At the end of every seven years, as commanded by God, the law in Deuteronomy is to be read to the people at the Feast of Tabernacles. This practice ensures that everyone, both old and young, is exposed to God's law, understanding His blessings and cursings. The purpose of this reading is to help us learn to fear God, which is fundamental to having a good relationship with Him. Reviewing Deuteronomy every seven years is no small matter to God; it is a blessing if we read, repent, and align our lives with His way of living. Through this command, God provides wisdom and encourages us to respond with humility and a tender heart as we strive to worship Him in spirit and truth.

God commands that the book of Deuteronomy be read every seven years at the Feast of Tabernacles in the year of release, a privilege and distinctive honoring not accorded to any other book in the Bible. This command, given to both the religious and civil leadership, ensures that all of Israel—men, women, children, and aliens—hear, learn, fear the Lord, and observe to do all the words of this law. The reading occurs during a time of harvest-time gratitude and widespread liberation from debt and slavery, reminding the people of their covenant relationship with God and His generosity, as pictured by the Feast of Tabernacles. Deuteronomy holds a significant place in Scripture, encapsulating everything necessary for salvation in a form akin to a Reader's Digest version of the entire Bible. It serves as an elaborate commentary on the Ten Commandments, expanding their meaning and application through statutes, judgments, health laws, blessings, curses, and ceremonies. Symbolically positioned near the ark of the covenant, it stands close to the legal basis of God's judgments, offering counsel for His governance and mercy. The purpose of this periodic reading is to provide the covenant people with a working knowledge of God's sovereignty, providence, grace, their origins, redemption from Egypt, instructions for living, and His purpose for them, leaving no excuse for ignorance. Through this practice, God ensures that His people are continually reminded of their identity and mission as His witnesses.

The book of Deuteronomy holds a vital place in God's purpose for His people, as it was given to Israel just before they entered the Promised Land. Written in the last month of Moses' life, after forty years of testing and trials, it provides specific instructions to enable successful living in the land. Its critical importance is evident in the command to review it every seven years, ensuring its teachings remain fresh in the minds of the people. This recurring review, as noted in Deuteronomy 17:19-20, emphasizes that the king must read it all the days of his life to learn to fear the Lord his God, observe His laws and statutes, and remain humble before his brethren, neither turning aside from the commandments nor allowing his heart to be lifted above others. This seven-year cycle of reading Deuteronomy serves to reconfirm its relevance for all generations of Israelites, extending far into the future, not merely for those who first received it. The instruction is not limited to ancient times but applies to spiritual Israel today, underscoring that God's Word, as affirmed by Jesus Christ Himself, remains unchanged, not one jot or tittle passing away. Deuteronomy's enduring purpose is to guide God's people, providing a foundation for living according to His will, as seen in the historical account of King Josiah in II Kings 23:1, where the rediscovered Book of the Covenant—identified as Deuteronomy—was read before all the people, leading to a renewal of obedience and a cleansing of idolatry in Judah. Deuteronomy acts as a compass, pointing the way when individuals or nations stray from God. Its broad teachings, while not detailed, direct God's people back to the right path, ensuring they can realign with His purpose. This ongoing relevance highlights why God insists on its periodic review, as it remains a tool for preparation, not only for life in the Promised Land but also for His Kingdom and beyond, up to the time of the Lake of Fire.

The book of Deuteronomy holds a unique significance as it is the only book in the entire Bible that God commands to be read publicly. As instructed in Deuteronomy 31:10-11, at the end of every seven years, during the year of release at the Feast of Tabernacles, when all Israel gathers before the LORD their God in the chosen place, this law must be read before all Israel in their hearing. This command underscores the importance of the instruction contained within Deuteronomy, ensuring that its teachings are indelibly impressed upon the minds of the people over a lifetime. Furthermore, Deuteronomy 17:18-19 mandates that when a king sits on the throne of his kingdom, he must write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. This copy is to remain with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life, learning to fear the LORD his God and to carefully observe all the words of this law and these statutes. This personal engagement with the text highlights its critical role in guiding rulership and maintaining obedience to God's commands.