LeviticusLAW OF THE PRIESTS- TORAH KOHANIM5 classes of sacrifice or regulation in first 7 chapters.1.Burnt Offering- whole victim consumed entire self-surrender on part of officiate.2. Meat Offering- loyal acknowledgement of God’s Sovereignty.

Five Classes of Sacrifice

3. Sin Offering- Acknowledgement of wrath on part of the one to whom offering is made (God). Without recognition of wrath of God Trespass offering means nothing.4. Trespass offering- satisfaction for sin5. Peace Offering- union and communion between the offered and Him to whom the offering is made (God).

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Animals Sacrificed•Young Unblemished bull•Young unblemished Ram•Young unblemished He-Goat•Young unblemished turtle-dove•Young unblemished pigeon.•Young unblemished lamb•Others all without blemish- even high priest unblemished. • It cost the people monetarily to sacrifice like this and it was in addition to their tithe- note that tithing was a part of the law of Moses and not binding on us today.

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Outline of Leviticus1-7 Laws concerning sacrifice8-10 Mediatorship of the priest.11-15 unclean things (bottom feeders, swine)16 Day of Atonement17 Use of blood18-26 God-pleasing conduct18-20 Laws dealing with marriage21-22 true character of priests23-24 consecration of seasons and life and death25 Sabbath and Jubilee26 Offering of blessing and cursing

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1-10 God’s Provision For Sin

Sacrifices- Burnt offering, meal offering, peace offering, sin offering, trespass offering8-10 Priesthood ordinances.Precepts for Separation- 11-2411-20 Holy nation;11-15 clean and unclean (law of purity); 16-17 Day of atonement;18-20 laws of separation; 21-22 holiness of priesthood;23-24 Holy days feasts of Lord

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God’s Assurances of Success25-27Sabbath- 25Importance of Obedience (26)Seriousness of Vows (27)- if you vow a vow do not defer keeping it.Leviticus is a book of sacrifice and blood. Many today want bloodless religion and salvation without sacrifice.

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Leviticus 16- Key to the Book

Yom Kippur- Day of Atonement (v. 30) 45 times in book the word “atonement” Ps. 51:16,17; Heb. 10:1-18 Vs. 20-28- the scapegoatCelebration of the covering of national sins by offering of two goats unto God. One killed and the other driven from the camp into the wilderness. The priest enters the holy of holies to offer the blood of the slain goat to God. When he came out the people knew their sins were covered for another year. See Heb. 9:14- Christ- once offered. Shed blood required

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Practical Lessons Of Leviticus

Awfulness of Sin- sin is hateful toward God

Holiness of God- 11:44- clean and unclean

Graciousness of God- Provides way of forgiveness.

13- Character of sin- v. 3- deeper than the skin; v.7- it spreads; 44-46- it defiles; 46- it isolates; 52- destined things for the fire

21:1-9- conduct of the priests10-15- H.Priest

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Practical Lessons of Leviticus

22:17-33- Perfect Sacrifice- the Cost of sin23- religious year opened with Passover celebration (first fruits to God). Feast of unleavened bread; Pentecost- 50 days after Passover. 7th month- 3 Feasts- Trumpets (23:23-25); Day of atonement (23:26-32); Feast of tabernacles (live in a booth for 7 days to remind of God’s promise and protection in the wilderness.25:1-7; 18-22- Sabbatic year- land rests Deut. 15:1-11- all debts remitted at end of 7th year.25:8-17; 23-24- Year of Jubilee; 25:25-55- Care of poor.

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Leviticus Tidbits

Exodus ends with the erection of the Tabernacle. Leviticus is given to show the law given to the nation (nations must have laws).Fulfillment of Ex. 19:6- “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation”.Four themes- 1. The presence of God in Israelite worship. The repetition of the phrase “before the Lord” and “unto the Lord.” 1:9,13,17).

