Deuteronomy 30
OGCSUMMARY OF CHAPTER THIRTY
Gracious promises are given to the penitent, 1-6. The Lord will circumcise their heart, and put all these curses on their enemies, if they hearken to his voice and keep his testimonies, 7-10. The word is near to them, and easy to be understood, 11-14. Life and death, a blessing and a curse, are set before them; and they are exhorted to love the Lord, obey his voice, and cleave unto him, that they may inherit the land promised to Abraham, 15-20.
QUESTIONS, LESSON TWENTY-TWO (Deuteronomy 29:1 to Deuteronomy 30:20)
CHAPTER 29
This chapter begins, These are the words of the covenant. Should the covenant made here be considered separate from the one made at Sinai?
Why had Jehovah not given them knowing hearts and seeing eyes (Deuteronomy 29:4)?
What convincing evidences had God given of his love and power?
What promise, made to the patriarchs, were they now fulfilling?
Mention two groups of people, not now present, that must also keep this covenant.
Who or what is meant by a root that beareth gall and wormwood?
What would a person be doing if he destroyed the moist with the dry?
What two groups would denounce Israel’s wickedness in this chapter? (Hint: Same answer as No. 5).
Israel’s desolation and barrenness is described by the terms_____, and a
(finish)
To what cities is this destruction likened?
What is brimstone?
To what factor(s) would other nations attribute Israel’s failure?
Thoroughly memorize Deuteronomy 29:29.
CHAPTER 30
How is Israel’s condition pictured after returning from captivity?
What captivity especially fits the prophecy?
Of what does Moses remind them concerning their capability of keeping the law?
Now re-read Deuteronomy 30:11-14. Make a present day New Testament application of these words.
In what very literal way could Moses say, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil (Deuteronomy 30:15), and therefore choose life that thou mayest live, thou and thy seed (Deuteronomy 30:19)?
Deuteronomy 30:1-10
- JEHOVAH’S BLESSINGS ASSURED WHENEVER ISRAEL REPENTS (Deuteronomy 30:1-10)
And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither Jehovah thy God hath driven thee, 2 and shalt return unto Jehovah thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul; 3 that then Jehovah thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the peoples, whither Jehovah thy God hath scattered thee. 4 If any of thine outcasts be in the uttermost parts of heaven, from thence will Jehovah thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: 5 and Jehovah thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. 6 And Jehovah thy God will circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. 7 And Jehovah thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, that persecuted thee. 8 And thou shalt return and obey the voice of Jehovah, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day. 9 And Jehovah thy God will make thee plenteous in all the work of thy hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, for good: for Jehovah will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers; 10 If thou shalt obey the voice of Jehovah thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law; if thou turn unto Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 30:1-10
Read Nehemiah 1:4-9; Psalms 85; Psalms 126, 137 for a fulfillment of the promise made in Deuteronomy 30:1-3.
Just how did God accomplish the task of circumcising the heart of Israel?
Specify at least three benefits promised to those who obey Jehovah?
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 30:1-10
And when all these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind among all the nations, where the Lord your God has driven you, 2 And shall return to the Lord your God and obey His voice according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your [mind and] heart, and with all your being; 3 Then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes, and have compassion upon you, and will gather you again from all the nations, where He has scattered you. 4 Even if any of your dispersed are in the uttermost parts of the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there will He bring you. 5 And the Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will do you good, and multiply you above your fathers. 6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart, and with all your being, that you may live. 7 And the Lord your God will put all these curses upon your enemies, and on those who hate you, who persecute you. 8 And you shall return and obey the voice of the Lord, and do all His commandments which I command you today. 9 And the Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in every work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, of your cattle, of your land, for good; for the Lord will again delight in prospering you, as He took delight in your fathers. 10 If you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart, and with all your being.
COMMENT 30:1-10
JEHOVAH. WILL TURN THY CAPTIVITY, AND HAVE COMPASSION UPON THEE, AND WILL RETURN AND GATHER THEE FROM ALL THE PEOPLES (Deuteronomy 30:3)a particularly graphic fulfillment is found in the Babylonian captivity, Nehemiah 1:4-9, Psalms 85, 126, and especially 137. And as Deuteronomy 30:6 indicates a heart-circumcision, note the revival after the return in Ezra and Nehemiahforeign wives, for example were put away. Also, we have no record of idolatry after the captivitya sin that continually plagued them before.
