This small group Deuteronomy 31 Bible study guide contains commentary, discussion questions, cross-references, and application to encourage life change. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.
Deuteronomy 31 Bible Study – Joshua Commissioned and Public Reading of the Word
Outline
I. Joshua was chosen to succeed Moses (1-8)
II. Reminder to publicly read the Word (9-13)
III. Joshua commissioned (14-30)
I. Joshua was chosen to succeed Moses (1-8)
Discussion Questions
• What key lessons can we learn from Moses’ life?
• Why was he not allowed to go over the Jordan and into the land? What lessons does this teach us?
• What words of encouragement does Moses share with the people?
• What did God ask of them (verse 6)?
• What is the connection between God’s command (to be courageous) and the promise (He would be with them)?
• How does your relationship with God give you boldness?
• What words of encouragement does Moses give Joshua? What charge does he give him?
• Why is it important for leaders to be courageous?
• How is it encouraging for leaders to know God is with them?
Cross-References
Numbers 20:10-12 – Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”
2 Timothy 1:7 – For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 – Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Moses’ 120 years – Moses lived to the ripe old age of one hundred twenty. His life can be divided into three sections: forty years in Egypt as a noble, forty years in Midian as a shepherd of sheep, and forty years in the wilderness as a shepherd of God’s people.
His life is a testament to how God uses people to answer prayers. From the time of his birth, God protected his life. The Lord providentially worked things out so that Moes would grow up as a noble with a high level of education and experience. That gave him many skills which would be helpful for a leader. But it didn’t give him much humility. He learned that character quality as a shepherd in Midian. Moses learned humility. God was molding him. His life would continue to be transformed when he encountered the Lord at the Burning Bush and reluctantly agreed to answer the call to go and deliver God’s people.
From that point, Moses becomes almost an other-worldly figure. As God’s spokesman before Egypt and Israel, Moses had direct access to God. His words were like the words of God. Moses frequently had direct encounters with the Lord, and at times, he returned from these with a shining face as a result of being so close to God’s glory (Exodus 34:29-35).
Yet Moses wasn’t perfect. He disobeyed God’s command by striking a rock instead of speaking to it. During this event, he asked, “Shall we bring water out of this rock?” Having been the channel for so many miracles, it seems he forgot it was God doing it and said, “We.”
Therefore, God taught him a lesson. Moses was restricted from going into the Promised Land. It is a clear reminder that no one is above the law. Moses was still an imperfect sinner in need of God’s grace. The good news is that God uses people who are imperfect, as He did Moses.
Though flawed, Moses made a difference for God. He used his life wisely. Soon he would be gone, but his work continued. The seeds he sowed were still growing. Moses served God faithfully.
Application – What will you leave behind when you pass on from this world? Have you redeemed the time? Have you invested heavily in God’s kingdom? Has your life made a difference?
What changes can you make to invest more in things that matter for eternity?
2. The Lord Himself will go over before you – To the faithful, that was very comforting news. Moses had begged God to go with them, even saying he did not want to move on if God would not be in their midst.
Exodus 33:13-16 – Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”
Without God’s presence, they would not have any possibility of success. But He promised that He would give their enemies into their hands. We are reminded that “apart from Him we can do nothing.” (John 15:5).
Reflect – How can you seek God’s presence on a regular basis?
3. Be strong and courageous… for it is the Lord your God who goes with you –
In nearly his final address, Moses repeatedly reminded Joshua and the people to be strong and courageous. They would need great courage. Soon they would enter a land filled with armies of enemies. It would be one battle after another. Fear is infectious. When one person runs in battle, he may influence those around him to give way. On the other hand, courage is also contagious. A bold stand can be a rallying cry to others to take heart and fight.
Jonathan’s boldness in engaging the enemy (1 Samuel 14) catalyzed all the people to come out of hiding in the rocks and caves and drive out the Philistines.
Reflect – What is the root cause of fear?
Fear is the side effect of a lack of faith. The person who fears the future or a circumstance is not trusting in God. Perhaps he is not trusting in God’s sovereignty or power. Or perhaps he is not trusting in God’s goodness. ‘
That is why the command to be courageous is accompanied by the promise that God would be with them. He also promises to never leave or forsake them. Clinging to that promise in faith would give them the courage to face the enemy. They had seen God’s presence with them for decades as well as the results of that. That history and firsthand experience should also strengthen their confidence that God would remain by their side in the future.
Our situation is quite different from that of the Israelites who were preparing to invade Canaan. Yet we still need courage.
Reflect – What situation or area of your life do you need courage?
Here are some examples of situations we need courage.
• Moving away from home for the first time.
• Committing to lifelong marriage with our spouse.
• Being the first one to approach someone to seek reconciliation or forgiveness.
• Standing up for the truth in a hostile environment or against the voices of the crowd.
• Raising children and nurturing them spiritually in a hostile and dark world.
• Facing a chronic or terminal illness.
4. Moses charges Joshua – Moses summoned Joshua and gave him a solemn charge in front of the people. The charge he gave him was almost identical to what he told the whole nation.
