Be Equipped (Deuteronomy): Acquiring the Tools for Spiritual Success

The "Be" Commentary

by Warren W. Wiersbe

Are you equipped to face the future?

There are opportunities ahead—and battles. Are you ready?

The truths that Moses shared in Deuteronomy are just what we need today as we face the unknown future:

• How to recognize and use the lessons of the past
• The importance of God's law
• The preeminence of love in the life of liberty
• How God deals with failure
• What it means to share in God's covenant

As Israel's new generation prepared to enter the Promised Land, Moses taught them the basic truths they needed to know in order to defeat the enemy and claim their inheritance. These spiritual principles still work today!

The future is your friend when Jesus Christ is your Lord and the Bible is your guide! Learn from Moses, one of history's greatest teachers, what it means to be an overcomer, able to fulfill the purpose God has for you.

Genres: Christian, Reference, Nonfiction, Old Testament, Christian Non Fiction, Theology, Christian Living

234 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1999

About the author

Warren W. Wiersbe, former pastor of the Moody Church and general director of Back to the Bible, has traveled widely as a Bible teacher and conference speaker. Because of his encouragement to those in ministry, Dr. Wiersbe is often referred to as 'the pastor's pastor.' He has ministered in churches and conferences throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Central and South America, and Europe. Dr. Wiersbe has written over 150 books, including the popular BE series of commentaries on every book of the Bible, which has sold more than four million copies. At the 2002 Christian Booksellers Convention, he was awarded the Gold Medallion Lifetime Achievement Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Dr. Wiersbe and his wife, Betty, live in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Reviews

[Laura The Book Reader]

Another Be book read along with the corresponding book of the bible. I have now finished the Torah. Good information.

[Frans Kempe]

Another good edition from Wiersbe. I like the way he brings out the big picture in this book.

[Barbara Harper]

When we’re about to step into a new phase of life, we stop and reflect about where we’ve been so far, how we got to this place and time, and what we need to do for the future. We even do this at the end of one calendar year and the beginning of another.

So it’s not surprising that Moses and the children of Israel stopped to review their history and look ahead just before they entered Canaan, their promised land.

This was not just a moment of nostalgia, though. Israel had been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years because the previous generation balked right at this point. And Moses knew he could not go in with them: God had told him he would die beforehand. So Moses wanted both to encourage the people that God would keep all His promises to their forefathers to lead and care for them plus instruct them as to what God required of them.

The book of Deuteronomy covers these reminders and instruction. Warren Wiersbe’s Be Equipped (Deuteronomy): Acquiring the Tools for Spiritual Success shares some helpful insights on each chapter.

It’s when we forget our high calling that we descend into low living (p. 29).

The verb “to hear” is used nearly one hundred times in the book of Deuteronomy. . . . hearing the Word of God involves much more than sound waves impacting the human ear. Hearing God’s Word is a matter of focusing our whole being—mind, heart, and will—on the Lord, receiving what He says to us and obeying it. The Word of God must penetrate our hearts and become a part of our inner beings if it is to change our lives (p. 34).

“His commandments are not burdensome” (I John 5:3, NKJV). Obeying the Lord becomes a joyful privilege when you realize that His commandments are expressions of His love, assurances of His strength, invitations to His blessing, opportunities to grow and bring Him glory, and occasions to enjoy His love and fellowship as we seek to please Him. God’s Word is the open door into the treasury of His grace (p. 35).

Most people find it easier to handle adversity than prosperity (see Phil. 4: 10–20), because adversity usually drives us closer to God as we seek His wisdom and help. When things are going well, we’re prone to relax our spiritual disciplines, take our blessings for granted, and forget to “praise God from whom all blessings flow.” The material things that we wait for and sacrifice for seem to mean much more to us than the gifts that fall in our laps without our help (p. 58).

In this part of his farewell address, Moses painted the people of Israel as they really were, “warts and all.” It was important for their spiritual lives that Moses do this, for one of the first steps toward maturity is accepting reality and doing something about it (p. 73).

I enjoyed and learned from our time In Deuteronomy and was helped by Wiersbe’s comments.

