Deuteronomy – Dynamic, Delightful or Dull? – Part I

I am reposting this three part series on the book of Deuteronomy which I posted back in January, 2021 because I am not feeling well having contracted COVID. Please keep me in your prayers for a speedy recovery.

Right before I gave my heart to Jesus I read the entire Bible. One thing I can vividly remember is that certain books in the Bible were incredibly boring. This was especially true of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Two or three years after I got saved I read Deuteronomy again with a similar experience – it was still boring.

One or two years later (around 1986) I decided to give it another try and this time something very special happened. This fifth book of the Bible began to minister to me like never before and exploded into my mind with action, excitement, wisdom, and sheer joy!

Why this total transformation from dull to dynamic, from boring to bliss, and from avoidance to anticipation? The answer was made abundantly clear to me  through one word – perspective. The first two times I read Deuteronomy I was allowing my flesh to act as the commentary on its meaning. The third time, however, I asked the Holy Spirit to take control and bring this book to life. Well, the Spirit moved and began to open this wonderful book in a whole new way.

Without even knowing it I invoked one of the myriad of special verses from Deuteronomy as my request to God. Dotted throughout God’s word are many special “challenge” verses which God hopes we will take Him up on. One such verse is (Deuteronomy 4:29): “But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” This was my heart’s cry and when I sincerely asked God to reveal Himself through this portion of the Scriptures He did not disappoint me.

When I had finished reading Deuteronomy this third time I stood back and reflected upon what had just happened. All I could say to myself and the Lord was if He could make this book explode with excitement and allow me to see the incredible storehouse of riches and blessings within its pages then I must elevate His word with the highest praises.

This experience was a watershed moment in my Christian walk. From that point on my entire perspective on the Bible was radically changed. I now enter these sacred pages asking God to show me the deep meanings in every verse, and expecting Him to answer. My perspective before was all wrong. I tried to use my mind and flesh to understand things that only the Holy Spirit within me can reveal.  Now I can experientially understand why the psalmist proclaimed: “I rejoice at Thy word, as one who finds great spoil.” (Psalm 119:162).

There is an air of excitement in this last book of the Pentateuch that is simply contagious. Please permit me to act as your tour guide for just a little while, to a most beautiful and scenic port of call.

There are such a wealth of verses in the 34 chapters of Deuteronomy designed to teach, preach, encourage, motivate, and demonstrate what our relationship with our heavenly Father is all about that I just want to throw out a few thoughts and verses to encourage you to study and enjoy this precious book. In today’s devotion we will share one thought and pick up more special nuggets of gold in tomorrow’s devotion.

You are Precious to God

(Deuteronomy 26:18) says: “And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands.” If your self-image is not what it should be then I suggest you begin to mediate on this incredible verse. Can you imagine that God thinks so highly of you that He calls you His treasured possession? The next time Satan tries to make you think inferior thoughts about yourself tell him that God says otherwise and that my God never lies.