The Book of Deuteronomy
Remember and love — Moses' final call to wholehearted devotion to God.
Overview
Deuteronomy is Moses' farewell — a series of sermons to a new generation on the edge of the promised land. He retells their story, restates the law, and calls them, above all, to remember what God has done and to love him with all their heart.
Its great theme is wholehearted devotion. Jesus himself quoted Deuteronomy more than almost any other book.
Key themes
Love the Lord
The heart of the law is to love God with all your heart, soul, and might.
Remember
Israel is repeatedly urged to remember God's faithfulness and not forget him.
Choose life
Moses sets before them blessing and curse, and pleads with them to choose life.
Key verses from Deuteronomy
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
The command Jesus called the greatest of all.
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
How to read Deuteronomy
Read it as Moses' heartfelt farewell, not a dry law code.
Notice the repeated call to love God and remember his works.
See why Jesus leaned on this book so often.