Hearing God’s Word: Deuteronomy 3, 4 (6)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 105.1-5
Oh, give thanks to the LORD!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!
Seek the LORD and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth…

Psalm 105.1-5
(Warrington: Give to Our God Immortal Praise)
Give thanks unto the Lord Most High;
call on His Name, before Him cry!
Make known His deeds in every land;
sing praise for all the works of His hand.

Glory in God, rejoice in heart,
all you who seek His holy part.
Him and His strength and Presence seek;
His works proclaim, His judgments speak.

Today’s Text: Deuteronomy 4.41-49

Preparation
1. What did Moses provide for the two-and-a-half tribes east of the Jordan?

2. What were the “cities of refuge”?

Meditation
This final section of Moses’ historical review sets the stage for what follows in chapter 5 and beyond. It wraps up the history lesson of chapters 1-4 and pinpoints the setting for the second giving of the Law of God.

This doesn’t seem like very exciting reading. But it provides the historical and geographical context for the rest of the book. Deuteronomy was given at a particular place and time, to a particular people, as final preparation for their entering the land of promise. In anticipation of what the people would do once they settled in Canaan, Moses established three cities of refuge in the lands already conquered, and which had been given to the two-and-a-half tribes as their possession (v. 41-43). Since this part of the land was already in Israel’s possession, Moses saw no reason to wait for taking this important step.

Moses is preparing to give the Law, testimonies, statutes, and judgments that the children of Israel will need to live well and prosper in the promised land (vv. 44, 45). Each of these terms refers to some aspect of the body of Law Moses is about to proclaim and set down in writing, and we will have occasion to point out some of the differences in these terms as we go forward. The Law of God consists of three parts: The Ten Commandments, the religious laws, and the civil laws. We’ll say more about this in subsequent studies in this series.

The rest of this chapter pinpoints the encampment of Israel on the east side of the Jordan River, in lands the people had taken from Sihon and Og, who resisted their progress. The precise description of these lands (vv. 46-49) serves as a kind of precursor to or foreshadowing of the descriptions that will be given in the book of Joshua of the parcels distributed to each tribe. So again, as with the cities of refuge, Moses establishes a template to be followed in dividing the land of Canaan.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Refuge – a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble. God in His kindness provided the children of Israel cities of refuge. He gave them places to go in the event of unforeseen and unintentional tragedies. He goes a step further for us with Jesus. We are forgiven for sins unintentional and intentional. He gives us refuge from His anger by the loving gift of His Son. How grateful we should be for our city of refuge, both now and for eternity. “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms…” (Deut. 33.27). “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46.1). And then, “…we have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever…” (Heb. 6.18-20).

Reflection
1. Why does it matter that events in the Bible are recorded as having occurred at a particular place and time?

2. What are the three parts of the Law of God? What is each part intended for?

3. How is Jesus a “city of refuge” for us?

These are the laws, given when Israel was newly come out of Egypt; and they were now repeated. Moses gave these laws in charge, while they encamped over against Beth-peor, an idol place of the Moabites. Their present triumphs were a powerful argument for obedience. And we should understand our own situation as sinners, and the nature of that gracious covenant to which we are invited. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Deuteronomy 4.41-49

Lord, You have sent me to a particular place, and to particular people, so that I…

Closing Prayer: Psalm 105.26-45
Trust in the Lord, and call on Him to help you with the work of this day. Remember all His faithfulness in the past, and go forth ready to obey His every Word.

Psalm 105.26-45
(Warrington: Give to Our God Immortal Praise)
He brought His people from Egypt alive,
and made their joy and song revive.
He made the nations’ land their own,
and all the wealth that they had known.

To them He granted the promised land,
the portion of His gracious hand.
Though they were few, and wandered far,
He kept them close within His heart.

So let us all in our Savior confide,
and in His holy Law abide.
Let us observe His glorious Word,
and praise our sovereign, faithful Lord!

T. M. and Susie Moore

Listen to our summary of last week’s study in Deuteronomy by clicking here. You can download all the studies in the series by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy: Ancient Christian Commentary Series III, Joseph T. Lienhard, S. J. ed. in collaboration with Ronnie J. Rombs, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001). All quotations from John Calvin from John Calvin, Commentaries on The Four Last Books of Moses Arranged in the Order of A Harmony, Rev. Charles William Bingham M. A., tr. and ed. (Edinburgh: The Calvin Translation Society, 1863. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).