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Covenant Aspects to Leviticus & Deuteronomy
Ray Sutton in That You May Prosper claims the following: “So, That You May Prosper has two parts: covenant and dominion. My primary purpose in the ‘covenant’ section is to define the covenant. The Book of Deuteronomy is a model, a place where all of its parts can clearly be seen. Deuteronomy IS to the covenant what Romans is to systematic theology. But how do we know Deuteronomy is a covenant? Moses says, “He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments [Words]” (Deut. 4:13).
Deuteronomy is the second giving of the Ten Commandments, a “new” covenant so to speak. Moses says of the book as a whole, “Keep the words of this covenant to do them, that you may prosper in all that you do” (Deut. 29:9). Deuteronomy is definitely a covenant document.” Sutton, pp. 14-5. Deuteronomy 28:1 states just the beginning of the list of blessing God gives for the obedient. “And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: . . . ” Dt. 28:1. Most of the chapter is devoted to what happens to those who are unfaithful. It’s not pretty.
Deuteronomy’s sanctions, the fourth point of the covenant, are positive and negative. Additionally, this is the second telling of the law to the children of the generation that left Egypt. Although that generation failed, God gave the children of the covenant the chance to enter the promises. So, sanctions and promises continue into the next generations. “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them [graven images or physical parts of the universe], nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” Exd 20:5-6. Will a society be punished pursuant to these promises? Will it survive if it disobeys God?