Introduction
The book of the Deuteronomy seeks to address unity between God and Israelites. Moses wrote the book to real two aspects. Firstly, the book indicates God’s communication with faithful’s who loved and served Him.[1] This fact is evidenced from the words in chapter four; “Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, so that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.” [2] The call to holiness by Moses also affirms commitment by those who loved and followed God, and rejected other gods worshiped by the communities that held them captive. Secondly, the book of Deuteronomy addresses the wickedness among Israelites and the renewed commitment of a structured way of life through the commandments.[3] The mosaic covenant was made as a matter that unifies God and Israel through respect, veneration, and beneficial utilizing a call to avoid sins and get holy.[4] Therefore, Deuteronomy discusses the previous and present relationship between God and the Israelites in regards to His covenant and the benefits of observing His commandments.
The book of Deuteronomy illustrates Gods instructions to Israelites through Moses. Accordingly, the people had camped on the east of river Jordan, on the plains of Moab around the city of Jericho,[5] In this place, they were given instructions as to recommit and follow the commandment of God. Given the several years of suffering, God delivered a set of laws to follow in the new land they were to conquer. Notably, God promised their ancestors several centuries earlier that He would provide land flowing with milk and honey.[6] Therefore, the book reveals how God fulfills the promise He made to the people of Israel several centuries ago.
Moses Addresses the People of Israel
The significance of the book of Deuteronomy is the address delivered by Moses to Israelites. The restatement of the Ten Commandments demonstrated the call to a renewed commitment with God. The speech of Moses to the people of Israel, “The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, with all those of us alive here today. The Lord spoke to you face to face at the mountain from the midst of the fire,.”[7] The message seeks to rededicate the people to obey and follow the commandments. Secondly, the covenant is renewed directly with them and not through their ancestors as it was previously. Moses illustrates the interpretation of the commandments and call to live a sanctified life in obedience and love of God. Accordingly, He expects a life of holiness passed over to children through a re-affirmation of the precepts.[8] Commitment of children and other heirs of Israel to the commandments form the approach and call to holiness and submission to God in the Mosaic Law.[9] The commitment requires the Israelites to acknowledge the oneness of God and observe the precepts without being swayed by the practices of other communities they interact with. Therefore, the Mosaic Law promulgated on Mount Sinai was a gracious process of God engaging in a covenant of grace to the people. The commandment came with a choice for blessing or curses for people to choose and live with abundant grace in God. Schreiner adds that there is no forgiveness without pouring of blood.[10] Therefore, the illustration of Moses in chapter 12 indicates the life of grace through the forgiveness of sins.
Faithfulness to God is Obedience to the Law
God expects the people of Israel to be faithful to him. He is faithful as described by the words of Moses, “Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His loving-kindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments.”[11] Therefore, just as God is faithful in keeping the promises made to the old patriarchs, the Deuteronomy outlines a similar expectation for the people. For instance, He promises punishment to those who succumb to evil ways beyond the expectations of the law.[12] The Deuteronomy carries four-principle oration communicated by God through Moses, including keeping the law of God, the covenant with the people, blessing and curses, and the ardent reminder to observe the commandments.[13] The four levels of discourses develop a trajectory on which the Israelites ought to manage their livelihoods. The section is epitomized by the passage in chapter 30. “See, I have today set before you life and good, death and evil.16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord, your God, which I am giving you today…” [14] Therefore, faithfulness in a person is defined by observing the law, doing what pertain to avoid the curses, and staying in a state of receipt of blessing.
Deuteronomy provides a promise to gather Israelites scattered across all nations and reunite them in the land of their ancestors. Moses helped Israelites to rebuild their lives after God rescued them from the rule of pharaoh in Egypt.[15] Accordingly, the Lord fulfilled the promise he made to patriarchs about the liberation of Israel. As the bible illustrates in chapter six about the commandments, “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” [16] The passage illustrates a holistic approach to spiritual practices of the Israelites. Thus, God invited the people to acknowledge Him in their daily interactions, such as, social relations, physical development, intellectual and spiritual growth.[17] God has liberated the Israelites and renewed their lives through His covenant with them; hence, He expects that they observe the commandments and teach them to the future generations.
Circumcising the Heart
Identity was a significant goal when Moses communicated to the Israelites. The emphasis of the chosen generation of God is a significant affirmation of the place of Israel in God’s plan. Hence, considering the words of God to Abraham, “this is my covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you,”[18] confirms the physical identity of the Israelites as dependents of Abraham who follow the commandments. However, Paul develops a progressive philosophy of spiritual identity through the circumcision of the heart.[19] In addition, he explains about the physical circumcision for those under the physical law and the divine one to those born of the Spirit of God. Therefore, the identity of the Israelites in developed from the viewpoints of the Abrahamic circumcision as physical beings and the progressive identity in the Deuteronomy as spiritual beings through the circumcision of the heart.
Circumcision is a symbol of dedication and followers of God. Accordingly, Moses addresses to the Israelis; “So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer. For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.”[20] Therefore, the Israelites are expected to fundamentally change beyond the physical purification of the body and achieve inward transformations and turn to God.[21] The mnemonic illustration of the circumcised foreskin and the heart is a divine symbol and physical mark of distinction that exemplifies the unity of body and soul in a covenant with God.[22] Since removing a foreskin is permanent, the circumcision of the heart is equally a radical change of heart is in the grace of God.[23] Hence, the circumcision as a mark of choice to belong to God has progressively changed from during Abrahamic symbol of the foreskin, to the time of Moses and Paul where a radical change of heart is anticipated. Notably, circumcision is not a future activity but a continuous process that entails a change of heart to gain the benefits and blessing revealed in the book of Deuteronomy.
Conclusion
Moses rededicates the people of Israel to God by restating the commandments given on the mountain. As Israelites prepare to cross the river Jordan and enter the Promised Land, obedience to God becomes paramount. Hence, the instructions in Deuteronomy explain the expectation of life God wants them to live. He indicates that the law written in the people’s heart is a symbol and expectations of Israelites way of life. Therefore, God invites Israelites for circumcision of the heart, which goes beyond gender and community to all believers who follow His teachings. Through the sacrifice of animals, people’s commitment to God was renewed. Given that, there is no forgiveness without pouring of blood, Moses exemplifies the life of grace and holiness through sacrifice and acceptance of life of grace through the forgiveness of sins.
Bibliography
Elisha, Kwabena, M., and Henry, M. Tembo. “An Exegetical Study of Deuteronomy 6:4 and its Educational/Missiological Implication In Africa” Journal of AIIAS African Theological Association 6 (2017): 74-84 https://journals.aiias.edu/aata/article/view/370
Liang, Lawrence, JY. “On That Heart-Knotting Feeling: An Outline. Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. (2017): 1-80. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6191&context=etd
Schreiner, Thomas, R. The King in His Beauty. Michigan: Grand Rapids, 2013.
The Holy Bible, New American Standard Version. The Lockman Foundation. 1995. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-American-Standard-Bible-NASB
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