KEEP THE COVENANT! – Deuteronomy 29:1-29

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on January 18, 2012 under AM Bible Study |

AM Bible Study Group; January 18, 2012

Deuteronomy 29:1-29

Theme: God—speaking through Moses—presents a renewed appeal to His people to keep the covenant He has made with them.

There have, so far, been two great discourses by Moses to the people of Israel in the Book of Deuteronomy. The first was in 1:1-43; and it involved a review of their history from the time that God first gave them the law at Mount Sinai, through the time of their wilderness wanderings, and up to the time when the second generation was about to enter the promised land. The second was in 4:44-28:68; and it involved the second giving of the ten commandments, the review of the statutes and judgments of the law, and the blessings and cursings that flow from them.

With the first verse of chapter 29, we see the end of that second discourse and the beginning of a third. It presents the covenant that God had made with the people, and the loving appeal to be faithful to it. But what’s interesting is that, in presenting this covenant, it’s clear that Moses is being told by the Lord that the people will not keep it. 31:14-29 gives clear details of this. 29:4 stresses that the people have not been given a heart to perceive these things, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear. And yet, this sets things up for chapter 30; where a new covenant is promised—one in which the people would be given a new heart to obey (30:6; see also Jeremiah 31:31-34; 32:39-40; Ezekiel 11:19-20; Hebrews 8:8-12; 10:16-17).

Chapter 29 prepares us for chapter 30 by showing us the genuine appeal that God made with His people to keep the covenant! Note how . . .

I. THE WORDS OF THE COVENANT ARE PRESENTED (v. 1).

A. We’re told, “These are the words of the covenant which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the Children of Israel in the land of Moab”; that is, on the eastern side of the Jordan. They had been given the lands on the east; but had not yet conquered the land of Canaan on the west.

B. Note that we’re told that this “covenant” is “besides the covenant which He made with them in Horeb.” Horeb is another name for Mount Sinai. This is not a new covenant in nature; but is the old covenant renewed and ratified in the sense that it is being offered again to the second generation just before they took possession of the land that their parents refused to take. Praise God that, even in the darkest moments of our failures, God’s compassions fail not, and are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23).

II. THE APPEAL IS MADE TO KEEP THE COVENANT (vv. 2-28) . . .

A. Through a review of the past (vv. 2-9).

1. The people being spoken to saw the events of the past (vv. 2-3). Some may have been quite young at the time. But God calls upon them to remember what they saw of His great works for them.

2. Sadly, though, they still did not have a heart to perceive (v. 4). In writing these things, Moses is hinting at a vision of the greatness of God’s future plan for His people. At that time, they were blind (and still suffer under this blindness; see 2 Corinthians 3:12-15). But one day they will be given the new heart that is promised in the new covenant; and they will believe and see things as they should.

3. The person speaking now ceases to be Moses. God Himself now speaks of His own care for them. First, He speaks of His material provision for them (vv. 5-6). Then He speaks of the military victories He has given them (vv. 7-8; see also Numbers 21:21-35).

4. All of this should make them reflect back on God’s faithfulness to them, and motivate them to be faithful to His covenant (v. 9).

B. Through an invitation in the present (vv. 10-17).

1. All who were present were welcomed into this covenant (vv. 10-12)—even the most humble of people, and the resident alien among them.

2. Entering into it would establish them in the relationship He had promised to the patriarchs (v. 13). His blessings upon them as they dwelt in the land was contingent upon their obedience to the law of the covenant He was then renewing with them.

3. Not only was this appeal made to those who were present, but also to future generations of Jewish people (vv. 14-15; see also Hebrews 2:3). This chapter has the future very much in view.

4. This invitation in the present involved a choice not to involve living in the present as distinct people (vv. 16-17).

C. Through a warning for the future (vv. 18-28).

1. These warnings were so that there would not be a rebellious person or family or tribe who rose up in their midst who would drag the rest of the nation down in rebellion with them (vv. 18-19; see also Hebrews 12:14). Note that they thought that they could simply surround themselves with the godly and be safe. Yet, as the New International Version has it, “This will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry” (v. 19). It would bring judgment upon all.

2. That rebellious person would be punished (vv. 20-21); but the implication seems to be that all of those within the nation who fell as he did would be punished as he would be.

3. Future generations, and the peoples of other nations, would see this and know it was because of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God (vv. 22-28). Note that this somewhat reflected what was anticipated to be actual history (see 30:1ff).

III. THE REVELATION IS SUFFICIENT (v. 29).

God has said enough to His people to make them accountable and to present them with the clear pathway to life. (See also 30:19.)

* * * * * * * * * *

Paul, in Romans 10:3-4 writes the best commentary we can find of his own kinsmen’s failure with respect to this old covenant: “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” May we, also, because of our helplessness of our own inability to make ourselves pleasing to God, be driven to Jesus Christ for mercy.