Deuteronomy 6 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Deuteronomy 6 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Moses’ speech, recorded in the opening chapters of Deuteronomy, occurred immediately following the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.  

• The Israelites were in the wilderness from approximately 1490-1450 B.C.

• The Book of Deuteronomy opens on the 1st day of the 11th month in the 40th year (Deu 1:3) following the Israelites departure from Egypt (approximately 1450 B.C.).

CHARACTERS:

• Israelites (Hebrews) – The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God granted them freedom after several hundred years in slavery in Egypt. Leading up to the book of Deuteronomy, the Israelites had spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness as they made their way to Canaan, the land God promised to give them as a home.

• Moses – Moses was selected by God to lead the Israelites to Canaan. God spoke directly to Moses and Moses communicated God’s words and laws to the people.    

WHERE:

• Deuteronomy 1:5 tells us Moses spoke the words recorded in Deuteronomy while in Moab, probably on the plains of Moab near Pisgah (Numbers 22:1).

OUTLINE:

• GOD’S COVENANT WITH ISRAEL (6:1-19):

  • Moses again reminded the Israelites of God’s covenant with them. If they would obey God’s commands, He would bless them, allow them to live in Canaan, and multiply them.

  • Moses insisted the Israelites teach God’s laws to their children so they would not be forgotten, and the blessings lost in future generations.

  • The people were to love God with all their heart, soul, and might.

  • The covenant with God was to be internalized by every Israelites. They were to live as if God’s laws were always on their hearts and before their eyes.

  • Moses warned the people not to forget God when they found homes in Canaan and lived off the blessed land.

  • While in Canaan they were not to worship the false gods of other nations.

  • They were instructed to run all the current inhabitants of Canaan out of the land before they made homes there. This would prevent pagan nations from enticing Israel to worship idols.

• TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ISRAELITES (6:20-25):

  • When the Israelite children came to their parents in Canaan and asked them why they insisted on keeping the “testimonies and the statutes and the rules” of God, Moses gave the parents the appropriate response.

  • They were to recount the story of the Exodus to their children and tell them how God saved them from slavery and kept His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give them the land of Canaan as a home. 

  • It was for this reason they worshipped God and obeyed His commands.

APPLICATION:

• This chapter can seem somewhat repetitive of the last few chapters, but the reason is because Moses wanted to reemphasize these instructions to the Israelites.

• We find out why as we go through the rest of the Old Testament.

• The children of Israel were constantly forgetting God’s law when their lives were good, they repeatedly neglected to teach their children about their covenant with God, and they were constantly getting mixed up in idolatry and the immoralities that accompanied it.

• As you read through the Old and New Testament, take note of the commands and warnings that are repeated several times.

• God probably repeated them because they guide us away from common sins that are repeated generation after generation.