The Goodness of God: Deuteronomy
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9
We often forget the good things we’ve experienced from the hand of God. Even though I’ve seen God help me in tough times, provide what I need, and guide me through uncertainty, I still struggle to hold onto those experiences when life gets challenging. We know God is always with us, but when things get rough, it’s easy to feel scared, question what He’s doing in our lives, or even stray from what we know to be true. That’s why the Bible encourages us to keep these truths in our hearts, share them with our kids, and even write them where we can see them daily. We need those reminders.
In Deuteronomy 6, the “Shema” is a sacred Jewish prayer that captures the book's heart. It’s God’s way of reminding His people about everything He has done for them, what He asks of them, and how to live a fulfilling life with Him. He knows we are prone to forget and guides us to a place of abundance.
The book of Deuteronomy gives us a profound glimpse into God’s heart and many truths that apply to our lives even today. The fifth and final book of the Pentateuch consists primarily of Moses’ farewell address to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. Deuteronomy revisits the laws and commandments established in earlier texts, emphasizes the significance of loyalty to God, and reflects on His guidance for His people.
The book can be structured around three critical sermons delivered by Moses: 1) Yahweh, Lord of History (1:1-4:43); 2) Yahweh, Lord of the Covenant (4:44-26:19); and 3) Yahweh, Lord of the Future (27:1-31:29). Through these messages, Moses reminds the Israelites of their history, advocates for a covenant relationship grounded in righteous living and offers guidance for life in the land they are about to possess.[1]
At its core, Moses’ message highlights the precious covenant between God and His people, encouraging them to remain faithful. A central theme is God's sovereignty, who is actively involved in the lives of His chosen ones—a God who is undoubtedly good and loves deeply.
God’s Goodness Demonstrated in Deuteronomy
God’s goodness in Deuteronomy shines through in various ways:
God’s Faithfulness in History (the Past)
We see God’s faithfulness reflected in the history of the Israelites. As they prepared to enter the Promised Land, many had been born in the wilderness. They had not witnessed God’s earlier acts of deliverance—such as the exodus from Egypt or the parting of the Red Sea. Moses’ messages are a powerful reminder of God’s mighty works and continued provision during their wandering. To truly enter the Promised Land, they needed to recognize His goodness that had guided them through challenges toward a place of abundance.
“But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day.” Deut. 4:20
“For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows you’re going through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.”’ Deut. 2:7
God’s Covenant Relationship with Israel (the Present)
God’s goodness is also evident in His covenant relationship with Israel. Moses emphasizes the value of this relationship, highlighting God’s unwavering commitment to His people and His deep desire for closeness with them. While this relationship foreshadows His love for all humanity, God’s faithfulness to Israel illustrates His reliability in keeping promises to “a thousand generations.”
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations…” Deuteronomy 7:6-9
God’s covenant relationship with Israel reflected His heart: to know them, to dwell with them, and to care for them. We see this in how He led His people through the wilderness so they may know Him and His unwavering provision in their lives.
“And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothing did not wear out on you, and your foot did not swell these forty years.” Deuteronomy 8:2-4
God’s Desire for His People to Live in His Blessings (the Future)
God’s goodness is also reflected in His desire for the Israelites to thrive in His blessings. The guidelines provided in Deuteronomy are intentionally designed to help His people live fruitful lives. As they prepared to enter the Promised Land, they needed to be mindful of the temptation to stray from His ways, ensuring they held fast to His laws and remained within His covenant blessings.
“And because you listen to these rules and keep and do them, the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the steadfast love that he swore to your fathers. He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock, in the land that he swore to your fathers to give you. You shall be blessed above all peoples.” Deuteronomy 7:12-14
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?” Deuteronomy 10:12-13
Responding to God’s Goodness in our Own Lives
The goodness of God in Deuteronomy offers a beautiful parallel to our lives as believers today. We are part of a larger story of redemption, living as covenant people cherished by God and anticipating our ultimate promised land.
Just as Moses communicated to the Israelites, we are called to hold on to God’s goodness in our past, present, and future.
Reflect on these questions:
How has God shown Himself to be faithful in your life so far?
In what ways does your relationship with God shape your daily living?
Are you looking forward to and anticipating His promises for eternity?
As we apply these truths to our lives, it’s easy to see why the “Shema” is such a central and mighty prayer in the Jewish faith. Shema means “hear” or “obey” in Hebrew. This significant prayer underscores a key theme in the book: God is the one sovereign Lord, and His people are called to give their whole love and devotion to Him. Let’s reread it:
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Living out this passage today means prioritizing a deep, personal love for God in every aspect of our lives. Here are a few ways to respond to God’s goodness in your day-to-day, just as was encouraged in the “Shema”:
1. Respond to God with Wholehearted Love: Cultivate a genuine devotion to God that shapes your thoughts, actions, and choices through a heart, soul, and strength-filled moment-by-moment response to Him, cultivating the “sanctuary” of your heart - a deep inner life with God.
2. Share Your Faith with Others: Make it a priority to teach your faith to your children and share with those around you. Regular conversations about God’s truth, faithfulness, and goodness in your home allow your life with God to cultivate faith in those around you.
3. Create a Truth-Filled Environment: Just as the Israelites were challenged to do, write God’s words on the “doorposts of your house and on your gates.” In your home, you can write scripture on Post-its, in your bathroom mirror, or in other places. Find ways to put the truth of God’s word in front of you in your comings and goings.
By incorporating these practices, just as the people of Israel, we are creating space to dwell with and live in fellowship with the God of our past, present, and future in a way that impacts our lives and the lives of those around us. There is nothing better.
Though Deuteronomy may initially seem like a mere review of laws and history, when viewed through the lens of a faithfully caring God, it transforms into a captivating reminder of the great adventure we are all on as we journey toward God’s promises. Just as the Israelites experienced, we are surrounded by a faithful God present in every detail of our lives. Let’s embrace that reality and respond wholeheartedly to His goodness, acknowledging Him at every turn.
[1] Cate, Robert L., An Introduction to the Old Testament and Its Study, Broadman Press, Nashville, TN.
