Colleyville Presbyterian Church - Adult Sunday School

Overview of the Old Testament: Numbers

February 21, 2016

Summary: Deuteronomy is the book of the heart1 (key verses are Dt. 6:4-6). In it Moses speaks to the
people of Israel, telling them their history of rebellion, reminding them of Gods good intention and
law, and setting before them blessings and curses all while exhorting them to love God from their
hearts, and speaking prophetically of a time in the future when God will circumcise his peoples
hearts so they will do what he commands.

! I. Moses Exhorts Israel to Love the Lord from the Heart (ch. 1-11)

! ! a. Reminds Israel of their history of rebellion despite Gods love: ch. 1-3 (see esp.
! ! ! 1:29-33)

b. Calls Israel to Covenant Faithfulness from the Heart: ch. 4-11

! ! ! Key chapters: 5 (Ten Commandments), 6 (Shema), 7 (Gods covenant-keeping
! ! ! character), 10 (Circumcise your heart)
!
! II. Moses Exhorts Israel to Love the Lord by Keeping the Law (ch. 12-26)
! !
! ! Key chapters: 17 (Laws for Israels King), 26 (Offering of Firstfruits)
!
! III. Moses Sets Before and Promises Israel Blessings and Curses (ch. 27-34)
! !
! ! Key chapters: 27 (Repetition of Laws Core), 28 (Blessings and Curses), 30 (Moses
! ! Speaks Prophetically of Future Curses and Future Blessing - a Circumcised Heart), 31
! ! (Joshua), 34 (Death of Moses)

! ! Deuteronomy Key Theme: Through Moses, God calls his people to love and obey him from the
! ! heart, and promises that one day they will do so.

! ! Deuteronomys emphasis on the heart is picked up throughout the rest of scriptures,

! ! especially Psalms, Proverbs, the Prophets (Jer 31, Ez 36) and the teaching of Jesus
! ! ! (Mk 7:14-23, Matt. 5:28, 22:37) and Paul (Rom. 10:5-10).

! ! Is Deuteronomy a book of the Law or of the Prophets? I would argue that it is both
! ! and that it is newly applicable to each generation of Gods people.

1The word heart appears in Deuteronomy 43x. The only Old Testament books which use this word more frequently are
Psalms and Proverbs.