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Second ThemeConcept of Holiness- “be holy for I am holy” 11:44,45; 19:2; 20:28. term holy and sanctified appears 152 times in the book.Sacrifice- 40 timesPriest- 190 timesBlood- 85 timesAtonement- 45 timesProfane- 14 timesClean- about 74 times – unclean- 132 times

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Third & Fourth Theme

The Role of Sacrifice- Heb. 9:22- “almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and w/o the shedding of blood is no remission.” The first 17 chapters explain procedures for proper, acceptable sacrifice.- JESUS IS OUR SACRIFICE FOR SIN TODAY

Heb 7:27-Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

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Third & Fourth Theme

Heb 9:26- For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Heb 10:12- But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

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Third & Fourth Theme

4TH- Covenant explains how covenant worship should be conducted (1-17) how covenant people should behave(18-25) closes w/blessings and cursings (26). Last verse- “these are the statutes and judgments and laws…”( v. 46).

LAW WAS GIVEN TO BE OBEYED. SO IT IS TODAY WITH THE NEW LAW. We must be obedient in order to escape the curses (Rev. 22).

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Nadab and AbihuWhat did they do wrong? Lev 10:1-2- And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.See Lev. 16:12- And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:

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Nadab and AbihuAre we priests today?See 1 Peter 2:5,9- Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ…But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:What are the lessons we learn from the sin of Nadab and Abihu?Does it matter to God how we do something or just that we “get it done”?

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The Book Of Numbers

The book takes its name from the two numberings of the men of war in chapters 1-4 and 26-27. The first census was made the second year after the nation had left Egypt, and the second was made thirty-eight years later when the new generation was about to enter Canaan. These numberings were not of the entire nation, but only of the men able to fight. The first census revealed that there were 603,550 available men; the second, that there were 601,730.

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The Book Of Numbers

Compare this to the total number of armed forces in the United States today- Approximately 1.8 million total personnel are currently on active duty in the military with an additional 860,000 personnel in the seven reserve components (456,000 of which are in the Army and Air National Guard).

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Theme Of Numbers

Numbers is the wilderness book of the OT. It describes the failure of the nation at Kadesh-Barnea and their wanderings in the wilderness until the unbelieving older generation died. Someone has described Israel's wilderness wanderings as "the longest funeral march in history."

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Theme Of Numbers

Only Caleb and Joshua of the older generation and those 20 years old or younger were permitted to enter Canaan. Caleb and Joshua had trusted God and opposed the decision of the nation to turn back at Kadesh-Barnea. Even Moses was forbidden to go into the Promised Land because of his sin when he smote the rock instead of speaking to it ( it makes a difference whether we do exactly what God says or not).

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Spiritual Lesson For Us Today

Numbers has an important spiritual lesson for Christians today, as explained in Heb 3-4 and 1 Cor 10:1-15. God honors faith and punishes unbelief. At the root of all of Israel's sins in the wilderness was unbelief: they did not trust God's Word. At Kadesh-Barnea they doubted God's Word and failed to enter into their inheritance. Instead of claiming Canaan by faith, they wandered in the wilderness in unbelief.

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Hebrews 3:1-4:10

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house.

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Hebrews 3:1-4:10

And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. So, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.' So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'“ See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.

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Hebrews 3:1-4:10But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion." Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed?

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Hebrews 3:1-4:10So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world.

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Hebrews 3:1-4:10

For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work." And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest." It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience.

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Hebrews 3:1-4:10

Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.“ For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath — rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.

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Hebrews 4:11-16

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

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Hebrews 4:11-16

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

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1 Corinthians 10:1-15

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

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1 Corinthians 10:1-15

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

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1 Corinthians 10:1-15

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

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Spiritual Application For Christians

Many Christians today are "in between" in their spiritual lives. They have been delivered from Egypt by the blood of the Lamb, but they have not yet entered into their inheritance in Christ. Canaan is an illustration of our spiritual inheritance in Christ (Eph 1:3- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ) an inheritance that must be claimed by obedient faith. Canaan was also a land of battles and blessings, as is the Christian life today. Sadly, too many Christians come to the place of decision (their own Kadesh-Barnea), and they fail to enter into their inheritance by faith!

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Spiritual Application For Christians

Instead of being conquerors (as described in Joshua), they become wanderers, as described in Numbers. They have been obedient to a point but they falter and fail to fulfill God's purpose for their lives. They will not trust God to overcome the giants, knock down the walls, and give them the inheritance that He has promised. They will not cross Jordan and step out by faith to claim the blessings that Christ has promised them. As a result of their lack of obedient faith, they will not inherit the blessed inheritance God has prepared for those who serve Him in obedience.

