The book of Deuteronomy is two things: a renewal of the covenant between God and his people, and Moses’ farewell. Except for a brief introduction and a postscript, all of it is in Moses’ own voice, as he summons the people to give them a history lesson–all the amazing things their God has done over the last 40 years.
Now they stand on the brink of a new chapter in their saga. Looking over Jordan, they see the promised land.
It’s time for a second covenant ceremony, and a reminder of what a covenant is. The notion of a solemn agreement between a king and his underlings wouldn’t have been foreign to the people; it’s how things were done back then. But God adds an element they might not have been expecting, an angle foreign to covenants at the time. Any guesses?
Click here for the printable download, with scripture passages, discussion questions and activities:
(This is a continuation of a series of posts about the “whole story” of the Bible. I plan to run one every week, on Tuesdays, with a printable PDF. The printable includes a brief 2-3 paragraph introduction, Bible passages to read, a key verse, 5-7 thought/discussion questions, and 2-3 activities for the kids. Here’s the Overview of the entire Bible series.)
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