The book of Deuteronomy is the last book of the Torah. As such, Deuteronomy offered the Torah’s “last word” on what was expected of the people of God, and what they could expect in return, as they stood in their new, unique relationship with God. In the wilderness temptation scenes, Satan quoted the Psalms while Jesus quoted back Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy was also the biblical book most quoted by Americans during the founding era. (See Bruce Feiler, America’s Prophet: Moses and the American Story [William Morrow, 2009]).

In this week’s First Testament text we read the final words of Moses’ third and final Deuteronomic discourse on the law and the covenant God has put before the people. As has been the focus throughout Deuteronomy, Moses’ final emphasis is on the divine demand for loyalty, …