deuteronomy 9 and 10

Read Deuteronomy 9 and 10 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions for today’s chapters are:

Deu 9:1-29 {p} Israel cannot enter the Land by self- righteousness
Deu 10:1-11 {p} Israel enters the Land by the mediator of the covenant
Deu 10:12-11:9 {s} Fear, love and obey YHVH always for our good

So far in Deuteronomy, each paragraph can form its own chiastic structure. This holds true today as well:

Deu 9:1-29 {p}
1a) Deu 9:1-2, Israel to dispossess nations;

1b) Deu 9:3, It is YHVH who destroys the nations before Israel;

1c) Deu 9:4-5a, Israel not going in because of her own righteousness;

central axis) Deu 9:5b, “… that He may fulfill the word which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;”

2c) Deu 9:6-24, Israel’s rebellions against the LORD;

2b) Deu 9:25, Moses: Do not destroy Your people;

2a) Deu 9:26-29 {p} Moses: Do not dispossess Israel Your inheritance.

Notice that the repeated theme of the paragraph, is that the people are not entering the land because of their righteousness. Moses makes that point ad nauseum in this chapter! But as the central axis shows, the people are entering in, because of God’s righteousness — His own obedience to His word which He swore! Listen, we sometimes hear it said that Moses preached salvation by works of the Law, while Jesus preached salvation by grace through faith. I cannot help but think that the people who say that have not read Deu 9! Moses in fact goes out of his way to emphasize that Israel is not inheriting their promise because of their own works and their own self- righteousness!

The next chiastic structure:

Deu 10:1-11 {p}
1a) Deu 10:1-4, Two tablets of stone + up on the mountain + Ten Commandments as at the first;

1b) Deu 10:5, Moses placed the tablets put into the ark, just as the Lord commanded him.

1c) Deu 10:6a, Now the children of Israel journeyed from the wells of Bene Jaakan to Moserah,

central axis) Deu 10:6b, Where Aaron died, and where he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered as priest in his stead.

2c) Deu 10:7, From there they journeyed to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of rivers of water.

2b) Deu 10:8-9, Levi bears the ark of the covenant, for the Lord is his inheritance, just as the Lord promised him;

2a) Deu 10:10-11 {p} As at the first, Moses on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

The central axis of the chiastic structure is unusual: a sentence fragment about Aaron and Eleazar, ministering as priests. This brief fragment states Death of the High Priest, and the Son ministering as High Priest. That is a prophecy of Messiah Yeshua! He is our High Priest, and His death ratifies the covenant in His blood. He is also the Son, ministering as High Priest. This central axis is furthermore wrapped in the ark of the covenant, which is mercy covering over the Law – a clear prophecy of the gospel of grace by faith!

The final paragraph, a weak paragraph, I have not been able to find the chiastic structure that it forms by itself. But please notice why obedience to the LORD’s commandments is so vital for His people! Is it so that we may gain life for our spirit, eternal life in the next life by works of the Law, or is it so that we may gain life for the body, all that pertains to life, well- being, and happiness, in this life? It is a lie that Moses preaches a gospel of salvation by works. We can clearly see from the Scripture itself, that Moses preaches the same, single, unchanging gospel that is preached from Genesis to Revelation. And that our obedience to God adds nothing to Him, but opens up a window of blessing over our lives, for life on this side of heaven!