Deuteronomy 31:7-8 – Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
Leaders are called to be an example for the people they serve. How could the people be courageous if Joshua did not model courage? If Joshua was fearful and doubtful, the people would surely be swayed by him and lose any courage they did have.
Knowing that the people looked up to him would have motivated Joshua to give them a good example to follow.
All leaders should be aware that their actions are important. Like it or not, they have influence over people. The Bible compares people to sheep for a reason. We have a strong herding tendency. Sheep have been observed to follow the sheep in front of them right over the edge of a cliff. That means that leaders have a responsibility not just for themselves but for all of those influenced by them.
Paul realized this. He was able to say the following in 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 11:1 – Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Application – Are you setting a good example to those you influence? Parents, your children are watching you. Sometimes you may not feel courage, but you need to seek it from the Lord. Be strong for your kids. The same is true for anyone in authority, such as teachers, bosses, politicians, and church and ministry leaders.
This is not something that should make us proud. Rather, it should humble us. It should drive us to our knees to seek help from the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16).
II. Reminder to publicly read the Word (9-13)
Discussion Questions
• What command did Moses give the people in this passage?
• When were they supposed to corporately read the law?
• Why is the public reading of Scripture so important?
• How can you practice public reading of Scripture in your own life, family, or church?
Cross-References
Job 23:12 – I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
Joshua 1:8 – This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Isaiah 55:10-11 – For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Public reading of the Scriptures is important – Moses finished the writing of the law, which is the first five books of the Bible. Every seven years they were to have a national gathering including all men, women, children, and sojourners. At this gathering, they were to read the entire law. This takes around fourteen hours. They were to do this every seven years so that all the people would know the law, obey the law, and fear the Lord. Scripture was to be central to their national identity. In a sense, it was the Scriptures which would draw them together.
For most of their festivals, women and children were not commanded to go. So the only time they were all to go was this festival connected to the Feast of Booths. That was an appropriate time to do it because there would not be enough lodging for all the people, so they would need to have temporary structures.
How beautiful it would be for the whole nation to come together and celebrate by reading the law straight through! It would have been extremely memorable, exciting, festive, and motivating. There would be synergy and renewed spiritual fervor.
Sadly, this command was not followed, at least not regularly. There is no record in Scripture of it being obeyed even once. For long periods of time, the law was not read and was forgotten by the people. On one such occasion, King Josiah discovered a copy of the law and rent his clothes in grief at the fact that it had not been read for so long (2 Kings 22:8).
2. Application to our lives today –
Scripture is our nutrition. It is the food that makes us grow spiritually. A church will not be a growing church unless God’s Word is taught and preached there.
Timothy was commanded to devote himself to public reading of the Word.
1 Timothy 4:13 – Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.
It takes hard work, time, and energy to prepare Bible study lessons and sermons. But it is necessary. Timothy was not to take a casual attitude toward this important area. It takes commitment.
Take, for example, leading a Bible study. There may be many times when you are tired or a bit under the weather or have a busy week. You may feel like canceling or just having a fellowship time instead. Of course, it is not wrong to do this every now and then. But if you are devoted to the Scripture, then you will make time to prepare and try very hard not to cancel.
Many churches these days do not promote spiritual diligence and focus on the Word. Sermons are often watered down and shortened. Videos or special effects may take the place of sound Bible teaching. Perhaps one verse is chosen and then the speaker keeps telling stories or jokes instead of preaching. I believe that these are the types of things Paul wanted Timothy to avoid.
Preaching should be the central aspect of a weekly service. Leaders of the church should not water it down.
At the same time, the congregation (each of us) has the responsibility to pay attention and devote themselves to understanding and applying the text. Sometimes, when I preach, I can see people in the congregation who are sleeping. The preacher starts talking and people tune out, become absent-minded, and grab a siesta. These things should not be. Instead, devote yourself. Take notes. Write down questions. Talk about what you learned and what you need to obey after the service is over while you are at lunch with your family and friends.
Churches should also give attention to public reading of the Word. Allow more people in the church to read it from the stage. Read longer sections. Recently, our church had a reading of Psalm 119. We had slight music in the background and two people alternating reading every eight-verse section. It was beautiful to just listen to God’s Word. We are also considering to have the entire Bible read through in about three days. People can go and listen or take turns reading as they have time.
God’s Word is powerful. It will not return void. Let us put it front and center, giving it proper attention. In the end, it is His Word that changes lives, not programs.
III. Joshua commissioned (14-30)
Discussion Questions
• What can we learn from Moses about training up new leaders?
• What would have happened if there was no leader to replace Moses?
• What does it mean to “commission” Joshua?
• What was involved in this commissioning?
• What did God tell Moses was going to happen?
• How might Moses feel about his life and work to hear that?
• Did their future rebellion and idolatry make his life work worthless? Why or why not?
• What song was Moses supposed to write and why?
• How might Joshua have felt to hear the dire prediction?
• What did God say directly to Joshua? What words would have comforted him?
• What did Moses say to the people? Why so negative?
