Seder 141: Deuteronomy 9---Not Because of Righteousness

Commentator Daniel Block identifies Deuteronomy 9:1-24 as a "disputation speech."  This genre includes 

1. An introduction.
2. Quotation of a popular saying.
3. A dispute negating the hypothesis posed by the popular saying.
4. Presentation of a counter thesis offering an alternative interpretation.

In this instance, Moses begins by stating that the Israelites will cross the Jordan and conquer the land of Canaan.  The Canaanites are more powerful than the Israelites, humanly speaking, but that will not turn out to be relevant.  The ruler of the universe will give Israel the victory (verses 1-3).

Here the "popular saying" is that Israel will conquer the land because of its own moral superiority (v 4).  The counter thesis is that God will be driving out the Canaanites because of their wickedness (v 5).  The Israelites, in fact, have tended to be stubborn and rebellious (v 6).  

Moses dismantles the hypothesis by recalling events at Mt. Horeb during the first year of the Exodus.  While Moses was receiving instruction from God and neither eating nor drinking for 40 days, the people at the foot of the mountain were partying after constructing a golden calf to replace Moses.    

Moses then had to return to the Israelite camp to deal with the situation, as previously recorded in Exodus 32.  Here Moses adds a few details not mentioned in Exodus 32.  One is that his period of intercession for the Israelites required an additional 40 days.  Another is (v 18).  Another is that Aaron's life was in danger, so that part of Moses' intercessory task was to pray for mercy for Aaron (v 20).  

Themes highlighted by Deuteronomy 9 include 

• the power of prayer.
• the importance of God's reputation, to which Moses appealed in his intercession.
• divine grace.
• wretchedness of the human heart.  

In a sermon at Church of the Messiah on April 15, 2023, Kyle Kettering examined the theme of "crossing over".  He noted that a "Hebrew" is literally one who crosses over.  Abram, the first Hebrew (Gen 14:13), crossed from polytheism to faith in the one true God.  As children of Abraham, we leave our old lives behind and likewise cross over into God's kingdom.