Deuteronomy revisited

The book of Deuteronomy is Moses' commentary on the events of Exodus.  Much of the Bible is actually a re-visiting, or a commentary on previous historical events.  That is why just a smattering, or a surface reading, of the bible is not enough -- we have to understand the original reference, plus the reflection on the meaning of the event. 

Deuteronomy is the purest form of Jewish historical writing because it explains the meaning behind the events of the Exodus.  As a prophet, Moses saw history from God's perspective, especially toward the end of his life.  Jewish historical writing always seeks to explain the significance of what happened.  We might call it a philosophy of history, or history from the Divine perspective.

The events in Deuteronomy cover about two months, including 30 days of mourning for Moses.  The book records the last words of Moses to the people of Israel as they prepare to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land, after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.  The crossing takes place about one month after Moses' death.

The book opens with the words of a narrator who sets the words of Moses into context; it helps to consult a good map as you read, because the narrator gives the historical events as background to Moses, and Moses himself reviews the journey leading up to the crossing into Canaan.

In chapter 1, he reminds the people that when they had set out from Egypt and arrived at Mt. Horeb (Sinai), their numbers were so large that he could no longer act as judge for them.  So he appointed "wise and respected men" from each tribe as judges of "thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens and as tribal officials."  And he told them, "Bring me a case too hard for you, and I will hear it."  Nowhere in the world up to this time had such a system existed, but this system originating in the wilderness of Sinai eventually became the basis for our system of lower courts, district courts, state courts, and the Supreme Court system of the United States.

Later on, Moses will tell the people that because they were governed by the laws of God, their reputation would increase among other nations who saw their wisdom and understanding and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people" (Deut. 4:6).  God was teaching them to govern themselves, as a free people, unlike other nations governed only by kings and despots.  Ronald Reagan once observed that in the United States, by law, the country was to be governed by 'we the people' instead of by kings and nobility. 

The philosophy under which we live as a free people comes to us directly from the history of the Jewish people in the desert.  Having been freed from slavery, they needed at least 40 years to learn the mentality of freedom before they were to settle on a land and govern themselves under the leadership of "wise and respected" men.

I cannot help but reflect on the fact that when the US was governed by the laws of God as public policy embraced by the people at large, other nations saw us as a "great nation of wise and understanding people."  I am afraid that, as we lose the focus of God in our nation, our world reputation also diminishes.  Like the nation of Israel, we are becoming more like the 'pagan' nations around us and less and less like the light of the world.

God said to Abraham (and to his descendants), "I will bless you and you will be a blessing" (to the whole world).  When people ask, "Why were the Jews chosen?" the answer is that they were chosen to be the conduit through which God could bless the entire world.  As other nations witnessed what it meant to be in relationship with the God of Israel, and what the results could be, they were to be drawn into the same relationship, sharing in the blessings of Israel.  Unfortunately, not remaining in relationship with Yahweh exposed the nation of Israel to the results of consorting with pagan deities:  child-sacrifice, moral weakness, vulnerability to their enemies, etc. 

We have much to learn from reflecting on the words of Moses in Deuteronomy.