• What does this passage show us about the people?
• Things look quite hopeless and bleak in this passage. If the Israelites, who had Moses, the Scriptures, and firsthand experience of many miracles, failed so miserably, what hope is there for us?
Cross-References
Isaiah 61:1 – The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.
Exodus 13:21 – And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.
Exodus 33:7-9 – Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses.
John 14:15 – If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Passing the torch – Moses was about to die. God told him to call Joshua to the Tent of Meeting so that he could be commissioned. Israel would need a new leader to guide them into the next phase. Moses had been training Joshua for a long time. The younger man often accompanied Moses when Moses met with God (Exodus 24:13). This gave Joshua experience. He observed Moses’ public life as a political and religious leader of Israel as well as his private life and relationship with the Lord. The most important thing is that God was in it. It is not enough to train up any leader. Many times, younger new leaders come in and wreck everything because they are not qualified and should never have been appointed. Sadly, this happens sometimes in the church as well. Training and choosing the right leader is paramount.
Joshua was the right leader. God Himself verified the choice (Deuteronomy 34:14). We should never appoint people outside of God’s will. Rather than choosing the most tenured or senior person, we should consider the qualifications God gives (1 Timothy 3, Titus 1).
Application – Whatever ministry you are doing for the Lord, you should be mindful of preparing for the day when you need to pass the torch. In the workplace, this is called succession planning. You wouldn’t want to plant a church, pastor it for five years, get sick, have to quit, and then the church collapse. Jesus trained up twelve disciples to continue the work after His ascension. Paul trained up Timothy, Titus, and many others. Elijah passed the torch to Elisha. As many good examples as there are, there are probably more bad examples.
Samuel and David’s children fell woefully short and caused great harm to the nation. Hezekiah was a very righteous king. His son Manasseh replaced him and was one of the most wicked kings to ever rule Judah.
Reflect – In what area do you need to work on training up your replacement (or people to help)? What are some practical ways you can start doing that now?
2. The Lord’s dire prophecy – A short summary of God’s prophecy to Moses is that the people would turn to idolatry and provoke the Lord. In response, he would judge them. Of course, this prophecy came true. The people repeatedly forsook the Lord. As a result, He sent upon them the curses He warned them about.
Moses would have likely been discouraged to hear this. However, it would not have surprised him. He had seen up close the hardness of their hearts.
Why does God tell Moses this?
3. He commanded Moses to write a song and teach it to the people – According to John MacArthur, the purpose of this song was to “be a constant reminder of their disobedience to the Lord and the results of that disobedience.”
It was yet another warning of the results of disobedience. Because this warning was to be in song form, it was more tangible and easily remembered. The cadence, rhyme, and tune of songs help us remember things much better. Even today, many take advantage of this by creating and using songs to memorize Scripture verses. Songs put theological concepts into a form that is easy to understand.
This song is written and recorded in Deuteronomy 32. God declared that future generations would still remember this song and it would be a witness against them (31:21).
Application – Creatively use song form to learn and remember Scripture verses!
4. The Lord commissioned Joshua (23) – He did this in the sight of all the people. It was important that they recognized God’s stamp of authority on Joshua. At this ceremony, the Lord again reminded Joshua to be bold!
5. The book of the law – The finished copy of the Torah Moses wrote was to be put by the ark of the covenant. Like the song, its words would stand as an accusation against a people who would not submit to it.
6. Moses warns the people of their future rebellion – Moses does not spare any punches. His words did not paint a rosy picture of their future. Instead, he directly accused them of being “rebellious and stubborn” and said they would be far more so after his death!
One can easily sense his frustration with them. After so many years of witnessing God’s provision, kindness, and messages, they complained and rebelled. It made no logical sense. Sin is not logical.
You can almost envision Moses wanting to grab them and shake them, demanding, “Why won’t you just obey Him!”
It is a reminder that many who minister for the Lord are disappointed by the response. Elijah felt this way. Isaiah’s ministry bore little visible fruit. God told him that would be the case before the event started. The very people Jesus ministered to had him crucified. Paul was arrested because of the Jews. It is a history of one rebellion after another.
Today, many servants of the Lord could also be discouraged by the response. Some preach the gospel for years with little visible fruit to show for it.
Reflect – What would you say to encourage such people? Are their efforts wasted? Was Moses’ efforts wasted?
We can be encouraged by the fact that His Word does not return void. No service done for God is useless.
Sometimes, seeds stay dormant for a long time before they sprout. A lotus seed sprouted in 1995 that was believed to be 1300 years old!
There are many cases where one person shares the gospel without much visible response and another comes along later and harvests (John 4:36).
It may also be that God’s purposes are different from our own, so we are looking for the wrong result. Sometimes, God sends a messenger whom He knows will be rejected to take away the excuse of ignorance.
Application – Try not to get focused on numbers, crowds, or visible responses. Don’t look at the number of subscribers or likes. You only need one “like” on your life. Only one is important. That is God’s. Serve to please God. Serving Him is well worth it, no matter the tangible result.
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