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GOD LEADING HIS PEOPLE (9-10)

God gives wisdom in problems (9:1-14). It was now the second year after Israel's wonderful deliverance from Egypt, and the nation was to observe the Passover. This feast was the constant reminder that their redemption depended on the blood of the lamb and the power of God. Every blessing they experienced came through the blood, even as with the church to-day (Eph 1:3ff). Certain men had been ceremonially defiled by a dead body, and they needed to know the mind of God about whether they could participate in the feast.

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GOD LEADING HIS PEOPLE (9-10)

God gives wisdom in problems (9:1-14).

Moses graciously admitted that he did not know the answer, but that he would ask the Lord. The Lord permitted these men to observe the feast later, in the second month, which shows that God knows and considers challenges when He gave His law and in His ultimate wisdom provides for every contingency in His perfect law.

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God Is Always There For Obedient People

We have seen the guiding cloud before in Ex 13:21-22. It is encouraging to know that the same God who saves and keeps us also guides us in our journey. God wanted to guide the nation into the place of His blessing, but their unbelief hindered Him. Through the Word, God leads us today"always... by day and... by night" It would have been foolish, in fact, dangerous, for the camp or any part of it to move without direction from God.

He gives direction in our daily walk

(9:15-23).

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God Is Always There For Obedient People

He gives direction in our daily walk (9:15-23).

The Jews were a pilgrim people, living in tents, and they had to be ready to move at a moment's notice. Verse 22 makes it clear that God's leading is beyond human calculation: sometimes the cloud would tarry a few days, sometimes a month, and sometimes as long as a year. At times God would lead them in the daytime, and at other times in the darkness (v. 21). But it made no difference so long as God was the one leading. Where ever He leads we should follow and not murmur or argue about it.

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God Leads His People He warns the people. In chapter 10 we see that the priests were to blow the trumpets when the cloud started moving. The trumpets were also used to call the congregation to assemble and also to announce the feast days and holy days and also to warn of outside dangers. God warns us through His word today. He tells us what to do and what to abstain from. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17- All scripture given by inspiration of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness…God leads in an orderly manner and is not concerned with human wisdom. His ways are beyond human ideas and much better—in fact they are the wonderful words of life.

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God Chastens Those He Loves

After chapter 10 it is amazing that after all God had done for Israel that they would still murmur and have little or no faith- but then we are the same today aren’t we?In chapter 11, Moses is disappointed terribly with the people for complaining about the manna and longing for things from Egypt. They had it so good but all they could do is look back at their past and long for it- how like us that is. We came out of the filth of the world, but still we long to be like the nations round about and forget what things were really like in the world we left. This is a tool of Satan and he is good at getting us to look back (1 Peter. 5:8). God punished the people for this and they asked Moses to pray for them for relief and he did and God relented.

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12 Spies Are Dispatched

In Number s 13 and 14 we see that the people sent in the spies.Deut. 1:20-33 tells us that this was the idea of the people and not God. God permitted this but it was not necessary for God had told the people they could take the land and what the land was like.

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12 Spies Are Dispatched 10 spies returned with the report that the land was as God had said, but that they could not take it because the people were like giants and that Israel was as grasshopper’s in their sight. Only Joshua and Caleb said they could do what God said they could and they risked their life to try to get the people to obey God. The people tried to kill them.Many today want to get mad at the person who tells them the truth rather than repent and obey the Lord.

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Authority Is ChallengedKorah, Dathan and Abiram defy the authority of Moses and Aaron. Moses and Aaron did not defend themselves they let God do it. In chapter 16 we see that over 15000 people died for defying God’s authority that He had delegated to Moses and Aaron. Korah, Dathan and Abiram’s rebellion was defeated. God’s authority was further established through Moses and Aaron. This is the instance where God caused Aaron’s rod to bud (it is one of the items later placed in the ark of the covenant.

