Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Deuteronomy Chapter 34
Metaphysically Interpreting Deuteronomy 34:1-12
34:1And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And Jehovah showed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan, 34:2and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the hinder sea, 34:3and the South, and the Plain of the valley of Jericho the city of palm-trees, unto Zoar. 34:4And Jehovah said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither. 34:5So Moses the servant of Jehovah died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of Jehovah. 34:6And he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. 34:7And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. 34:8And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping in the mourning for Moses were ended.
34:9And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as Jehovah commanded Moses.
34:10And there hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom Jehovah knew face to face,34:11in all the signs and the wonders, which Jehovah sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, 34:12and in all the mighty hand, and in all the great terror, which Moses wrought in the sight of all Israel.
September 22, 1902: Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Man is primarily spiritual, with all capacity for knowing and demonstrating the allness of Being. This knowledge, and the development of power to use direct from the fountain-head the forces of nature, are attained through an educational process. From one viewpoint this is evolution; from another, it is God educating the child through direct inspiration. The Egyptians are those who are coming into the understanding through the slow school of experience; the children of Israel are those who strive to know God and His laws, and are being educated through direct inspiration mentally imparted.
When man aspires and prays for the guidance and instruction of God, a new state of consciousness begins to develop in him. Although he is not in the beginning equal to the handling in all their intensity the powers of God, there is reflected into his mind by the Spirit a series of ideas that form the basis upon which may be built a state of consciousness which is equal to this work. This planting in the mind divine ideas is the work of Moses, who represents what may be termed Spiritual Perception. Moses is the mind of God reflected into the mind of man. But God is Substance, and man will never attain that equality with Being which insures the immortality of the Self, until he passes out of the reflection into the Substance. Thus the time comes when Moses must die, and a new state of consciousness be set up in the mind.
All the ideas that the Mosaic dispensation has reflected into the mind must become substantial and abiding before that state ceases. This lesson gives a summing up of the character and the faculties that have been spiritually developed. It is as if the Lord showed us our regenerated selves. We rise in Spiritual Understanding from the plains of Moab (natural forces) unto Mount Nebo (prophecy; wide comprehension) to the top of Pisgah (eminence), that is over against Jericho the (senses). This means that we comprehend ourselves from a standpoint above the forces of nature, where we look forward to future conquests, comprehend what is at hand, and realize our spiritual supremacy in dealing with the senses.
And we see all the land of Gilead (record of experiences) unto Dan (out of which has come judgment). And all Naphtali (opposing forces) and the land of Ephraim (affirmative, the will), and Manessah (negative, the reason), and all the land of Judah (abiding state of devotion). And the South (not yet perceived), and the plain of the valley of Jericho (sensuous centre), the city of palm trees (strength and vitality), unto Zoar (little; all the details). This is the substance (land) which was promised to Abraham (faith), Isaac (joy in the Lord), and Jacob (supplanter; step by step overcoming the animal man, Esau). Spiritual Perception, the servant of the Lord, sees all this established in the character, but is not allowed to possess it. A greater good is in store for it. Moses is buried in the valley of Moab over against Bethpeor (house of sleep), but no man knoweth his sepulchre unto this day. Spiritual Perception disappears in the depths of Being when Spiritual Realization appears, and its mystery is beyond human comprehension.
A new centre of Wisdom is established in consciousness; Joshua (Savior; same as Jesus) son of Nun (the Eternal) has had the hands (powers) of Moses laid upon him, and becomes the leader of the children of Israel. Jehovah, Joshua, Jesus, are all from the same root, and mean, I AM. When man reaches that point in his development where he can say understandingly and with power, “I am that I am,” he has found his Savior. The Eternal God has taken up His permanent abode in him. “Though Christ a thousand times in Bethlehem be born, unless he's born in thee, thy soul is all forlorn.”
– UNITY magazine.
September 21, 1907: Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Christianity plainly teaches that man is not living under the Divine Law, and that a concerted movement is under way for his reconciliation, which is revealed in the history of the Hebrew race. This redemptive movement has been going forward for thousands of years and its agents and methods are many. God is working with a mighty force of teachers to bring man to realize and observe the law of his being. Two great movements have been set into operation, the first under Moses, the second under Jesus Christ.
