Deuteronomy 26:18-19, "And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken."

Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Pentateuch, is the conclusion of Israel's forty year journey in the wilderness. The word Deuteronomy is the English form of the Greek word meaning repetition of the law or the "second law."

Throughout the book Moses constantly puts the nation of Israel in remembrance of all the words of the law instructing them to "remember" and "forget not."

The book can be divided into three discourses of Moses. The first recounts Israel's forty year journey in the wilderness. The second is the reaffirming of the law. The third relates to the sanctions of the law and his instructions to Joshua concerning the mount of blessing and mount of cursing.

The remainder of the book is devoted to Moses' last prayer and blessing and his final day as the prophet of God called "the lawgiver."

Deuteronomy 4:5-8; "Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?"

The book of Deuteronomy reveals God's purpose for choosing the nation of Israel and giving them the law. They were to be a light to the nations revealing His righteousness in their midst. A light shining in the darkness proclaiming the truth.

The Law was given not just as a book of instructions, but was to be their way of life to keep them holy and righteous before the Lord their God. As long as they followed the commandments of the Lord they would be blessed if not they would become a curse before the nations.

Through the words of Deuteronomy we see a righteous and holy God who is faithful in all that He promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. His word does not return to Him void but accomplishes whatsoever He pleases and prospers wherever He has sent it.