“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” 2 Peter 1:20 – 2:1
Verse 1 These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.
This verse tells you what the book is all about. It is Moses’ last words to the children of Israel or the Hebrews before his death and before the crossing of the river Jordan into the land of promise.
Verse 2 (There are eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnes.)
The Hebrew people had been living in the wilderness for 40 years when all the time they were just a few days away from the land that God had promised them.
Verse 3 And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them.
Moses had been with these people more than forty years. The date given of the 40th year, the 11th month and the 1st day add up to the number 7 which is the number of God (4 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 7). This shows that God was there orchestrating the events of this book.
Verses 4-5 After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei 5 On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying,
These verses give a time frame of when Moses’ speech was given The old generation that had received the law had passed away as promised by God due to their rebellion. This was the replacement generation and they needed to hear the law before passing over the Jordan into the promised land. The old generation had a type of baptism when they crossed the Red Sea. This new generation would have a type of baptism when they crossed the Jordan on dry land. All of this is pointing to the New Covenant of the church era in which disciples are commanded in Acts 2 to repent, be baptized and filled with the Spirit. The people had to hear the law to know their sins and repent of them, to know God’s expectations and to know how to obey Him. Passing through the Jordan river provided baptism, and the Lord’s presence provided the filling of His Spirit in their lives. Today, although we are not under the law anymore but under grace, we have to hear the word of God and be doers of the word in order to obey Him.
Verses 6-7 The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: 7 Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto (near unto), in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale (valley), and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.
Moses reminded the Hebrews that God had told their parents to leave Horeb where they had been living and to go get the land they had been promised. This land was to extend to the Euphrates River which is in modern day Iraq.
Verse 8 Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.
They were commanded to leave the place where they were dwelling and to go in and possess the land. God had already promised it to their ancestors and to them personally. He would give them the ability to conquer it and would be with them, guiding them.
Application: Spiritually, like the Hebrews, we have been commanded to leave our places of comfort and familiarity and to be obedient and go in and possess our land, eternity in Heaven with Jesus. God has already given it to us. We already have the victory. We already have the spiritual weapons of warfare to tear down the strongholds. As a result, we have to fight against principalities and powers and against the corrupt things of this world and our flesh. But just like the Hebrews, He is right there guiding us towards out promised land. We cannot dwell outside the kingdom of God spiritually and enter the land.
Verse 9 And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:
Moses knew his limitations and that he would not be able to bear all those people by himself. He was only one man.
Application: Are we ever able to bear anything by ourselves? The answer should be “no.” That is why we need a Lord and Savior to cast our burdens upon. He will lift us up when we fall under the weight of daily living in this world.
Verse 10 The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.
This verse is a fulfillment of the promise God made to Abraham. Some Bible scholars (I use the term loosely) believe that this promise is future and has not been fulfilled yet. They look towards a Jewish utopia of a thousand year reign for the prophecy to be complete. However, the Bible does not teach any such thing. The prophecy was fulfilled approximately 500 years from the days of Abraham to this speech given by Moses. Moses said, “…ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.”
Verse 11 (The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!)
A prayer of blessing from Moses that appears to have been spontaneous. Moses knew his time with the people he had lead and cared for so long was coming to an end. One can only imagine the emotions he was feeling as he gazed out upon the faces of the Hebrew people and gave them his last words from God.
Application: We as disciples should be saying prayers of blessing upon the people in our lives. It can only help them and it will build up our character and faith.
Verses 12-14 How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance (hindrance), and your burden, and your strife? 13 Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you. 14 And ye answered me, and said, The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do.
Moses is again admitting his limitations. Have you ever attended a church where the pastor, his wife, or another believer tries to do everything that is needed at the detriment of their marriage, family, health or relationship to God? We are not called as disciples to take on the entire burden of the church or the people in it. We have to have a balance. We have to let go of some things and let God do it. He will send helpers if we ask for Him to do so. Moses selected wise men to assist him who would rule over groups of people and deal with disputes. If we as disciples want helpers in our ministries, we need to chose wise people who love God and want to serve Him. It should never be a popularity contest. This writer has attended churches where the congregation voted on leaders. This may work well for certain forms of government in the world, but it did not allow for the leading of the Holy Ghost in the choosing of wise leaders. People were put in positions of leadership that had no business being there and who did not fit the criteria Paul laid out in his letters to Timothy in the New Testament.
Verses 15-16 So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and know, and made them heads over you, captains over thousand, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes. 16 And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the cause between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him,
These verses review the system put into place in the Hebrew community to solve conflict. Should today’s church be organized like this? No. The believer today should be solving conflicts according to Matthew 18 in the New Testament and not according to the system established to rule a nation.
Verses 17-18 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment, but ye shall hear the small as well as the great, ye shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God’s and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it. 18 And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do.