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Moses Disobeys GodAfter the death of Miriam, the people begin to murmur that they have no water. God tells Moses to speak to the rock and water would come out- Moses smote the rock and in doing so he disobeyed the Lord’s command . He exalted himself and not God. He acted without authority and was not allowed to go into the promised land. What a tragedy. Some might say, how legalistic?Others might say- what difference did it make how the water came out- the end was the same? Why would God make such a big deal out of such a small matter?

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Many Rebel TodayWhen God said speak to the rock- he meant speakSpeaking and Smiting are not the same thing.It matters that we do exactly what God says.Singing is not playing (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19). Grace alone is not God’s plan.Faith alone is not God’s plan.Baptism in water is essential for remission of sins and salvation (Acts 22:16; Acts 2:38).

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Balaam Prophesies

Numbers 23-24 tell us of a man named Balaam who was asked by Balak to curse Israel and every time Balaam opened his mouth he blessed Israel instead. In chapter 25 we see Balaam’s greed. He wanted the money and honor Balak had offered. He tells Balak how to defeat Israel- invite them to share in their heathen sacrificial feasts and corrupt them with idolatry and lust.

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Balaam ProphesiesBalaam knew that the Jewish men would be tempted by the Moabite women as they engaged in horribly immoral acts in worshipping Baal.One man was so bold that he brought a Moabite woman right into the camp of Israel and commit fornication with her.Aaron’s grandson Phineas killed the man and woman and stopped the plague on Israel but not before 24,000 had died. This was the greatest loss of life Israel suffered due to their blatant sin. 47

Numbers 33-36The land inheritance of the tribes is given looking forward to the time when Israel would possess the land.The tribes are assigned their portions and the Levites are assigned their cities and the cities of refuge are defined.These cities were for a haven for those who had accidentally killed someone- not for pre-meditated murder. The accidental killer could have safe haven as long as he stayed in the city of refuge. If he left then the avenger of blood could slay him.

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Deuteronomy- The Name

"Deuteronomy " in Greek means "second law." It comes from Deut 17:18, and also from the fact that in this book Moses was restating the Law to the new generation. This book does not contain a new Law, it is a second stating of the original Law.

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Purpose Of The Book Of Deuteronomy

They were a new generation. The old generation (except for Caleb and Joshua) had perished in the wilderness, and the new generation needed to hear the Law again. We all have short memories, and these people were twenty years of age and under when the nation failed decades before at Kadesh-Barnea.It was important that they know God's Word afresh and realize how important it is to obey God.

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A New Challenge

Up to now, the nation's life had been unsettled; they had been pilgrims. But now they were to enter their Promised Land and become a settled nation. There would be battles to fight, and they needed to be prepared. The best way to prepare for the future is to understand the past. "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it," a famous philosopher has said. Moses wanted the nation to remember what God had done.

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A New Leader

Moses was about to die, and Joshua would take over the leadership of the nation. Moses knew that the success of the nation depended on the people obeying God, no matter who their human leader might be. If they were grounded in the Word and loved the Lord, they would follow Joshua and win the victory.

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New Temptations

A settled people in the land would face different problems than a pilgrim people in the wilderness. Moses wanted them not only to possess the land, but also to maintain that possession, so he warned them of the dangers and gave them the way of success.

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Deeper Message

As we read Deuteronomy, we cannot help but be impressed with the deeper message Moses gives concerning the spiritual life of his people. We find the word "love" repeated at least twenty times in the book, an emphasis not found in Genesis through Numbers. "Love for God and God's love for the people" is a new theme in Deuteronomy (4:37; 6:4-6; 7:6-13; 10:12; 11:1; 30:6,16,20). While the previous books certainly speak of love and prove God's love for Israel, Deuteronomy emphasizes this theme as never before.

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Deeper Message

The word "heart" is also important: the Word must be in their hearts (5:29; 6:6); sin begins in the heart (7:17ff and 8:11-20); and they must love God from the heart (10:12). In other words, Moses makes it clear that blessings come when the heart is right. In order for the people to possess and enjoy the land, their hearts had to be filled with love for God and His Word.

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A Book For Everyone

Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers were "technical books" belonging in a special way to the priests and Levites, but Deuteronomy was written for everyone. While it repeats many of the laws found in previous books, it gives a new and deeper meaning to these laws and shows what they meant in the everyday lives of the people. All of us today can learn much from Deuteronomy about loving God and obeying His will.