JEHOVAH THY GOD WILL CIRCUMCISE THY HEART (Deuteronomy 30:6)See Deuteronomy 10:16, As physical circumcision changed the outward man, circumcision of the heart (the mind, the whole inner person, the self) would change the whole disposition and way of life. Its result would be TO LOVE JEHOVAH. WITH ALL THY HEART AND ALL THY SOUL, THAT THOU MAYEST LIVE (Deuteronomy 30:6)They weren-’t living as far as God was concerned, unless their hearts were totally given to Him. Nor would Israel long physically remain alive without such devotion. Cf. Deuteronomy 6:4-5.
GOD WILL PUT ALL THESE CURSES UPON THINE ENEMIES (Deuteronomy 30:7)See also Deuteronomy 7:15, Exodus 15:26.
Deuteronomy 30:11-14
- OBEDIENCE NOT IMPOSSIBLE (Deuteronomy 30:11-14)
11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not too hard for thee, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it? 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it? 14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 30:11-14
It is such an encouragement to know that God has never given a command man could not obey. Read Romans 10:6-10 for a present day application of this text.
In what sense did Israel feel the word of God was far away from them?
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 30:11-14
11 For this commandment which I command you this day, is not too difficult for you, nor is it far off. 12 It is not [a secret laid up] in Heaven, that you should say, Who shall go up for us to Heaven, and bring it to us, that we may hear and do it? 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, that we may hear and do it? 14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth, and in your mind and in your heart, so that you can do it.
COMMENT 30:11-14
IT IS NOT TOO HARD FOR THEE, NEITHER IS IT FAR OFF, etc.Literally, is not too wonderful for you, i.e., not too hard to be understood or perform. Nor was it far offthough heavenly in its source (Deuteronomy 30:12), it did not remain there, but was revealed. Cf. Deuteronomy 29:29. In short, God had made his plan simple enough and easy enough for the sincere and devoted to observe it. It was not mysterious, ethereal, or occult. Rather, the word is very nigh unto thee. etc. (Deuteronomy 30:14). And if such words describe the Mosaic law, how much more our relationship to Christ, Matthew 11:28-30, 1 John 5:2-3, Romans 10:6-10.
The idea of keeping the Mosaic law perfectly, in every iota, and without ever failing, is not before Moses-’ eye here. On this side of the cross, we know that only our Savior did so, Romans 3:9-12; Romans 3:23-25, as one who was sinless, 1 Peter 2:21-22, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 53:9.
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
- FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT TO CHOOSE THE PATH OF BLESSING RATHER THAN THE CURSE (Deuteronomy 30:15-20)
15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16 in that I command thee this day to love Jehovah thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, that thou mayest live and multiply, and that Jehovah thy God may bless thee in the land whither thou goest in to possess it. 17 But if thy heart turn away, and thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; 18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish; ye shall not prolong your days in the land, whither thou passest over the Jordan to go in to possess it. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that thou mayest live, thou and thy seed; 20 to love Jehovah thy God, to obey his voice, and to cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days; that thou mayest dwell in the land which Jehovah sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 30:15-20
It hardly seems possible that anyone would knowingly choose death and evil. There must be another factor, What is it?
How much of life is suspended on the one word obedience. And yet another factor must be present before we are willing to obey. What is it?
Could the Israelites have said, for me to live is Jehovah? Specifically how was this true?
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 30:15-20
15 See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil. 16 [If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which] I command you today, to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, then you shall live and multiply and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. 17 But if your [mind and] heart turn away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish, and you shall not live long in the land which you pass over the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call Heaven and earth to witness this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live; 20 To love the Lord your God, to obey His voice, and to cling to Him; for He is your life, and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
COMMENT 30:15-20
Do not these verses practically summarize the whole story of Deuteronomy? Again and again Moses has made these points: Blessings when you love, obey and observeinnumerable, excruciating hardships and curses if you do not. And as we have seen in exhortation after exhortation, this life meant their very existence as a nation. Prosperity, strength, health, hopeall gained or lost depending on their obedience or disobedience.
Very literally for them and for us God. is thy lifethe source of all life, physical and spiritual. If, then they would have life, the Lifesource must be heeded, Deuteronomy 30:19. And so it is with our Lifesource, John 1:4; John 11:25-26; John 14:6, 1 John 5:20.