, Jesus Christ will safely take us into Heaven, His Promise Land, just as certainly as Joshua the son of Nun led the Children of Israel into their Promise Land a place that the law at best could only glimpse from a distance and could not enter into but a place where the Son could not be kept out of as the Son will enter in and place his foot upon the Promise Land. -- 'Deuteronomy 31:23 And He gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the Children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.' - 'Deuteronomy 32:52 Yet thou [Moses, Lawgiver] shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the Children of Israel.'

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