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A Book For EveryoneHere are several of the key words of this book and the number of times they are found in the King James Version: land (153); inherit (36); possess (65); hear (44); hearken (27); heart (46); love (20). Putting these repeated words together, we can quickly see the emphasis of the book: you will go in and possess the land if you hear God's Word, love Him, and hearken (obey). If we love God, we will obey Him; and if we obey, He will bless.

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Moses Reminds The New Generation

In order to know where we going we must study where we have been and where we have come from. It is imperative that each generation teaches the next one of their history. We are in danger as a country and as God’s people if we do not know our history.In Deuteronomy 1-6 Moses does this and stresses to them how important it is to remember the past.

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Moses Reminds of God’s GuidanceIn chapters 1-3 Moses Reminds the people:In chapter 1- The nation was gathered on the Plains of Moab "on this side of Jordan." It had taken them forty years to get there, yet v. 2 states that the journey should have taken eleven days!This is the tragedy of unbelief: it wastes time, energy, and manpower; and it robs God of the glory due His Name. Moses began to "declare" God's Law, and this word "declare" literally means "to engrave." He wanted to make it clear, to write it on their hearts.

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Sinai To Kadesh-BarneaThe nation had camped at Horeb from the third month of the first year (Ex 19:1) until the second month of the second year after their exodus from Egypt (Num 10:11). During this time, Moses had received the Law and the tabernacle had been constructed and erected. It is interesting that Moses reviews his own failure (vv. 9-18) as well as the failure of the nation (vv. 19-46).

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Sinai To Kadesh-Barnea

The new generation certainly should know why the nation was organized as it was, and why the nation had not entered its inheritance sooner. Moses makes it clear that their sin at Kadesh-Barnea was rebellion (v. 26) based on unbelief.

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Nations That Were Avoided

Moses passes over the years of "wandering" with one sentence (1:46), and now takes up their journey to the borders of Canaan. Three nations were avoided: Edom (the descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother); and Moab and Ammon (the descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew). Since these nations had blood relation to Israel, God did not permit the Jews to fight them and God protected Israel as they passed through the borders of these great nations.

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The Nations They Defeated- 2:24-3:29

There were two reasons why God allowed Israel to fight and conquer these nations: (1)as a warning to the nations in Canaan, v. 25; and (2)to make the land available for the two and a half tribes that would settle east of Jordan (3:12-17).

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The Nations They Defeated- 2:24-3:29The Jews were kind to these nations

when they arrived, offering to pass through peacefully. When the nations attacked them though, God conquered them. The great walled cities like those that had frightened the older generation were captured by the new generation (3:5). Certainly this would be an encouragement to them as they prepared to enter Canaan. God had guided and protected Israel in the past, and certainly He would be with them in the future.

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God Reminds Them Of His Glory & GreatnessMoses takes the nation back to Sinai where God's glory and greatness were revealed, and where the nation trembled at God's Law. The people were in danger of forgetting the glory and greatness of God (see 4:9,23,31). Moses points out three dangers:1.Forgetting His Word2.Turning To Idols and 3.Neglecting His Law

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Forgetting The Word- 4:1-13

What other nation had been blessed with God's Word?

God's Word was Israel's wisdom and their power. If they obeyed His Word, He would bless them and they would possess the land. If they changed His Word (v. 2) or disobeyed it, He would chasten them and they would lose the enjoyment of their land. When God's Word becomes commonplace to the children of God in any time, and they no longer respect it, then they are heading for serious trouble.

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Turning To Idols- 4:14-49

"Take heed!" is Moses' warning, repeated in 4:9,15, and 23. He reminds the people that they saw no image of God at Sinai, and he warns them that they must not make any images (vv. 15-19; see Rom 1:21-23). God proved Himself greater than all the gods of Egypt, so why worship them? In love, God had called the nation to Himself.

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Turning To Idols- 4:14-49

If they turned to idols, it would be spiritual adultery. In vv. 25-31, Moses summarizes the future of Israel: they would turn to idols, be cast out of the land and scattered, and serve other gods in captivity. It was in captivity that Israel would learn her lesson and abandon false gods once and for all.

