Deuteronomy 31 – The next four chapters bring the Torah to a close.  The Schocken version points out that they end not with achievement of the goal—entry into the Promised Land but with a people filled with hope and commitment and readiness; and he says, furthermore that the very end of the Hebrew Bible—II Chronicles 36 parallels this with Cyrus vowing to build a house for YHWH in Jerusalem and inviting the people to “go up.”

Moses is 120; he will not cross over the Jordan.  Yahweh himself will lead them in.  Moses committed the Law to writing and gave it to the Levites.  It is to be proclaimed every seven years on the pilgrimage of Sukkot when all Israel gathers to hear this instruction proclaimed.  Joshua and Moses meet at the “Tent of Appointment” and YHWH appears there too in the “column of cloud.” He predicts the unfaithfulness of the people and his abandonment of them. He is also given a Song to teach the people.

1 Corinthians 4 - We are Christ’s servants, stewards of the mysteries of God (4:1).  Having just finished some of the earliest Christian writings – the Didache, Ignatius of Antioch and Clement – I can say how wonderful it is that Paul sees himself as “steward” of these deepest mysteries. The others dwell so steadily on the “dos” and “don’ts” of the Christian community. Paul will not be judged by them or even by himself.  He will be judged by God He urges them again not “to go beyond what is written,” (4:6) [said in both JB and NAB to be obscure—maybe a reference to the OT promises and their fulfillment in the cross, maybe a gloss]. Somehow they must be making claims and boasting of having come into some advanced state or mystery—maybe the very kingdom of God itself—but Paul brings them up by reminding them while they are reveling in this claim, he is still weak and deprived, serving the gospel, being ridiculed and persecuted for the sake of the gospel.  They need to stop their boasting.