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These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 1:1, ESV).
Deuteronomy means “second chance.”
The entire “Book of Second Chance” (Deuteronomy) can be considered a pep talk to a new generation of Israelites.
The children who left Egypt, having witnessed their parents’ rebellion against God and who did not enter the Promised Land, see their parents perish in the wilderness during the previous 40 years, are now on the east side of the Jordan River, preparing… finally… to enter the Promised Land.
Moses, because of his indiscretions, won’t be entering the Promised Land either. But he has been assigned the task of preparing the new Israelites to enter, challenging them to follow God’s Covenant (a second time, as their parents failed), and finally raising Joshua as their new leader.
Admittedly, a lot to accomplish. It most likely took Moses a couple of months, but the OG (me) will get it done for you in the next 350 words.
First, Moses reminded them of the Israelites’ past failures. . .
Your parents said, “We can’t go into the Promised Land because the people there are greater and taller than we are.” And I said, “The Lord your God will go before you and fight for you. . . Yet you did not believe me or the Lord, murmuring in your tents against God’s plans. And the Lord heard your words and was angered, and he swore, ‘Not one of these men shall see the good land that I swore to give to your fathers’” (Deuteronomy 1:1-40, OGV Abbreviated*).
Second, Moses spends a significant portion of Deuteronomy reading the Ten Commandments, reminding them of laws about worship, purity, against idolatry, and encouraging them to walk in covenant with the living God.
Then Moses says. . .
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, 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 (Deuteronomy 6:4-7, ESV).
It’s significant that the motive for all obedience to God is love. Of the 613 laws in the Old Testament, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:4-5 when asked about the greatest commandment (Mark 12:28-30).
Third, Joshua. . .
Moses said to the Israelites, “I am 120 years old today. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not go over the Jordan.’ The Lord Himself will go with you.” Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers, and you shall put them in possession of it” (Deuteronomy 31:1-8, OGV Abbreviated*)
That’s it. Moses’ ministry is complete, and it’s time for him to enter glory. But one final exhortation to the Israelites (and to us). . .
I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days (Deuteronomy 30:19-20a, ESV).
We are born again! Let’s take advantage of our second chance!
*OGV or Old Guy Version. OGV Abbreviated means multiple verses condensed.