Deuteronomy 4:44-49--Introduction to the Law

Deuteronomy 4:44-49
English Standard Version

Introduction to the Law
44 This is the law that Moses set before the people of Israel. 45 These are the testimonies, the statutes, and the rules, which Moses spoke to the people of Israel when they came out of Egypt, 46 beyond the Jordan in the valley opposite Beth-peor, in the land of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon, whom Moses and the people of Israel defeated when they came out of Egypt. 47 And they took possession of his land and the land of Og, the king of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who lived to the east beyond the Jordan; 48 from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, as far as Mount Sirion (that is, Hermon), 49 together with all the Arabah on the east side of the Jordan as far as the Sea of the Arabah, under the slopes of Pisgah.

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Notice that the author speaks as if they are already in the Promised Land, probably because the author knows he is writing to future generations that will be living in the Promised Land and they will have already crossed that impossible obstacle of the Jordan River.  They will have to look back to the other side to remember this day and these words that were said by Moses.

This is the land, called the Trans-Jordan, that the LORD miraculously gave them had belonged to the people of King Og and King Bashan, the two Amorite kings that the LORD had given into the hands of the Israelites and in whose lands the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

From this place, Moses will remind the people of the entire Law before they enter the land and will make them swear by its blessings and curses that they will be careful to do all that is written in it for all their days and that they will be careful to teach all these things to all of their children and future generations.  This is the last sermon he would ever preach to the people and this is what he chose to say to them.  If you were a dying man, what would be the last sermon you would speak?  Would it be the Law and instructing those who had been under your authority to be careful to do all written in it, or would it be something else?  Which book of the Bible might you use to give your last sermon and prepare the people to go on without you and transition to their new leadership?  No matter what you would do, this is the message these people needed to hear in this place at this time, and perhaps it is the message that some of us still need to hear today.