Introduction to Deuteronomy and the Goodness of God in Giving the Land

Dr. Noell opens the series by introducing the book of Deuteronomy as a series of discourses delivered by Moses on the plains of Moab to a new generation about to enter the promised land. He defends Mosaic authorship against the higher-critical Josianic dating, sketches the suzerain-treaty parallels popularized by Meredith Kline, and argues for three abiding uses of the law for New Testament believers — thankfulness for Christ's righteousness, dependence on the Spirit for sanctification, and instruction in God's perfect will. The historical prologue then begins with God's command to possess the land sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and Moses' appointment of impartial, courageous judges to share the burden of governing a people God had multiplied as the stars of heaven.