And so begins the final book of the Pentateuch. On the surface it would seem that Deuteronomy would just be a repetition of all that had been said in the previous books of the Torah. However, right away in Chapter 1 I found there to be a distinct difference in this book. And the difference seems to be in the tone. As I understand it, the Book of Deuteronomy is comprised of sermons given by Moses to the people in the final days of his life. Thus, the tone of Deuteronomy is one of sentimental supplication. There is almost a melancholy in the words. Moses has seen the iniquity of the people he has helped to save, and he wants more than anything for them to reach their ultimate salvation symbolically captured in the earthly Promised Land. He speaks to them as a father would to his son. He cares for them, he loves them, he does not want harm to come to them. And therefore he pleads, he exhorts, he prays that they will follow the Commandments and be the people God wants them to be.
Two verses in particular capture this tone well:
"And in the wilderness (as thou hast seen) the Lord thy God hath carried thee, as a man is wont to carry his little son, all the way that you have come, until you came to this place.
And yet for all this you did not believe the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy 1:31-32)
Here Moses demonstrates the fatherly love God has towards His children. God protected the Israelites in their travels by miraculous means, and yet they still murmured and dissented! And thus Moses is saddened, and rightly so. There is repetition in Deuteronomy as Moses relays the incredible events that have transpired in getting the Israelites to Canaan. However, it is not plain repetition but rather like a wise old man looking back on his life and highlighting the most important events so that future generations will never forget. May we never forget!
No comments:
Post a Comment