The first movement under Moses was a turning of the mind in the direction of the Truth, and a promise of its fulfillment if certain laws were lived up to continuously. This is set forth in the statement, “This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed.” The man-seed had been vitiated and it must be purified by a long line of faithful souls, striving with all their might to know and do the will of God. Under this first dispensation there is no promise of the full realization of the redemption but a mental perception or view of the possessions when the law has been fulfilled. Moses represents the man on the way to redemption, viewing the possibilities of full regeneration, but not being able yet to demonstrate it. “I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes (perception of Truth), but thou shalt not go over thither.”
The reason Moses did not realize the full redemption is given in Numbers 20:12. When the Israelites cried out for water in the wilderness the Lord told Moses to “Speak unto the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water.” Instead of using the word Moses took his rod and smote the rock, and he called the children [of Israel] “rebels.” He thus failed to “sanctify” the Lord before the children of Israel. The meaning of all this is, that in the first dispensation man perceives the Truth and leads his people to a certain point, but because of his willfulness and intolerance he destroys instead of redeems.
All destructive thoughts must be cast out of consciousness before we can enter the second dispensation of the Spirit, represented by Jesus Christ. The Law in this dispensation is Love. “Forgive seven times?” said Peter. “Yes, seventy times seven” replied Jesus. The redeemed body is the “promised land,” and the reason Moses failed to enter his organism and impart to it the Law which he perceived is plain to the modern metaphysician. The body is very sensitive to thoughts and especially destructive thoughts. If we think about destroying our enemies that thought reacts upon our own organism. The Lord told David he could not build the temple because he was a man of war. No one will overcome death of the body who thinks destruction of life in any of its forms.
Yet those who are in the Mosaic dispensation, living up to their highest understanding, are not under condemnation. “There hath not arisen a prophet in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.” “He died there according to the word of the Lord,” is interpreted by Jewish Rabbis, “by the kiss of the Lord.” In Weil's Legends it is written, “Then God bent over the face of Moses and kissed him, and the soul leaped up in joy, and went with the kiss of God to paradise.”
– UNITY magazine.
May 12, 1918: Deuteronomy 34:1-12
What in consciousness does “Moses” represent? “Moses” represents the consciousness of Spirit as Divine Law.
What in consciousness does “Moab” symbolize? “Moab” means “of his father.” The thoughts that are harmonized with Truth are gathered together in the “land of Moab,” or are unified with the Father (Principle of Mind) and make up spiritual consciousness.
Explain: “Moses, the servant of Jehovah, died in the land of Moab.” “Moses” the authoritative side of Spirit or Divine law, dies or is merged in “Moab” (spiritual consciousness), and ceases to be the dominant state of mind.
Explain: “No man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day,” as referring to the burial of Moses. “Moses” (Divine Law) is carried along as the activity of a Word of Truth in the subconsciousness (valley) as man unfolds in spiritual consciousness.
Is it possible for man to enter the regeneration through the authority of Divine Law alone? The idea of Divine Law is one of execution and activity, and unless the consciousness is purified through realizations of Truth, the Law of the Lord is set at liberty in sense consciousness and destructive activities set up in the organism. Purification of mind precedes regeneration of the body.
What in consciousness does “Joshua” represent? When Divine Law is established in the subconscious realm of mind, its activity is carried forward through “Joshua” (the spirit of Wisdom).
Explain: “And the children of Israel hearkened unto him” (Joshua). “Joshua” means savior. The “Children of Israel” are the redeemed thoughts in consciousness, which are obedient unto the higher expression of Divine Law, represented by Joshua.
October 17, 1926: Deuteronomy 34:5-8
Who is supposed to be the author of the book of Deuteronomy? Moses is the reputed author of the Pentateuch (the five books of Moses which include Deuteronomy).
Could Moses have written of his own death, as recorded in the 34th chapter of Deuteronomy? No. This record of the death of Moses must have been added by the author who wrote after Moses. Several errors of this character occur in the Old Testament.
September 25, 1932: Deuteronomy 34:5-8
Moses died and was buried in the land of Moab. Please explain. Moab has a double meaning; it represents that which descended from the Father, yet has lost consciousness of its origin. This points to the intellect (Moses) with its original divine illumination and its subsequent lapse into darkness.
“And he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab over against Bethpeor, but no man knoweth of his sepulcher unto this day.” Explain. The land of Moab means material consciousness. Bethpeor means spiritual sensuousness, or sense consciousness “aspiring to spiritual things.” This state of mind seems a paradox, and is hard to locate. “But no man knoweth of his sepulcher unto this day.”
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 02-01-2014
