Read Deuteronomy 34
Questions from the Scripture text: Who went up, from where, to where, to the top of where, across from where (Deuteronomy 34:1)? Who showed him what (Deuteronomy 34:1-3)? Who spoke to him (Deuteronomy 34:4)? How did He describe it? What has He caused Moses to do? What will Moses not do? What does Deuteronomy 34:5 call Moses? What did he do? Where? According to what? What did God then do to him (Deuteronomy 34:6)? Where? What doesn’t anyone know? How old was he (Deuteronomy 34:7)? But what had not happened? How did the children of Israel respond (Deuteronomy 34:8)? For how long? Who was full of what (Deuteronomy 34:9)? How had this happened? What did Israel do with him? In accordance with what? What has not happened since then (Deuteronomy 34:10, cf. Deuteronomy 18:15–18)? What was unique about Moses? How had YHWH testified to this uniqueness (Deuteronomy 34:11-12)?
How does Deuteronomy end? Deuteronomy 34 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twelve verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Deuteronomy ends, looking forward to Christ.
The book ends with amazement at the effectiveness and honor that the Lord had given to Moses.
Though, he is not permitted to enter the land (Deuteronomy 34:4b), he has been given the privilege of being the one through whom all this land (Deuteronomy 34:1-3) is given in fulfillment of God’s covenant promise (Deuteronomy 34:4a).
Moses gets to see the land, then he dies—not of old age or diminished power (Deuteronomy 34:7b), but according to the decree of God. God Himself buries him (Deuteronomy 34:6—can there be a stronger commendation of Christian burial?). YHWH was (is!) his face-to-face friend (Deuteronomy 34:10b).
But the main thrust of the passage is looking forward. This is true in a small sense with Joshua. He has been ordained to succeed Moses (Deuteronomy 34:9, cf. Numbers 27:18–23; Deuteronomy 31:1–8, Deuteronomy 31:14, Deuteronomy 31:23), and indeed the Lord uses him to lead Israel into the land, take possession of it, and allot it to the tribes.
Yet, the big sense in which the passage looks forward is that it is still looking forward to the “prophet like Moses” (Deuteronomy 34:10a, cf. Deuteronomy 18:15–18).
YHWH knew Moses face to face (v10b), but Jesus is the One Who faces God from all eternity (cf. John 1:2, more literally translated), and Who is the face of God to us (cf. John 14:8–9, 2 Corinthians 4:5–6).
YHWH used Moses to redeem by great signs and wonders (Deuteronomy 34:11), but Jesus came working many mightier signs (cf. John 7:31), and is Himself the great sign, as the resurrected One (cf. Matthew 12:39–40; Luke 11:30).
YHWH used Moses to impress upon Israel the awe of God (Deuteronomy 34:12). But it is through Jesus Himself that men are brought by grace into the fear of the Lord, and fully know Him (cf. John 1:17–18).
Deuteronomy concludes, straining forward to Christ, teaching us to rejoice in Him in Whom we know the Lord Himself, in Him Who has redeemed us by signs and wonders, in Him Who brings us into true fear of the Lord. We should come away from Deuteronomy longing for Him. This is how we should come away from all of Scripture.
How has the Lord given you to know Him? To serve Him? To fear Him? Who is the Leader of your church? How does He lead it?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for giving Moses to Your people of old, and then Joshua after him. But thank You, far more, for giving to us Christ to be our Prophet, Priest, and King. Forgive us for taking for granted how great is our privilege to be in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. And, forgive us for not being more amazed at Him Himself. Forgive us, for His sake, we ask. And, give us to know You in Him, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP98 “O Sing a New Song” or TPH266 “Thou Art the Way”
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