Hear, My Son: An Examination of the Fatherhood of Yahweh in Deuteronomy

by Ralph Allan Smith

Deuteronomy is see as either too difficult to understand or too far from the concerns of our day - it is ancient law, outdated and no longer able to address the complex issues of a modern society. Furthermore, Deuteronomy is "law" - that from which we in the age of grace have been delivered, and now that we are saved by grace, we are no longer under the awful law with its strict rules and condemnation.

In Hear, My Son, Ralph Smith provides a a better reading of Deuteronomy which open up this book of law aas a book of loving instruction from a Father who seeks the blessing of His wayward son. He demonstrates that the key to understanding Deuteronomy is found in the repeated references to Yahweh as Israel's Father and the abundant allusions to the promises of the Fifth Commandment.

Smith's work encourages a fresh reading of the Pentateuch that puts away stale prejudices against a perpetually angrey, slave-driving Old Testament God, and awakens the reader to the reality of Yahweh's primary identity as a tender, loving and devoted Father.

Genres: Theology

121 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Ralph Allan Smith (M.Div. Grace Theological Seminary, 1978). Pastor of Mitaka Evangelical Church since 1981; Director of Covenant Worldview Institute since 1988. Ralph and Sylvia married in 1976 and have been serving the Lord in Tokyo, Japan, since 1981.

Reviews

[Jack W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great defense of a covenantal, and more importantly, a familial understanding of covenant, view of Deuteronomy and its influence on later wisdom and prophetic literature

[Timothy Dehne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stuff. Ralph argues that the covenant relationship is better understood in the Father son metaphor rather than an ancient near eastern treaty.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid overview of the theme of sonship in Deuteronomy.

[Victor Chininin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent framework and exposition to see the Law and Deuteronomy from the perspective of Yahweh as rebellious Israel's Father. This book really helped me see the patterns of the Fifth Word and the Fatherhood of Yahweh throughout Deuteronomy (and other parts of the OT) and helped me to see Jesus better through that.

[Kameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allan argues that the Fatherhood/Sonship theme permeates the book of Deuteronomy and is fundamental to understanding the covenant. The Law is understood as instruction from a loving Father.