Archive for March 2024

Deuteronomy 33-34, Psalm 71, Matthew 28:11-20, Romans 16 Deuteronomy 33-34: This great book, the sermons of Deuteronomy, ends with blessing. Chapter 33 is a series of blessings designated specifically to the tribes of Israel, by the word of Moses, as he blesses them before he leaves them. There are some justly famous words with which it concludes.  There…

Deuteronomy 32, Psalm 70, Matthew 28:1-10, Romans 15:14-33 Deuteronomy 32: How shall we interpret this most remarkable “song”? First, it is important to notice that it is God himself who has commissioned it (Deut. 31:19), and that for a purpose: to “be a witness for [God] against the people of Israel.” In other words, it is a “warning,”…

Deuteronomy 29-31, Psalm 69:19-36, Matthew 27:57-66, Romans 15:1-13 Deuteronomy 29-31: And so with the drama from chapter 28 of the “curses and blessings” before them, and with the choice that it represents to God’s people to choose life, not death, Moses now renews the covenant, this time at Moab (Deut. 29). In the same way that congregations of…

Deuteronomy 27-28, Psalm 69:1-18, Matthew 27:45-56, Romans 14 Deuteronomy 27-28: If the last section was somewhat apparently miscellaneous—though there was actually an undergirding logic, even if it was one that was relatively hard to discern—this section has a crystal clear basic structure. It is highly repetitive and based upon a simple idea and instruction. God sets up a…

Deuteronomy 22-26, Psalm 68, Matthew 27:27-44, Romans 13 Deuteronomy 22-26: This section is entitled in many Bible versions as “Various Laws” which does not particularly encourage the careful attention of the average reader! To be fair, though much of these chapters bespeak “various laws,” there is also an undergirding rationale behind it that comes right at the end…

Deuteronomy 18-21, Psalm 67, Matthew 27:11-26, Romans 12:9-21 Deuteronomy 18-21: These chapters begin with laws regarding priests (18:1-8) who are set aside especially for sacrifices and priestly duties around the place (the temple) that God shall designate. As a result, the priests, the tribe of Levi, shall have no inheritance with the other tribes and therefore gain their…

Deuteronomy 13-17, Psalm 66, Matthew 27:1-10, Romans 12:1-8 Deuteronomy 13-17: There is a lot of material in these massive chapters. To begin, the possibility of a false prophet is raised (13:1-5). How are they to tell who is false and who is genuine? One test is doctrinal. Are they teaching people to follow other gods (13:2)? If so,…

Deuteronomy 9-12, Psalm 65, Matthew 26:57-75, Romans 11:25-38 Deuteronomy 9-12: Moses’ extraordinary exposition of God’s Word continues with another “Hear, O Israel” (9:1), this time not the great command to love God, but the great commission to go in and take possession of the land (9:1-3). They are to remember who God is: he is a “consuming fire,”…

Deuteronomy 6-8, Psalm 64, Matthew 26:36-56, Romans 11:1-24 Deuteronomy 6-8: The evangelistic thrust of Deuteronomy continues, laying to rest all the misconceptions that people still have of the Torah (that it is “legalistic”) and showing us clearly that the Law of God was given to a people who had been rescued, that grace forms a people who then…