Deuteronomy 4:1-14, Renewal or a New Covenant?

This question of whether Deuteronomy is a renewal of what was given at Mt. Sinai or a new covenant given “besides” what was given at Mt. Sinai is important and has some serious ramifications.  The issue of authorship is related to this.  Did Moses write this book, or at least have it written as he dictated it before he died or was it written much later in Israel’s history, perhaps in the time of King Hezekiah, from records passed down through the years?  The theory is that it was written at that time by leaders who were trying to require worship at one place (the temple in Jerusalem) rather than worship permitted in many cities. 

If you wonder what the connection is, let me share a few things about Deuteronomy that are different than what was given at Sinai.

·       Deut. 12 emphasizes a central place of worship, a location that God would select.

·       Deut. 17 gives principles by which a king should live, a subject not addressed at Sinai.  It included instructions that each king would write for himself a copy of this law in a book.

·       Deuteronomy places a stronger emphasis on Israel’s treasured position.  Deut. 4:8-9; 7:6; 14:1; 26:18-19; 28:1,9-10 are passages that speak this way.  In addition, there are somewhat specific descriptions of the land they are about to take as theirs (1:7-8; 7:1; 8:7-9; 11:10-12,24).

·       Deuteronomy lays a stronger foundation for loving God and teaching the generations to come.  In addition, there is a stronger emphasis on refraining from idolatry, especially in light of the nations that were currently in the land.  These things were subjects at Mt. Sinai, and there was even the “Golden Calf” incident.  But Deuteronomy places an emphasis at the beginning and end of the book.

·       Furthermore, there is no restating the regulations for sacrifices and feasts and other worship activities.  Also, the cleansing issues (leprosy, bodily discharges, etc.) are absent from Deuteronomy. 

To some degree these differences can be attributed to the fact that they were going to enter the land, they would be spread out (rather than encamped around the tabernacle) and concerned about dwelling as one nation within boundaries (rather than the more nomadic wilderness lifestyle).  To me, it is very wise for God to renew the covenant at this point, with the current generation of which only two men are more than sixty years old (Caleb and Joshua). 

Some have called Deuteronomy the “Constitution of Israel.”  It is that kind of document in that it was to be read regularly by the King (17:18-20) and by the nation (they were accountable for obeying it’s contents (30:9-10). 

Therefore, concerning the authorship and time of writing of Deuteronomy, we have three truths from the book itself to guide us.

·       Deuteronomy contains the words which Moses spoke to all Israel (Dt. 1:1).

·       Moses spoke these words in the plain across the Jordan from Jericho (Dt. 1:1).

·       And from that day forward, the people were accountable for obedience to the covenant made at Mt. Sinai (Dt. 5:2-3) and to the entirety of Moses’ words that comprise Deuteronomy.