The Triumph of Grace: Literary and Theological Studies in Deuteronomy and Deuteronomic Themes

by Daniel I. Block

Overview

The Apostle Paul's negative statements about the law have deafened the ears of many to the grace that Moses proclaims in Deuteronomy. Most Christians have a dim view of this book, which they consider to be primarily a book of laws. However, when we read or hear it read orally without prejudice, we discover that rather than casting Moses as a legislator, he appears as Israel's first pastor, whose congregation has gathered before him to hear him preach his final sermons. Accordingly, Deuteronomy represents prophetic preaching at its finest, as Moses seeks to inspire the people of God to a life of faith and godliness in response to God's repeated demonstrations of grace. Deuteronomy is a dead book for many, because we have not recognized this gospel; we have heard only law. The essays in this collection arise from a larger project driven by a passion to recover for Christians the life-giving message of the Hebrew Scriptures in general, and to open their ears to God's amazing grace in Deuteronomy in particular. The wide-ranging "meditations" in this volume do not all focus equally on the topic of God's grace, but this theme undergirds them all.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498292665
Publisher:	Cascade Books
Publication date:	11/06/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	530
File size:	16 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Daniel I. Block is Gunther H. Knoedler Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois.
Daniel I. Block is the Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois. He is the author of The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 1-24 (1997), The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 25-48 (1998), Judges and Ruth (1999), "How I Love Your Torah, O LORD!" (2011), The Gospel according to Moses (2012), and Deuteronomy (2012).

Table of Contents

List of Figures ix

List of Tables xi

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xvii

Credits xxi

List of Abbreviations xxiii

1 Deuteronomy: The Heart of Theological Education in the First Testament 1

2 "That They May Hear": Biblical Foundations for the Oral Reading of Scripture in Worship 19

Appendix A A Liturgical Reading of Israel's National Anthem (Deuteronomy 32:1-43) 35

3 "Do You Hear What I Hear?" Reflections on the Genre and Message of Deuteronomy 36

4 Covenance: A Whole Bible Perspective 60

5 Deuteronomic Law 89

6 In the Tradition of Moses: The Conceptual and Stylistic Imprint of Deuteronomy on the Patriarchal Narratives 105

7 "A Place for My Name": Horeb and Zion in the Mosaic Vision of Israelite Worship 126

8 "What Do These Stones Mean?" The Riddle of Deuteronomy 27 152

9 "The Meeting Places of God in the Land": Another Look at the Towns of the Levites 177

10 "O Day of Rest and Gladness": Rediscovering the Gift of Sabbath 198

11 The Patricentric Vision of Family Order in Deuteronomy 225

12 Wrestling with God: A Study on Prayer in Deuteronomy 240

13 How Can We Bless YHWH? Wrestling with Divine Violence in Deuteronomy 264

14 The Fear of YHWH: The Theological Tie that Binds Deuteronomy and Proverbs 283

15 All Israel Will Be Saved: An Examination of Moses' Eschatological Vision in Deuteronomy 312

16 The Spiritual and Ethical Foundations of Messianic Kingship: Deuteronomy 17:14-20 335

17 A Prophet Like Moses: Another Look at Deuteronomy 18:9-22 349

18 Hearing Galatians with Moses: An Examination of Paul as a Second and Seconding Moses 374

Bibliography 405

Index of Modern Authors 439

Index of Selected Subjects 445

Index of Biblical References 449

Index of Ancient Extracanonical Literature 503

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

FOR BACK COVER (Delete from Metadata):

“Daniel Block, in The Triumph of Grace, demonstrates why he is considered one of the premier Old Testament theologians of this generation. Lucid, thoughtful, engaging, and persuasive, Block brilliantly illuminates for his readers the theme of God’s amazing grace in the Book of Deuteronomy.”

—David S. Dockery, President, Trinity International University



“What a precious resource this is! There are few who have immersed themselves in ‘the gospel according to Moses’ like Dan Block, and fewer still who have matched his scholarship (which is careful and creative in equal measure), warmhearted generosity, and overwhelming desire to live and communicate the gospel in Deuteronomy with integrity and rigor.”

