• Deuteronomy is the final book of Moses:
    • This is the last book of the Pentateuch (the five books of Moses)
      • In Genesis we have the “beginnings”
        • the ruin of man and the fall.
      • In Exodus we have the law and a way out
        • redemption by blood and the power of God
      • In Leviticus we learned about the worship of the people
        • communion on the ground of the atonement
      • In Numbers we read about their wanderings
        • direction by the will of God
      • In Deuteronomy we will find the final preparation to go into Canaan
        • destination through the faithfulness of God
  • The Name: Deuteronomy:
    • Deuteronomy gets its name from the Greek deuteros, meaning “second”, and nomos, meaning “law”.
      • So in the book we have a second giving of the law – or better, a new expounding of it to the new generation of Israel who had grown up in the wilderness
      • It is not the giving of a new law, but an explication, a giving in detail, that which was already given.
  • It is a book of transition:
    • FIRST: A transition to a new generation
      • getting ready for the new land
    • SECOND: A transition to a new possession
      • from tents to houses
    • THIRD: a transition to a new experience
      • milk and honey of Canaan
    • FOURTH: a transition to a new revelation of God
      • the revelation of His love
  • From Genesis to Numbers the love of God is never spoken of; but here in Deuteronomy we have the wonderful words of His love:
    • Write out Deuteronomy 4:37
    • Write out Deuteronomy 7:7-8
    • Write out Deuteronomy 10:15
    • Write out Deuteronomy 23:5
  • The Structure of Deuteronomy:
    • Looking Backward:
      • Chapters 1-11
    • Looking Forward:
      • Chapter 12-34
  • The Central Message:
    • Obey, Obey – Obedience to God
      • Deuteronomy 4:1, 2, 5, 9, 15, 23, 49
      • Deuteronomy 5:1
      • Deuteronomy 6:1-3
      • Deuteronomy 11:26-27
  • The Basic Things of Deuteronomy (to be discussed in detail later)
    • The Basic Fact: Deuteronomy 6:4-5
    • The Basic Truth: Deuteronomy 6:23
    • The Basic Requirement: Deuteronomy 10:12-13
    • The Basic Pledge: Deuteronomy 4:27-31 & Deuteronomy 29:12-13
    • The Basic Differences: Deuteronomy 12:10-14
    • The Basic Blessing: Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:16, 10:20
  • Moses, the Man
    • Write out Deuteronomy 34:10
      • Three periods of Moses life: each 40 years long
        • First forty years: Exodus 2:11 (Egypt)
          • Compare with Acts 7:22-23
        • Second forty years: Exodus 2:15 (Midian)
          • compare with Acts 7:29-30
        • Third forty years: Exodus 7:7 & Deuteronomy 31:2
          • Leader of the children of Israel till his death
      • Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died
        • Deuteronomy 34:7 tells us this
        • He was the only man God buried (34:6)
        • He was raised and glorified and he appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration
          • Luke 9:30-31
        • Read Hebrews 11:23-29 about Moses
      • Christ is in this book:
        • Deuteronomy 18:15-18

While going through the book of Deuteronomy our new spiritual discipline we will learn about is fasting. Fasting can bring breakthroughs in the spiritual realm that will never happen any other way. Fasting is abstaining from something for spiritual purposes. We can fast to lose weight too, but that isn’t what we are talking about. We are talking about fasting from something (not everyone can give up food because of health reasons) and replacing the time you would spend in that thing (whether it is eating, social media, tv, movies, reading outside of the bible, etc) in prayer and communion with the Lord. It is about self-denial, and growth in your relationship with the Lord.

So today I simply ask you this: what is your experience with fasting? If you have never fasted why is that? What do you think you know and understand about fasting right now. I am not asking you to fast anything, just to learn about it, and check your heart. The Lord may prompt you to fast, but I am not asking that (at least right now – the Lord may prompt me to challenge you later).

For our Psalm, today we will pray and meditate through Psalm 13. Make this a cry of your heart. Really personalize it to where you are at right now. Remember, you can’t stay fake before the Lord. We can make other people see us in a different light than who we really are, but we can not fool the Lord. He knows the deepest, darkest secrets and He still loves you. Be really real before Him.