[Denise]

I appreciated Wiersbe's comments and background on Deuteronomy. However, I was surprised by his reviin the final chapter. He had so much to say about Moses's final words before entering the land, and then left the main themes out of the review.

Deuteronomy spoke of obeying God and abiding in Him to stay under God's blessings. If obedient, God would satisfy their hunger and third, subdue their enemies, watch over them and more. If disobey, and separated from God, He warned them of the curses that would befall them. God stressed many times the importance of not turning away towards idols or other God's, but clinging to Him.

Wiersbe discussed these themes and more in detail in each chapter. However, the review only covered who God is from 8:18, not chapter 32, you were slaves, God led you from 8:2, Mt. Sinai from 4:9-13, how unbelief provoked God, what the Amalekites did and what Miriam did.

I think Deuteronomy speaks of who God is in several ways. The song of Moses in chapter 32 speaks of God. Deuteronomy 33:26-29 speaks of God being their only help, savior, and excellent and blessed. Deuteronomy also shows God's understanding of people and compassion or mercy. He knew what people would do so He put limits on their sin. He judged Moses for failing to revere Him as holy yet showed him the land before his death. God taught people to be considerate and love their neighbors in chapter 27. And God stressed their need to obey, fear God and walk in all His ways. I don't know why these things weren't in the summary.

[Connorsallison]

This was a great Bible study on Deuteronomy. I had decided to read Deuteronomy (which I would also give 5 stars!) after again seeing that Jesus used three scriptures from that book to deal with temptation.

Reading the Bible is always a lot better for me with a study guide or commentary in hand. I like Wiersbe’s approach that helps his readers understand the Bible and apply its dated context to our lives today.

Apparently, this is part of a whole “BE” series. I’ve moved on to Be Victorious, on Revelation.

[Phoebe Nugent]

Brilliant study tool to accompany reading the book of Deuteronomy. My go to is usually the Gods Word For You series but they don't have every book of the bible so this will definitely be where I go in the future to find other options 👌

Also, I've found learning about the old Jewish traditions and laws really interesting and informative for faithful living today albeit not exactly as it was back then!

[Andy Febrico Bintoro]

23/50 of be series. I read alphabetically.

as other books in the series, the commentary isn't deep enough, but this is a book of Deuteronomy which is a repeated content from other books. the author could made a different perspective about the content of the book, and the perspective under the theme equipped.

[Angel Bunton-Miller]

Refreshing

I have read Deuteronomy but I feel like I have seen it with a new set of eyes. I am truly enjoying this series and can't wait to read another and get a deeper understanding of God's word.

[Rachel Mellema]

Wiersbe unpacks the wisdom found in Deuteronomy, offering readers a comprehensive guide to acquiring the essential tools for a thriving spiritual journey with God and growing in spiritual maturity. What sets this book apart is its ability to bridge ancient teachings with contemporary relevance.

[Amy Lawrence]

cherish the word of God

Wiersbe reminds the reader beginning to end of the details, lessons, insights of God’s Word to his people and to love God and cherish it.

I cried in the summary chapter of the review of Moses life and leadership, thank you Lord for those who lead. Amen

[Sarah Huebner]

A guide through Deuteronomy - explaining the rules and commandments given by God in the context of their time, and showing how through the disobediences of Israel we can take a look at our own lives and see the depth of God's love.

[Cayla]

In this companion read, Weirsbe shows us how Moses did not see the laws as a burden but as an awesome inheritance of the Israelites. Wonderful study on the importance of history and the imperativeness of passing our faith onto the next generation.

[Linda]

An historical overview of the book of Deuteronomy, with applications for the church of today.

[Carrie]

Be Equipped is another part of the “Be Series.” In the introduction, Ken Baugh writes that “the Big Idea of Deuteronomy [is] obedience. If loving God is the greatest commandment, then obedience to God’s commands is the greatest expression of love for God.” Warren Wiersbe writes that the book of Deuteronomy is the “repetition of the law” - Moses reminds the people of the law God gave at Sinai and tells them how it applies to them going forward into the promised land. I highly recommend the Be series!