—J. Gary Millar, Principal, Queensland Theological College, Brisbane, Australia



“Block shows masterful sensitivity to all levels of the text and to intertextual relationships. He solves interpretive problems and overturns misconceptions while uncovering details of meaning and literary artistry that converge to carry themes of soaring theological significance.”

—Roy E. Gane, Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Languages, Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University



“The most profound and comprehensive collection of Daniel Block’s articles to date, [reflecting] exemplary scholarship marked by sound methodological inquiry, passionate engagement with the text, and a refreshing tone of humility.”

— Rebekah L. Josberger, Associate Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament, Multnomah Biblical Seminary



“Although these studies will not convince everyone, Block has covered immense ground, providing us with much food for thought. I, for one, hope Block continues ‘conversing with Moses’ for years to come.”

—Brent A. Strawn, Professor of Old Testament, Emory University





FOR FRONT MATTER:

“Daniel Block, in The Triumph of Grace, demonstrates why he is considered one of the premier Old Testament theologians of this generation. Lucid, thoughtful, engaging, and persuasive, Block brilliantly illuminates for his readers the theme of God’s amazing grace in the Book of Deuteronomy. Scholars, pastors, and laypeople alike will be blessed and helped as they work through this significant volume. It is a joyful privilege to recommend this outstanding work.”

—David S. Dockery, President, Trinity International University



“By his own testimony, Dan Block has been ‘marinating’ in Deuteronomy for over twenty years. This volume completes a trilogy of his essays on this important book. Like the previous books, the present one is—not unlike Deuteronomy itself!—a collection of things old and new, including seven previously unpublished studies that cover Deuteronomy and: education, the book’s genre/message, covenant, Sabbath, prayer, the fear of the Lord, and the ‘prophet like Moses.’ Although these studies will not convince everyone, Block has covered immense ground, providing us with much food for thought—especially for those of us who understand Deuteronomy as Holy Scripture. I, for one, hope Block continues ‘conversing with Moses’ for years to come.”

—Brent A. Strawn, Professor of Old Testament, Emory University



“What a precious resource this is! There are few who have immersed themselves in ‘the gospel according to Moses’ like Dan Block, and fewer still who have matched his scholarship (which is careful and creative in equal measure), warmhearted generosity, and overwhelming desire to live and communicate the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in Deuteronomy with integrity and rigor. This collection is another hugely valuable contribution to Block’s already rich body of writing on Deuteronomy. These essays encapsulate the humble brilliance of his approach, modeling as they do academic rigor and a profound commitment to apply the Scriptures to the life of the church, family, and society. This book is, at every level, reflective of the triumph of grace which its title proclaims.”

—J. Gary Millar, Principal, Queensland Theological College, Brisbane, Australia



“This remarkable book eloquently demonstrates that Deuteronomy proclaims the gospel of divine grace that is embodied and reaches its ultimate triumph in the New Testament. Block shows masterful sensitivity to all levels of the text and to intertextual relationships. He solves interpretive problems and overturns misconceptions while uncovering details of meaning and literary artistry that converge to carry themes of soaring theological significance. The chapter on rediscovering the gift of Sabbath rest is a jewel.”

—Roy E. Gane, Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Languages, Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University



“Aptly named, The Triumph of Grace contains the most profound and comprehensive collection of Daniel Block’s articles to date. Whether studied individually or as a coherent whole, the articles reflect exemplary scholarship marked by sound methodological inquiry, passionate engagement with the text, and a refreshing tone of humility. Further, this collection brings synthesis of scholarship to a new level, inviting readers to follow the implications of understanding Torah as grace into the New Testament—specifically, Galatians.”

— Rebekah L. Josberger, Associate Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament, Multnomah Biblical Seminary

Editorial Reviews

FOR BACK COVER (Delete from Metadata):

“Daniel Block, in The Triumph of Grace, demonstrates why he is considered one of the premier Old Testament theologians of this generation. Lucid, thoughtful, engaging, and persuasive, Block brilliantly illuminates for his readers the theme of God’s amazing grace in the Book of Deuteronomy.”

