In the latter part of Deuteronomy, Yahweh continues to give principles regulating the way the people of Israel are to live in relation to Him, to the nations around them, and to each other. He continues to give prohibitions against idolatry and how to deal with those whom would lead them toward idolatry. He provides laws for the people in how they are to interact with one another. Human life is to be valued above all. The marriage relationship is second only to human life. Personal property is also to be respected, but in relation to these other two values. God demands the tithe of ten percent and the firstborns of Israel, in part to provide for the Levites and the poor. He elevates and provides for women. All of this is to maintain the purity and holiness of the covenant people of Israel so that the Holy God of Israel can dwell among them. Of particular note is chapter 28, wherein God sets forth fourteen verses of blessing toward Israel for their faithfulness, followed by fifty-four verses of curses towards Israel should they fail to keep the covenant. Yet even when they fail, Yahweh has a provision for their return to the land in chapter thirty. The whole can be summarized by the emphasis in chapter thirty to choose God to choose life. Yet when the people fail to uphold God’s commands, Moses gives them a song to remember why everything has gone awry; it is because of their faithlessness toward God. The book concludes with Joshua replacing Moses as the instrument God will use to lead Israel and Moses ascending the mountain to die.

God calls His people to live holy in the land. He instructs them in how to live with God, how to live with the nations around them, and how to live with one another. He teaches them to value God above all. They are to value human life regardless of the person’s status. They are to value the marital relationship second only to the value of human life. Personal property is also important, but lesser in relation to the first two. God wants the people of Israel to give ten percent of what they own to God, which will be used to help provide for the poor. God loves Israel and wants to live with them, but they must live worthy of Him. Yet God knows they will fail in this and tells Israel what the punishment will be for their failure. Even in their failure, God will bring them back to Him.

It is difficult to live a life of integrity. God knows and sees all my sin, even when nobody else sees it. As a minister of His gospel, I need to walk worthy of the calling He has placed on my life. When I fail to do so, I tend to be the last to forgive it. God does forgive and He calls me to return to Him. I can have victory in Jesus to live a life of holiness.