Warren D. Carter

Vienna Int’l Chapel

4.May.03

What Does God Want from Us ?

An introduction to a little-known approach of understanding ancient Hebrew literature – which provides some clues about the answer to this important question for Christians living in today’s world … from the ages old book of Deuteronomy. A survey of the fifth book of Moses will give us an overview from the traditional perspective, including insights into Semitic cultures. Join us for this look into the Father’s heart!

Deuteronomy Outline

Outlining a book of the Bible can be very helpful in developing a deeper understanding of the content and purpose of the book, and Deuteronomy is no exception to this principle. Over the centuries there have been many such approaches to this book, with one mentioned earlier relating the structure of the book to vassal treaties recently discovered to be common in Near Eastern antiquity. Deuteronomy neatly fits the typical pattern of sections found in these treaties. However, the more traditional outline utilized is a series of three discourses or sermons, followed by three appendices.

Three Sermons + Three Appendices

I. Historical view of God’s dealings with Israel from Horeb to Moab [1:1-4:43]

II. Summary exhortation of Israel’s moral and civil statutes [4:44-26:19]

III. Futuristic look at the blessings and curses related to these statutes and Israel’s renewal of its covenant with God, concluding with a farewell charge to Israel and commissioning of Joshua [27:1-31:30]

A1 Song of Moses [32:1-47]

A2 Blessings of Moses [33:1-29]

A3 Moses’ death and burial [34:1-12]

Another perspective, is that of Jewish tradition, where Deuteronomy was divided into a series of 11 weekly portions for public recitation. Each week’s section is named for the first word(s) of the text in Hebrew for that portion of Scripture.

Traditional Jewish Weekly Recitations

1. … words [1:1-3:22]

2. … and I sought the favor of [3:23-7:11]

3. … because [7:12-11:25]

4. … see! [11:26-16:17]

5. … judges [16:18-21:9]

6. … when you go forth [21:10-25:19]

7. … when you come [26:1-29:9]

8. … taking a stand [29:10-30:20]

9. … and he went [31:1-30]

10. … give ear! [32:1-52]

11. … and this is the blessing [33:1-34:12]

Many people take the time to develop a much more specific and analytic picture of a book of the Bible. You could approach this by first looking at the section headings that appear in many translations/ editions of the Bible, or by reading and summarizing paragraphs or groups of paragraphs together.

Here is one such example, based on the traditional Jewish break-down. The next level of analysis would be to outline each lettered-heading with 6-10 sub-points, perhaps even verse-by-verse at times.

Detailed Outline

I. words … Israel’s march to the promised land [1:1-3:22]

A. summons to enter the promised land [1:1-8]

B. organization of people for life in the land [1:9-18]

C. Israel’s unholy war, and failure to enter into the land [1:19-2:1]

D. conquest from Mt. Seir to the promised land [2:2-25]

E. yhwh’s holy war – Sihon & Og [2:26-3:11]

F. land distribution in the Transjordan [3:12-17]

G. summons to take possession of the promised land [3:18-22]

II. and I sought the favor of … Covenant basics [3:23-7:11]

A. transition from Moses to Joshua [3:23-29]

B. exhortation to keep the Torah [4:1-40]

C. intro to the 10 Words of the Torah [4:41-49]

D. yhwh’s appearance and Horeb covenant [5:1-22]

E. God’s desire is for us to fear Him by keeping the Torah [5:23-6:3]

F. elaboration of the 1st commandments [6:4-25]

G. practicing holiness by keeping the Torah [7:1-11]

III. because … Life in the promised land – an emphatic summary [7:12-11:25]

A. blessings follow obedience [7:12-26]

B. remember the lessons of wandering [8:1-20]

C. Israel, you are about to cross [9:1-29]

D. yhwh spoke the 10 Words [10:1-7]

E. yhwh set apart Levites [10:8-11]

F. love God and remember what He did for you [10:12-11:9]

G. if you love God, you will possess the land [11:10-25]

IV. see! … Statutes of how man relates to God [11:26-16:17]

A. Covenant renewal [11:26-32]

B. exclusivity of worship [12:1-13:18]

C. holiness in daily life [14:1-21]

D. social responsibilities [14:22-15:23]

E. pilgrimage festivals [16:1-17]

V. judges … Statutes on leadership and authority [16:18-21:9]

A. justice and forbidden worship [16:18-17:13]

B. kings [17:14-20]

C. priesthood [18:1-8]

D. prophets [18:9-22]

E. court systems [19:1-21:9]

VI. when you go forth … Statutes on how man relates to man [21:10-25:19]

A. marriage & family [21:10-21]

B. “true religion” and illicit mixtures [21:22-22:12]

C. marriage & sex [22:13-30]

D. “true religion” [23:1-25]

E. marriage, war, and “true religion” [24:1-25:19]

VII. when you come … Public worship and renewal of the covenant [26:1-29:9]

A. 2 liturgies for worship in the promised land [26:1-15]

B. mutual commitments [26:16-19]

C. writing and renewal at Shechem [27:1-26]

D. if you keep the covenant [28:1-29:1]

E. remember the past [29:2-9]

VIII. taking a stand … Exhortation to be faithful to the covenant [29:10-30:20]

A. binding on future generations [29:10-15]

B. warning about reservations [29:16-21]

C. exile for disobedience [29:22-28]

D. secret and revealed things [29:29]

E. possibility of restoration [30:1-10]

F. commandments are do-able [30:11-14]

G. choice is life or death – choose life [30:15-20]

IX. and he went … Transition to Joshua [31:1-30]

A. Moses’ final provisions [31:1-13]

B. yhwh’s charge to Moses and Joshua [31:14-23]

C. Moses’ provisions re: the Torah and the Song [31:24-30]

X. give ear! … Song of Moses [32:1-52]

A. Song of Moses [32:1-43]

B. final charge to Israel [32:44-47]

C. yhwh’s command to Moses to see the land [32:48-52]

XI. and this is the blessing … Moses’ blessings, death, and funeral [33:1-34:12]

A. yhwh’s protection and provision [33:1-5]

B. blessing of the 12 tribes [33:6-25]

C. security and blessing [33:26-29]

D. death of Moses and transfer to Joshua [34:1-12]

Dt outline - What Does God Want from Us

28.3.03