Bible Reading Plan: Deuteronomy
If you had to guess which books mention love the most in the Old Testament, Deuteronomy probably wouldn’t make the list. But aside from Psalms, it’s the clear winner. Deuteronomy is a love letter from God to His people, given through the prophet Moses. It reminds the people who God is and how they should live in light of who He is. And even though the laws given in Deuteronomy are ancient, they still hold wisdom for us today—thousands of years later. So starting Sept. 9, join us as we dive into Deuteronomy!
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WEEK ONE
Key Thought/Summary
Deuteronomy is a story from the border of the Promised Land, and the curtain opens on Moses as he gives his final instructions to a generation of Israelites born in the wilderness. For forty years, Israel has wandered because of the previous generation’s rebellion against God. As he tries to prepare them to enter the land, Moses begins by looking back and recounting the failures of their forebears, who shrank back in fear and doubt, and urges them not to repeat their mistakes! God has proven his faithfulness to Israel with every step, and this new generation has a choice to make: will they trust him?
WEEK TWO
Key Thought/Summary
As Moses delivers his final address to his people, he is keenly aware of the challenges and temptations of idolatry that await them in Canaan. He reminds them of their sacred calling from God at Mt. Sinai—to be a ‘kingdom of priests and a holy nation’—and urges them to reflect God’s character to the world through their obedience to his commands. Determined to stir up covenant faithfulness and send them off with God’s words on their hearts and minds, Moses teaches Israel—and us—that following God’s Law isn’t about earning His favor, but about embracing His invitation to true, abundant life.
WEEK THREE
Key Thought/Summary
Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. You might recognize this as the first and greatest commandment given to us by Jesus, but before him, Moses first declared these famous words, known as the “Shema.” It became an important daily prayer in Judaism, passed down through generations. At its core, the Shema is a call to listen, obey, and remember who God truly is. Moses is about to show Israel what it looks like to love God with their whole lives—from their businesses to their justice system and their family lives. As you read, consider what it looks like for you to love God with your whole heart, soul, and strength.
WEEK FOUR
Key Thought/Summary
God’s faithfulness to His people is not based on their merit but on His committed love and grace. This is true for us now, and it was true for Israel then. Israel did not earn the Promised Land through their righteousness; it was a gift rooted in God’s loyalty and His mission for them. Moses underscores the truth that the Promised Land is an opportunity to establish a kingdom unlike any other where God’s truth, justice, and mercy reign. But to fully embrace this calling, Israel must confront their heart problem, shedding their stubbornness to become the covenant partners God earnestly desires.
WEEK FIVE
Key Thought/Summary
We’re now in the heart of Deuteronomy, where Moses gives Israel the law…again. But this time, he’s refreshing the law code for life in the Promised Land. No longer nomads wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites need to know what it looks like to love God and others as they build their new nation! This is more than just a list of do’s and don’ts. It’s about being shaped and formed into wise and understanding people who reflect God’s character. This means that this ancient law is still relevant to us today. May we meditate on it and let it shape our worldview, forming us into wise and understanding people, too.
WEEK SIX
Key Thought/Summary
In the beginning, God created humanity with inherent value as His image-bearers. Centuries later, as Israel enters the Promised Land, God weaves this foundational truth into their laws. Generosity and mercy are essential to their identity, as God shapes them into a society where the poor and marginalized can find a place of dignity. Leaders—whether they be judges, priests, prophets, or kings—are bound to God’s law and called to serve with integrity and humility. As we consider Israel’s calling, consider how we can embody God’s generosity and justice in our own lives. Are we actively creating spaces where anyone can find a place at the table?
WEEK SEVEN
Key Thought/Summary
Seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. The prophet Micah declares that this is what is good in God’s eyes, and in Deuteronomy, Moses outlines specific laws to help Israel embody these values in the Promised Land. The world of the Ancient Near East was much harsher than our own, but if we choose curiosity over judgment as we read, we will find God creating the humane within the inhumane. He consistently draws near to protect the vulnerable and hold wrongdoers accountable, and we, too, are called to reflect His heart in our cultural context. As you read, consider what it means to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly today.
WEEK EIGHT
Key Thought/Summary
As Moses concludes this central section of laws, he reminds Israel of the importance of humility and calls them to put the interests of others before their own. Husbands must honor their marital commitments, traders must play fair with their prices, and family members must serve one another when tragedies strike. But above all, they must remain humble before God. In case they had forgotten, the blessings of the Promised Land are a gift! The law ends with an annual thanksgiving ritual to remind Israel of their story and their faithful God. We, too, have received riches of unmerited grace. How can we humbly remember God’s goodness and let it motivate love for our neighbors?
WEEK NINE
Key Thought/Summary
In the beginning, God invited Adam and Eve to partner with Him to bring blessing and fruitfulness to all creation. If they trusted in God’s ways, they would receive blessing and be a blessing. If they relied on their own wisdom, they would face cursing and death. In Deuteronomy, Moses presents Israel with the same choice: walk with God and bless the nations, or go your own way and face the consequences. True partnership with God means real responsibility, and their choices—and ours—matter. With the same options before us, are we becoming the kind of people who create life and goodness in the world?
WEEK TEN
Key Thought/Summary
God already knows. Though He has offered Israel the opportunity to choose life and choose Him, He already knows that they will make the wrong choice and rebel against Him, so where is the hope here? How can this story ever end in the Eden blessing? Moses reveals the answer: a heart transplant. God promises that, one day, He will give Israel new hearts—soft hearts that will love and trust Him. Despite their failures, God refuses to give up on them, and He will make a way for them to experience the flourishing He has always desired for them.
WEEK ELEVEN
Key Thought/Summary
At the close of Deuteronomy, we say goodbye to Moses. He dies and is buried by God just outside the Promised Land. Though he performed mighty deeds and knew God face to face, he was mortal and unable to lead Israel into lasting covenant faithfulness. Israel is left wanting and waiting for an even greater prophet who could accomplish what Moses could not: the fulfillment of God’s promises of ultimate redemption and restoration. On this side of history, we know that this prophet could only be Jesus, the faithful Israelite and Son of God, whose life, death, and resurrection made true, abundant life possible. May Deuteronomy remind us of our need for our Savior and move us to praise Him, the Greatest Prophet!