Weekly Bible Study - Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8

30 August 2015
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 

The Book of Deuteronomy means “second law” and depicts a second chance for Israel to be made into God’s image, following the way of God’s commandments. (Forty years of desert had begun to forge Israel as God’s people, but forging a new way of life usually takes more than a generation. Think about how “digital natives” seem instinctively know how to manipulate data processes, while most of the rest of us plod through.) Through a series of speeches, the author of Deuteronomy reiterates and reinterprets the importance of God’s law for living God’s life, preparing a new generation of God’s people to move forward in greater fidelity to the Lord.

The law had a unique place in Israelite history.  It revealed the intimate relationship between God and

his chosen nation. God’s law was a gift, and their actions were to not only show their gratitude for the gift but to help them remain firmly in God’s steadfast love.

In these speeches Moses shows himself to be passionate about ensuring that the law be preserved. As the people prepare to take possession of the land, they are required to make a new resolve to imprint the law upon their hearts. Blessings and prosperity in the new land will depend upon the Israelites’ embracing whole-heartedly God’s commands. The exhortations in Deuteronomy will offer them their “second chance” to come back to God and live faithfully as his chosen people.

But overall, the Hebrew Scriptures (OT) show us that the people failing, time and time again.

But there is ONE who succeeded where all others fail. Christ’s full obedience does what the speeches of Moses could not. By “living in Christ,” “putting on Christ” and living as “the Body of Christ” we are joined to the obedience of Christ. We become obedient by the power of Christ's perfect obedience.

In this way, the defect of human sinfulness is rooted out; it is as though we have received a heart transplant. The transplanted heart is Christ’s, fashioned by a new law, a new covenant of love. God became one of us that he might show us the way, the truth and the life; that we might finally find life through God's second chance.

Co-authored by BJ Daly Horell and Barbara Gawle.

The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, the Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.