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Invited to Know God: The Book of Deuteronomy is unavailable, but you can change that!

“Goodness like a fetter.” The hymn “Come Thou Fount” reminds us that God’s laws were created to draw us closer to him. But reading the law is intimidating. Deuteronomy is a long and ancient book full of speeches and laws for a wandering people on the cusp of entering a land filled with hostile nations. What could Deuteronomy have to say for modern readers who face vastly different issues? ...

here, as elsewhere in Deuteronomy, joy equals gratefulness. Gratefulness to God, in turn, is shown in generosity toward others. That is why Deuteronomy sees in the feasts a time of rejoicing before God and generosity toward the less fortunate. Just as God was generous to Israel, so Israel shall be generous to others. In Deuteronomy the law acts as a tutor teaching gratefulness. It trains people through the repetition of ritual not only how to act but also how to feel. In this sense, the law is like
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