IV. THE SLAYING OF SIHON, THE KING
OF THE AMORITES, AND OG, THE KING OF BASHAN
After the forty years in the wilderness, the people came to the plain east of Jordan, and there they slew the two kings who were guarding the entrance into the good land—Sihon, the king of the Amorites, and Og, the king of Bashan (1:4).
A. Ending the Wandering
of the Children of Israel in the Wilderness
The slaying of these two kings was the end of the wandering of the children of Israel in the wilderness. If we want our wandering to end, we need to slay today’s Sihon and Og.
B. Opening the Gate
to Enter into the Promised Land
The slaying of these two kings also opened the gate into the promised land.
V. GOD’S CHARGE TO THE CHILDREN
OF ISRAEL TO LEAVE THE MOUNT OF GOD
God charged the children of Israel to leave the mount of God that they might enter the good land which He promised to their fathers (1:5-8). They had been trained by God and formed into a priestly army and they had a definite goal for the journey—the good land promised to their fathers.
VI. THE APPOINTING OF OFFICERS
Deuteronomy 1:9-18 describes the appointing of officers.
A. Indicating That It Was
Not Easy to Keep the Condition
of the Children of Israel in a Good Order
The appointing of officers indicates that it was not easy to keep the condition of the children of Israel in a good order. The people were more than two million in number, and it was not possible for Moses alone to keep them in order.
B. To Keep a Good Order
Being Needed for God’s Dwelling
and Service and for Fighting the Enemies
The keeping of a good order was needed for God’s dwelling and service and for fighting the enemies. The dwelling place, the priesthood, and the army all required a good order.
C. Needing the Deputy Authority
and the Submission
Maintaining the order among the children of Israel needed both the deputy authority and the submission. The deputy authority represented God as the authority. The people were required to submit to this deputy authority.
(Life-Study of Deuteronomy, Chapter 3, by Witness Lee)