—David S. Dockery, President, Trinity International University



“What a precious resource this is! There are few who have immersed themselves in ‘the gospel according to Moses’ like Dan Block, and fewer still who have matched his scholarship (which is careful and creative in equal measure), warmhearted generosity, and overwhelming desire to live and communicate the gospel in Deuteronomy with integrity and rigor.”

—J. Gary Millar, Principal, Queensland Theological College, Brisbane, Australia



“Block shows masterful sensitivity to all levels of the text and to intertextual relationships. He solves interpretive problems and overturns misconceptions while uncovering details of meaning and literary artistry that converge to carry themes of soaring theological significance.”

—Roy E. Gane, Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Languages, Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University



“The most profound and comprehensive collection of Daniel Block’s articles to date, [reflecting] exemplary scholarship marked by sound methodological inquiry, passionate engagement with the text, and a refreshing tone of humility.”

— Rebekah L. Josberger, Associate Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament, Multnomah Biblical Seminary



“Although these studies will not convince everyone, Block has covered immense ground, providing us with much food for thought. I, for one, hope Block continues ‘conversing with Moses’ for years to come.”

—Brent A. Strawn, Professor of Old Testament, Emory University





FOR FRONT MATTER:

“Daniel Block, in The Triumph of Grace, demonstrates why he is considered one of the premier Old Testament theologians of this generation. Lucid, thoughtful, engaging, and persuasive, Block brilliantly illuminates for his readers the theme of God’s amazing grace in the Book of Deuteronomy. Scholars, pastors, and laypeople alike will be blessed and helped as they work through this significant volume. It is a joyful privilege to recommend this outstanding work.”

—David S. Dockery, President, Trinity International University



“By his own testimony, Dan Block has been ‘marinating’ in Deuteronomy for over twenty years. This volume completes a trilogy of his essays on this important book. Like the previous books, the present one is—not unlike Deuteronomy itself!—a collection of things old and new, including seven previously unpublished studies that cover Deuteronomy and: education, the book’s genre/message, covenant, Sabbath, prayer, the fear of the Lord, and the ‘prophet like Moses.’ Although these studies will not convince everyone, Block has covered immense ground, providing us with much food for thought—especially for those of us who understand Deuteronomy as Holy Scripture. I, for one, hope Block continues ‘conversing with Moses’ for years to come.”

—Brent A. Strawn, Professor of Old Testament, Emory University



“What a precious resource this is! There are few who have immersed themselves in ‘the gospel according to Moses’ like Dan Block, and fewer still who have matched his scholarship (which is careful and creative in equal measure), warmhearted generosity, and overwhelming desire to live and communicate the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in Deuteronomy with integrity and rigor. This collection is another hugely valuable contribution to Block’s already rich body of writing on Deuteronomy. These essays encapsulate the humble brilliance of his approach, modeling as they do academic rigor and a profound commitment to apply the Scriptures to the life of the church, family, and society. This book is, at every level, reflective of the triumph of grace which its title proclaims.”

—J. Gary Millar, Principal, Queensland Theological College, Brisbane, Australia



“This remarkable book eloquently demonstrates that Deuteronomy proclaims the gospel of divine grace that is embodied and reaches its ultimate triumph in the New Testament. Block shows masterful sensitivity to all levels of the text and to intertextual relationships. He solves interpretive problems and overturns misconceptions while uncovering details of meaning and literary artistry that converge to carry themes of soaring theological significance. The chapter on rediscovering the gift of Sabbath rest is a jewel.”

—Roy E. Gane, Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Languages, Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University



“Aptly named, The Triumph of Grace contains the most profound and comprehensive collection of Daniel Block’s articles to date. Whether studied individually or as a coherent whole, the articles reflect exemplary scholarship marked by sound methodological inquiry, passionate engagement with the text, and a refreshing tone of humility. Further, this collection brings synthesis of scholarship to a new level, inviting readers to follow the implications of understanding Torah as grace into the New Testament—specifically, Galatians.”

— Rebekah L. Josberger, Associate Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament, Multnomah Biblical Seminary

From the Publisher