Deuteronomy 4:1-43

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Obedience Commanded and Idolatry Forbidden

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Moses preached the importance for Israel to keep the Law.

  2. Moses preached the importance for Israel to keep the Law.

  3. Moses predicted the restoration of Israel to the Lord.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Help is not that far away.

QUESTIONS

  1. Throughout Israel’s history they have failed to keep God’s commandment not to add to His Word or take away from it (verses 1-2).Give an example of this from Christ’s time.

  2. Why did God give His people the Law, according to verses 5-8?

  3. Put into your own words at least three of the questions God asked the Children of Israel to show their uniqueness as a nation (verses 32-40).

  4. Is the return of the State of Israel the fulfillment of the prophecy in verses 29-31?

  5. What was a city of refuge?

ANSWERS

  1. The Pharisees added additional laws to the Word of God, and the Sadducees, for example, took away from God’s Word – even denying the possibility of bodily resurrection.

  2. God gave His people the Law, not only so that they could have a full and blessed life, but also so that they would be a light and testimony to the surrounding nations and draw these nations to the one True God.

  3. - Had any other nation literally heard the voice of God?
    - Had any other nation experienced a miraculous exodus like Israel had with signs and wonders?
    - Had any other nation been able to drive out the Amorites as Israel had done against overwhelming odds?

  4. No, but it is the groundwork for the spiritual reawakening of Israel in the future. Israel will return to the Lord.

  5. Cities of refuge were for the protection of a person who was involved in an accidental death such as a hunting accident or building accident. The one who caused the death could flee to the city of refuge and be safe and protected from any revenge until his case was tried and proved that it was not murder.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Two temptations exist with God’s Word: to become a legalist who tends to add to Scripture or to ignore passages of Scripture that we don’t like and thus take away from Scripture. Which of these tends to be your temptation? Why do you think this is so?

  2. Just as the removal of Israel from the Land took place as Moses predicted, so the restoration of Israel to the Lord will surely take place. We have a God Who keeps His word in both large matters and small. How does their truth encourage your faith?

CHALLENGE

  1. Hebrews 6:18 tells us that the cities of refuge are a picture of Christ to Whom we have fled as our true refuge. We do not have to go to great lengths to find strength, help, and safety – Help is not that far away.

KEY VERSES

  • “For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him?” Deuteronomy 4:7

  • “Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the Lord your God has forbidden you. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” Deuteronomy 4:23-24

Deuteronomy, Old Testament, TalksRon ReidDEUTERONOMY 4:1-43