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Neglecting His Law- Chapter 5

Here Moses repeats the Ten Commandments.In fact, the rest of Deuteronomy is actually an amplification and application of these commandments. Israel was to hear, learn, keep, and do these laws (v. 1), for in obeying the Law they would be honoring God and opening the way for victory and blessing. "Hear, O Israel!" is an important phrase in this book (see 5:1; 6:3-4; 9:1; 20:3). God gave this Law to reveal sin (Rom 3:20); to prepare the nation for the coming of Christ (Gal 3:19-24); and to make them a separated nation on the earth (Deut 4:5-8).

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Neglecting His Law- Chapter 5

Moses reminds them that their responsibility is based on God's redemption, for He had delivered them from Egypt (vv. 6 and 15; cf. 6:12; 8:14; 13:5,10). "You are not your own; you were bought at a price; therefore..." (1 Cor 6:19-20, NKJV). Note that v. 10 introduces the fact of God's love; compare 4:37. Verse 29 makes it clear that the Law must be in the heart, or there can be no true obedience.

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Chapter 6- God Is So Good He is jealous over His people.God chose Israel in his love- He endured their disobedience in His mercy- He guided, protected and disciplined them in His love- He gave them a land. He warns them to “beware lest you forget God.The parents are to remind the children of how God has dealt with His cherished nation. The lessons of their history are not to be forgotten and it is the job of the parents to impress God and his Law on the hearts of their children.Today, fathers are commanded to do the same in Ephesians 6:4.

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Warnings of Dangers- 7-11

Do Not compromise with the enemy.We live in a compromising world. Even among God’s people it is hard to get the world out of Christians. Worldly Christians hinder God’s work and cause much harm (hypocrites).Fear The Enemy. Never take evil for granted and let your guard down. Satan is dangerous (1 Peter 5:8).

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More Warnings Of Dangers

The peril of prosperity. God warns Israel of the danger of letting their prosperity make them arrogant and trust in riches instead of Him.Often today we have the same challenge. We are on our knees when we need the Lord- but when we are blessed and things are going well we are most prone to trust in self instead of the Lord.

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Beware of Pride

After conquering the nations it would be easy for Israel to think it was because of their own righteousness that the nations were defeated.It was God who fought and won the battles for them. God was giving them the land not because of their greatness but because He had promised He would do so. Israel’s whole history was one of rebellion to God not righteousness.

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Beware Of Deliberate Disobedience

This section is Moses' closing appeal before he starts to review and apply the various laws that will govern their lives in the Promised Land (12:1ff). "I will be giving many laws," Moses is saying, "but the Lord actually requires only this: fear Him, love Him, serve Him, and He will bless you" (v. 12). Circumcision was the sign of the covenant (Gen 17), but this rite had been ignored during Israel's wanderings (Josh 5). However, the important thing was not physical circumcision; it was spiritual circumcision — the yielding of their hearts to God (v. 16).

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Beware Of Deliberate Disobedience

Moses makes it clear in chapter 11 that the real issue is the heart: if they truly loved God, they would obey His Word (John 14:21). Yes, they should fear God, having seen his miracles and judgments; but this fear should be a loving reverence for the God who chose them above all other nations. God could not bless them if they refused to obey His Word.Once they were in the land they would have to depend on God to bring forth crops and allow them to prosper. If they did not obey He would not bless them.

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The Land Promise Fulfilled

They would possess and enjoy the landThey would be plucked off of the landThey would be restored to the landThe grand conclusion of Moses' address is in 30:15-20. The nation had to choose between life and death, blessing and cursing. As always, such a choice is a matter of the heart (v. 17). Mere outward obedience will not do; it must come from within.

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Conclusion Of DeuteronomyIntroduction of a new leader- JoshuaThey would be given a new song- This song calls to their memory their disobedience and God’s mercy. God is their Rock and Defense.New Blessing from Moses. He blesses the tribes.A New Home- God let Moses see the land, but he could not enter it. Israel would enter and as long as they were obedient they would retain it. Israel is warned that if they walk away from God they will lose their land. There is not more rights to a land to any nation. The people mourn for Moses 30 days and then Joshua takes over leadership.

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