Deuteronomy: Remember, Love, and Obey

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Scripture Focus: Deuteronomy 6:4–5“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.”

Deuteronomy means “second law,” not because God changed His mind, but because His people needed to hear His truth again. Standing on the edge of the Promised Land, Moses speaks to a new generation—one that did not remember Egypt firsthand but would soon inherit God’s promises. Before they move forward, they must first remember.

Moses calls Israel to look back at God’s faithfulness—deliverance from slavery, protection through the wilderness, and provision in times of rebellion. He restates God’s law, including the Ten Commandments, not as a burden but as a gift meant “for your good” (Deut. 10:13). God’s commands were never meant to replace relationship; they were given to guard it.

At the heart of Deuteronomy is a call to wholehearted devotion. Israel is warned against idolatry and urged to love the one true God with every part of life—heart, soul, and strength. Obedience is not about earning God’s favor but responding to His grace.

This book is foundational to the rest of Scripture. Jesus Himself quoted Deuteronomy often, showing that God’s law finds its fulfillment in Him—not in rule-keeping, but in mercy, truth, and love.

As we begin Deuteronomy, we are reminded that before we move forward in faith, we must remember who God is, what He has done, and why His ways lead to life. God still calls His people today to remember, to love, and to obey—not out of fear, but out of faith.

Outline*

I. Introduction: The Historical Setting of Moses’ Speeches (1:1–4)

II. The First Address by Moses: A Historical Prologue (1:5–4:43)

A. A Historical Review of God’s Gracious Acts from Horeb to Beth Peor (1:5–3:29)

B. An Exhortation to Obey the Law (4:1–40)

C. The Setting Apart of Three Cities of Refuge (4:41–43)

III. The Second Address by Moses: The Stipulations of the Sinaitic Covenant (4:44–28:68)

A. Introduction (4:44–49)

B. The Basic Elements of Israel’s Relationship with the Lord (5:1–11:32)

1. The Ten Commandments (5:1–33)

2. The total commitment to the Lord (6:1–25)

3. Separation from the gods of other nations (7:1–26)

4. A warning against forgetting the Lord (8:1–20)

5. Illustrations of Israel’s rebellion in the past (9:1–10:11)

6. An admonition to fear and love the Lord and obey His will (10:12–11:32)

C. The Specific Stipulations for Life in the New Land (12:1–26:19)

1. Instructions for the life of worship (12:1–16:17)

2. Instructions for leadership (16:18–18:22)

3. Instructions for societal order (19:1–23:14)

4. Instructions from miscellaneous laws (23:15–25:19)

5. The firstfruits and tithes in the land (26:1–15)

6. The affirmation of obedience (26:16–19)

D. The Blessings and Curses of the Covenant (27:1–28:68)

IV. The Third Address by Moses: Another Covenant (29:1–30:20)

V. The Concluding Events (31:1–34:12)

A. The Change of Leadership (31:1–8)

B. The Future Reading of the Law (31:9–13)

C. The Song of Moses (31:14–32:47)

1. The anticipation of Israel’s failure (31:14–29)

2. The witness of Moses’ song (31:30–32:43)

3. The communicating of Moses’ song (32:44–47)

D. The Final Events of Moses’ Life (32:48–34:12)

1. The directives for Moses’ death (32:48–52)

2. The blessing of Moses (33:1–29)

3. The death of Moses (34:1–12

* MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Bible Handbook. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003. Print.