Moses Speaks to the Church (Phillip Camp)

Last updated on: August 10, 2015 at 4:30 am by Scot McKnight

Moses Speaks to the Church (Phillip Camp) 2015-08-09T05:20:53-05:00 Scot McKnight

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This series on Deuteronomy is by my friend and professor at Lipscomb University’s Hazelip School of Theology, Phillip Camp. We need more not less Old Testament in the church today. Why? Read on.

Phillip Camp is an Associate Professor of Bible in Lipscomb University’s Hazelip School of Theology and in the College of Bible of Ministry. His latest book is Living as the Community of God: Moses Speaks to the Church in Deuteronomy (CrossLink, 2014).

Moses Speaks to the Church in Deuteronomy: Why Bother with Deuteronomy?

Deuteronomy is one of my favorite books of the Bible. Whatever look you have on your face after reading that, I am used to it. Deuteronomy and I are accustomed to taking our seat over in the corner while others hang out at the cool table with Genesis, Psalms, the Gospels, Romans and Philippians. I get it. This book of laws and curses, or so the popular perception goes, often seems boring and irrelevant. But there is more here than meets the eye. So I’ve made it something of a mission to get people to at least look over Deuteronomy’s way and see that a closer look reveals a book that has a lot to say today’s Christian. Let me suggest a few ways that this is the case.

First, Deuteronomy shows what it means to be in a faithful relationship with God, and invites us into such a relationship. It is not simply a matter of keeping a bunch of rules, despite the caricatured view of the Law many of us have had. It teaches us about living in loyal trusting relationship with God so that we may enjoy his presence and blessings and so that we may fulfill his purposes. It calls us away from our idols and toward the God who wants life—true life—for his people (Deut 6:2; 30:15, 19-20; 32:47).

Second, Deuteronomy highlights the grace of God for his people and for all people. I will explore this point further in a later post. Suffice it for now to say that Deuteronomy anticipates the gospel, grace permeates this book. God blesses and cares for his people though they (we!) have not earned it and do not deserve it (see Deut 9-10). He does for them what they cannot do for themselves.

Third, Deuteronomy teaches a great deal about the nature of God. In addition God’s grace, Deuteronomy reveals God’s love, justice, righteousness, and faithfulness. Furthermore, it calls Israel to imitate the character of God. As God loves and cares for the alien, so should God’s people (Deut 10:17-19). As God provided rest for his people, so his people should provide rest for others. As God provides justice, so the whole community is called to ensure justice (Deut 24:17-18)

Fourth, Deuteronomy shows the nature of community life for God’s people. Love of God leads to love of neighbor, and Deuteronomy gives examples of what that looks like in Israel’s context. While the particular manifestations may differ in our culture, an ethical impulse is there that continues to speak into our situation. One’s eyes and actions are turned from self toward the wellbeing of others. Priorities are realigned from what we typically experience. God is the priority of the community, and all else flows from that.

Fifth, Deuteronomy reveals the missional purpose of the people of God, their role in his plan. God does not choose Israel as his holy people and treasured possession for their sake alone. They receive life and blessing from God, to be sure. However, their election also serves to bear witness to the world around them about this God of blessing and life. The nations should see something distinctive in God’s people as they live out God’s torah (instruction), which in turn leads to questions about this wisdom and then points ultimately toward their God (see 4:6-8).

Sixth, Deuteronomy teaches us a great deal about the nature and spirit of worship. While the particulars of our worship will differ, Deuteronomy gives us insight into what should characterize our community worship. God is placed squarely at the center of worship, and it is God who invites the community and sets the terms for the community to come into the divine presence. It shows worship that is driven by the story of God with God’s people. It also reveals the joyful and inclusive nature of worship. (See Deut 16:13-15)

Seventh, Deuteronomy has a lot to say about keeping the faith alive in the community and passing it on to the next generation. I will discuss this more in later post.

Eighth, Deuteronomy is one of the most influential books on the rest of the Bible. The basic theologies of (at the least) Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, and Jeremiah are rooted in Deuteronomy, and it is one of the three most cited Old Testament books in the New Testament. Note also, that when Jesus battles Satan in the wilderness temptations, all Jesus’ responses come from Deuteronomy! (Matt 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13; cf. Deut 8:3; 6:13, 16).

Ninth, Deuteronomy is Christian Scripture. According to Paul, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17). If the edges of the pages of Deuteronomy still have the gold gilding in your Bible, it’s time to dig into this part of God’s word.

Tenth, Deuteronomy poses the choices that every generation of God’s people must face: Will you trust God and move forward in faith or not? Deuteronomy presents the words of Moses to a new generation of Israelites on the border of the promise land as they anticipate inheriting the promises of God. Their parents feared and so failed to trust God, and they did not inherit the promises. Now, 40 years later, the new generation must choose whether or not they will trust God and be faithful to their covenant with him that they may inherit the promises. Likewise, each subsequent generation of God’s people face this choice as they (we) stand on the border, anticipating receiving promises of God and called into his mission. Moses encourages them and us to choose blessing and life.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

August 10, 2015

The Dones and the Sunday Morning Service Culture

Next Post

August 10, 2015 Shedding Complementarianism (by Elizabeth K. Casey)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Acts of the Apostles Adam Advent Anabaptism Angels Anglican Apologetics Atonement Baptism BCP Prayers Bible Biblical Studies Birds Blogging Bloglossary Bonhoeffer Books Calvinism Christianity Church Church History Coffee Colossians Commentary Recs Conversion Creation Creeds Culture Death Ecclesiastes Economics Education Embracing Grace Emergent Emerging Movement Eschatology Essays Ethics Eucharist Evangelicalism Family Fasting Fathers Fellowship of Differents Footsteps Tour Fun and Whimsical Gospel Grace Happiness Heaven Hell Holy Spirit Irenaeus James Jesus Jesus Creed Job Justification Kingdom of God Law Lectures Lent Liberalism Love and Marriage Mabanteneni Manhood Mary Miracles Missio Alliance MissioLife Missional Missional Jesus Movies and Film New Perspective Northern Seminary OneLife Origins Project Orthodox Parables Pastor's Spouse Pastoring and Leading Pastoring and Preaching Patristics Paul Paul-John Tour Pharisees Pietism Political Theology Prayer and Formation Preaching Problems for Faith Psalm 119 Psalms Public Issues Purgatory Religions Resurrection Revelation Romans Rule of JCreed Science and Faith Sermon on the Mount Sports Ten Commandments Theology Third Way Top Ten Lists Translations Uncategorized Universalism University Ministry Way Out Weekly Meanderings Wisdom Women and Ministry Work Worship Writing & Blogging Youth Ministry

Select a Month July 2021 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 0000

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Peter" mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Rock Mercy Faithful Light