Deuteronomy 3-4; Psalm 40:11-17

Deuteronomy 3 (Continuation of Moses' recap)
1-22 Defeat of King Og of Bashan and others

• Left no survivors, but took livestock and plunder (including the king's iron bed - 9 cubits (13.5 feet) long and 4 cubits (6 feet) wide
• Territory given to Reubenites, Gadites, and half tribe of Manasseh, but they were required to help other tribes fight in Canaan
  
• God to Joshua: You have seen what I did to Sihon and Og. I will do the same to all the Canaanite kingdoms. "Do not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you."

23-29 Moses Views Canaan from Pisgah

• Moses entreats God to let him cross over the Jordan
• But God would not heed him, "angry with me on your account," saying "Enough of you! Never speak to me of this matter again!"
  
• And more: Go to the top of Mt. Pisgah and look around in all directions. Encourage Joshua and strengthen him.
• To my mind -- and I'm sure to others -- this is such a harsh punishment for Moses, after all he did for God's people and on God's behalf. Maybe it emphasizes the higher standard at which God holds his leaders, a principle that is repeated in James 3:1 - "Let not many of you become teachers, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment."

Deuteronomy 4
1-40 Moses Commands Obedience

• Do not add to or take away from what I command
• Remember the Baal of Peor - what God does to idolaters
• Obedience will show your wisdom and discernment
• Remember God's presence at the Mount at Horeb
• Remember, he had no form -- don't make idols or worship the heavenly hosts
• I will die before we enter Jordan, but you will cross.
  
• Remember God's covenant, for "the LORD your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God."
• Even though you will leave God to worship idols, when you are scattered you will seek him again, and you will return to him, and he will show you mercy.
• Think about it -- is there any other God like him -- who shows the power he has shown?
• "Keep his statutes...for your own well-being and that of your descendants...."
• True to his nature, Moses is concerned for the welfare of the Israelites, in spite of his own disappointment. Also, in this speech he repeats his warning against idol worship at least 3 times, knowing that will be their tendency.
  

41-43 - Cities of Refuge East of the Jordan - for Reubenites, Gadites, and Manassites

44-49 - Introduction to Laws to Follow in Chapter 5

Psalm 40:11-17
16 - "May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, 'Great is the LORD!'"