Chapter 28 - The Deuteronomic Reform

Micah and the Book of Deuteronomy

Micah and Isaiah contemporaries. Micah from the country and Isaiah from the city.

The evil is in the cities: Samaria was responsible for the fall of Israel and Jerusalem is responsible for the sin of Judah.

Micah could be talking about the people of Wall Street: big business USA.

to do justice, to love kindness, to walk humbly with your God... sounds so simple.

Chapters 12-26 - archaeological discovery? The Book of the Law. It speaks to current conditions.

The speaking of an oracle versus the written word. The Lord was in the moment and now said to be in the written words. "Shattering significance"

Passover - ceased to be observed. Hard to imagine this. Passover is reestablished.

Book of Deuteronomy:
1. introduction 1-11
2. Deut. Code 12-26
3. appendix 27-30
4. continuation of the story of Israelite's march to Canaan 31-34

Probably from the north (displaced Israelites) into Judah. Probably based on older material.

Deuteronomy, "the gospel of the Old Testament" - often quoted in the New Testament.

Moses is speaking to the people of today: the covenant is not an event long past but a present relationship.

Sabbath: because of creation or because of redemption? Judaism becomes a religion in which social justice, equity, and decency occupy a central position (except when dealing with Palestinians in their own country)

6:4-5 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד - Shema Yisra'el YHWH Eloheinu YHWH Echad

The Gospel of Mark 12:29 mentions that Jesus considered the Shema the beginning exhortation of the first of his two greatest commandments: "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one." (NIV).

Necessity for purity: Israel must not be contaminated with the religions of other lands. Israel is commanded to destroy utterly the nations she finds in the land of Canaan (modern Israel is doing its best to carry this out - how sad)

Older law is stated in its original form and then amended to fit the new Deut. scheme.

The monarchy in ancient Israel was 'constitutional' where the Torah was the constitution and God was the King of Kings.

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach... No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.