Precipice of promise
[ A Call to Reflect, Recall and Respond to God’s Grace in Deuteronomy ]
Series Dates: 06/27/21 - 08/08/21
On the plains of Moab, as the sun sets on forty painful years, Israel’s emerging generation sits at the feet of their frail and broken leader Moses. They listen with anticipation as God speaks, pointing them to the sunrise of a new day- they are on the precipice of promise, looking out to a land and future that God had spoken to them long ago through Abraham.
The book of Deuteronomy is the fifth installation in the first five books of the Old Testament, what is known as “The Torah” or “The Pentateuch”. In Judaism Deuteronomy was known simply as “the words” referring to the words of Moses. His words offer a brief summary of books two, three and four of the Torah recounting the nation's exodus (Exodus), the given law (Leviticus) and their desert wandering (Numbers).
Over thirty four chapters, comprising three speeches and two poems, Moses invites Israel to reflect on their past history, recall the ethical code (law) they were given to live by, and respond towards a future where their lives are rightly ordered by mirroring this law. To live in this way will result in true life and ultimate rest- flourishing (the peace/shalom of God) for their nation and the people of the land they will inhabit.
Deuteronomy follows the pattern of ancient near eastern treaties including a historical prologue, stipulations, blessings and curses and clauses. It burgeons with hopeful anticipation and fierce warning- the law is the revealed expression of God’s love, we simply have to live within it; and God will not tolerate sinful rebellion. It is here at the precipice we discover the canyon is too wide to traverse. Tragically the past will be repeated, the nation will fall into sin again and again. Just as Moses was not able to keep the law and inhibited from entering the promised land, so the emerging generation will eventually fall, even Moses' successor Joshua will not be able to give them promised rest (Hebrews 4.8). Eventually the nation will be exiled from the land. Deuteronomy raises a significant question- who then is worthy to keep the law? Even Moses was unable to practice what he is now preaching.
On this edge of promise the skies open up to a far off future where the question is resolved- God himself will be faithful to keep His covenant, even when we do not. Each section of Deuteronomy anticipates the arrival of another leader, Jesus Christ, the one, who unlike Moses will live in perfect obedience and through his death on behalf of sinful humanity, will fulfill the law. In love Jesus pours himself out unto death and lead’s the people of God into His glorious land of promise. The entire book, as does Scripture, points us to Jesus and his good news for the world.
Through the Summer of 2021 we too will sit under the instruction of Deuteronomy to reflect upon the pain of the last year and a half through the pandemic, and look with anticipation to the future, our leader Jesus, has for us as a local church. Specifically we will consider what it means for us to live our lives in obedience to Christ, fueled by the light of the gospel, to seek the flourishing of the city of Annapolis (the land) He has called us to.
Each Sunday at our Gatherings we will be taught on one of the major sections or narratives of Deuteronomy. Week by week in our time of solitude with the Lord we will be reading and reflecting on each section using The Daily. In our communities and discipleship bands we will be discussing Deuteronomy with one another.
Our hope and prayer is that we would live each new day on the precipice of promise choosing to follow our true leader Jesus Christ as he ushers us into the riches of the promises that are ours in the gospel. He is faithful to keep His promise and love us unconditionally until we are ushered into His promised land forever.
grace + peace,
The Downtown Hope Theology Team