Chapters 16, 17 and 18 of Deuteronomy each introduce a new kind of leader to Israel: judges (ch16), kings (ch17) and prophets (ch18).

It's interesting to note that over the following years these figures did become significant, and in that order.

During the wilderness years Israel was ruled by priests (who we've already heard a lot about); after the conquest of the land the judges came to prominence; the time of judges ended when the Kingdom was established; and as the kings failed (for the most part) to walk with God the prophets arose as spiritual leaders.

It's clearly no coincidence that the New Testament specifically presents Jesus as fulfilling each of these roles: he is the final priest, judge, king and prophet.

We've just begun the last of the 'Books of Moses'. Even though I've read Deuteronomy several times before, I don't think I've really registered the fact that pretty much the whole book is Moses speaking in the first person. It's Moses giving a kind of commentary on everything that's happened and on the law.

(These are exactly the kinds of things that summarising is helping me to notice. It's amazing how much more I'm taking in this time through.)

I think I remember hearing that Deuteronomy is the book that Jesus most frequently quotes in the Gospels. (Can anyone confirm this? Google is not immediately forthcoming.) It should be an interesting few weeks...

Some Twitter accounts worth following for the New Year:

@twitturgies
Gerard Kelly posts beautiful tweet-length devotional prayers.

@biblefresh
BibleFresh is an intitiative in 2011 to get people engaged with Scripture.

@140bible
Three guys who are a few months ahead of me summarising the Bible.