Deuteronomy 29
BBCDeuteronomy 29:1
III. MOSES’ THIRD DISCOURSECOVENANT FOR THE LAND (Chaps. 29, 30) A. The Covenant Made in Moab (29:1-21)29:1 The first verse of chapter 29 may logically belong to the previous chapter, as in the Hebrew Bible. Keil and Delitzsch, however, see it as a “heading” for the addresses of chapters 29 and 30. 29:2-9 The people had broken the covenant which God made with them at Mount Sinai. Now Moses called on them to ratify the covenant contained here in the Book of Deuteronomy made on the plains of Moab, just prior to their entrance into the land. The people lacked an understanding of the Lord and His purposes for them. Jehovah longed to give them a heart to perceive, eyes to see and ears to hear, but they rendered themselves unfit to receive these things through their continual unbelief and disobedience. Israel had enjoyed manna from heaven and water from the rock; she did not depend on the things manufactured by man for her survival (i.e., bread, wine, strong drink). This was in order that she might come to know the Lord her God in all of His faithfulness and love. As an incentive to keep this covenant, Moses once again reviewed the goodness of God to Israelthe miracles in Egypt, the mighty deliverance, the forty years in the wilderness, the defeat of Sihon . . . and Og, and the distribution of the trans-Jordanian land to Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 29:10-21 Moses called on all the people to enter into the sworn covenant with the LORD (vv. 10-13) and reminded them that the covenant applied to their posterity as well (vv. 14, 15). Failure to keep the covenant would result in bitter punishment. Rebels should beware of any temptation to serve the idols of the Gentile nations or to think that they would escape God’s anger if they did so (vv. 16-21). Verse 19 in the RSV reads: “One who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.’ This would lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike.” No one would escape.
Deuteronomy 29:22
B. Punishment for Breaking the Covenant (29:22-29)29:22-28 Generations to come, and foreign nations as well, would be amazed at the desolation of Israel and would ask the reason why the land should have been treated like the cities of the plainSodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim. The answer would be given, “Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers . . . and served other gods.“29:29 While there are certain secret things that belong to the LORD, especially matters concerning His judgments, Moses reminded the people that their responsibility was clearly revealedto keep the covenant of the Lord. What this is saying is that revelation brings responsibility. Men are accountable to obey, not to sit in judgment on the word of the Lord. This principle can be found many times in the NT also. “To him who knows to do good [revelation] and does not do it [responsibility], to him it is sin” (Jam_4:17).