In today’s passage, Moses commissions Joshua to take his place, speaks his final words to Israel, and dies.

• Be strong and courageous – Moses tells Joshua and the people to be strong and courageous as they enter into the land. Where does this courage come from?  This courage comes from the knowledge that God goes with them.  In what situations in your life do you need courage?  Remember that God goes with you!
• Reading the Law – Every seven years the Law was to be read that the people may learn not just the laws, but to fear the Lord and do them. If we are to obey God we must be in the Book to learn his commands.  If we are to obey God we must be in the Book to learn about God and fear him.
• Great God – Moses proclaims the greatness of our God in his song that he teaches Israel. God is perfect, just, faithful, and upright.  He is a Rock.  He is the only true God and none can stand against him.  Take some time to praise your great God!

Our passage today calls for a decision to serve the Lord.

• Joyful service – Their service was not to be grim and glum. Rather they were to serve the Lord with joy and gladness (28:47).  What is your attitude toward serving the Lord?
• Choices and Consequences – Moses lays out in very clear terms their choice and the consequences of that choice. They can serve the Lord and be blessed beyond their wildest imaginations, or they can turn away from God and be punished beyond their worst nightmares.  Their choice will have severe consequences.  Our choices too have consequences.  What choices are you making?  What might be the consequences of those choices?
• Future Judgment/Restoration – Moses predicts Israel’s failure and the terrible results that will come. Tragically, history will prove these predictions true.  Yet God will bring them back to the land when they return to the Lord.  All of this is yet to come in our study of the Old Testament.  God in his perfect knowledge foreshadows the future.

Our passage today concludes the laws that the people of Israel were to obey.

• Clean Laws – Our passage begins with laws about who may assemble before the Lord and laws about keeping the camp pure. God is in the camp, so the camp must be holy.  God dwells within us, so we must keep ourselves clean within – we are to be holy as God is holy.  Are you striving for holiness?
• Poor Laws – Many laws show God’s concern for the poor – the sojourner, the widow, the orphan. While the approach may change, God wants us to care for those in need.  How are you reflecting in your life God’s concern for the poor?
• Universal Laws – Many laws flow straight out of the 10 Commandments and so are binding on us. These include laws prohibiting prostitution (7^th), breaking vows to the Lord (9^th), kidnapping (8^th), and dishonesty in buying and selling (8^th).
• Giving Laws – Finally our passage ends with instructions for Israel to bring their first fruits and tithes to the Lord in gratitude for his provision and to care for the needy. This giving is to be a time of worship and rejoicing.  What is your attitude when you give to the Lord?

Our passage today announces another prophet and then presents numerous instructions for the people of Israel to follow as they enter the land.

• New Prophet – Moses predicts the coming of another great prophet. The New Testament clearly applies this prophecy to Jesus (Acts 3:22-23; 7:37).  We must listen to him.  Are you?
• Do not fear – When the people of Israel went into battle, they were instructed not to be afraid because the Lord would be with them to fight for them. What battles are you facing in your life?  You need not fear for the Lord is with you to help you.
• Laws, Laws, Laws – What to do with all these laws? Laws that restate the 10 Commandments are universal laws we should apply to our lives.  Many laws apply the 10 Commandments to life at that time, which may need to be reapplied for our day.  Punishments are civil laws to govern the nation of Israel under the Mosaic Covenant, and are not binding on us today.  Other laws that are not clearly universal laws belong to the Mosaic Covenant but may teach important principles for us to live by.  What can you learn from the laws in our passage today?
• Cursed on a tree – A man who is hung on a tree is cursed by God (21:22-23). As we will see, a man who fails to keep God’s commands is also cursed (27:26).  Since we are disobedient, we are under God’s curse.  But Jesus took our curse upon himself by being hung on a tree that we might be saved (see Galatians 3:10-14).

God chose the people of Israel, and he expected them to be committed to him, as well as just toward each other.

• Treasured Possession – God chose the people of Israel to be his treasured possession. In response they were to be holy before him (14:2).  God has chosen us too, making us a people for his own possession, to walk in holiness before him (I Peter 2:9).  Ponder what it means to be chosen by God, to be his treasured possession.  Are you seeking to walk in holiness before him?
• No Idolatry – God again reminded the people to be faithful to him. Anything connected to foreign gods was to be destroyed.  Prophet, family member, or friend who suggested following after another god, was to be stoned. God did not want anything or anyone to lead the people of Israel  Have you allowed things into your life that are pulling you away from God?
• Rejoice before the Lord – It is possible for us to imagine life at the tabernacle to be a grim affair. And certainly the sin offerings were a grim affair.  But many sacrifices – including the tithe, freewill offering, and vow offerings – were times to feast and celebrate and rejoice before the Lord.  Notice the repetition that you should rejoice before the Lord your God (12:12, 18; 14:26).  When do you come before the Lord to rejoice and celebrate?
• The Poor – God makes clear that he cares about the poor, and so must we. We are to freely give to those in need.  Indeed if we do not, God will hold us guilty of sin.  How are you helping the poor?
• Justice – God is a just God and he expects justice. Are you treating those around you justly?  The poor?  The weak?  The outcast?  How are you pursuing justice in your relationships?  What might you do to encourage justice in our world?

Moses continues to exhort the people to follow the Lord as he notes God’s faithfulness to them.

• God’s Faithfulness – Why is God so faithful to these rebellious people? The answer in part is found in his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Because of that covenant, he will bring them into the land (9:5).  In response to that covenant, God has already made the people as numerous as the stars of heaven (10:22).  God faithfully keeps his promises.  What promises do you need to claim today?
• Fear, Love, Serve, Obey – Moses challenges the people to fear the Lord, walk in his ways, love God, serve him, and obey him (10:12-13). That same challenge applies to us.  How well do these verses describe you?  In what ways do you need to grow in your walk with the Lord?
• Choices – The people had a choice: to obey and be blessed, or to disobey and be cursed (11:26-28). We too have a choice each day to obey or not.  Blessing comes from obedience.  Disobedience will bring discipline.  What choices are you making?

Moses reminds the people of their history with the intent that they learn from it and serve God alone.

• Unfaithfulness – Throughout the discourse, Moses reminds the people of their unfaithfulness and the consequences of their unfaithfulness. He challenges them to learn from their past unfaithfulness and be faithful to God.  What can you learn from Israel’s past unfaithfulness?
• God is near – Despite their unfaithfulness, God is with them. He is always near, and so they can call upon him in prayer (4:7).  What needs do you have?  Remember that God is with you, and you can talk to him anytime.
• Guard your soul – Moses challenges them to “keep your soul diligently” (4:9). They must guard their hearts lest they be led astray. Are you keeping your soul diligently?  What dangers do you need to guard against?
• One God – Moses teaches the people that there is only one God over all the earth; therefore, they should not serve the false gods of the nations around them. In the midst of the religious pluralism of our day, let us remember there is only one true God, and let us serve him alone.