Journal Through the Bible: Week 29 Friday

(Thank you for your patience as I attempt to get the journal pages uploaded. It was a great week of church camp, but I got behind in my posts. It will take a few more days to get everything caught up.)

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Deuteronomy 27:1-28:14

Does God issue any commands in this passage?

• (27:1-8) Through Moses God commanded the people to set up large stone pillars with the words of His commandments on them in Mt. Ebal after the people had crossed over Jordan. There was also to be an altar built there of whole, uncut stones where they were to offer peace offerings, eat, and rejoice!
• (27:9-10) The people were admonished to listen and pay attention to the commands so that they would obey them.
• (27:11-26) Half of the tribes were to stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, the other half were to stand on Mount Ebal to curse the people, and the Levites were to stand in the valley between them and pronounce curses upon those who made idols, dishonored their parents, removed their neighbor's boundary posts, led the blind astray, perverted justice to widows and orphans and strangers, had familiar relations with his stepmother or animals or sisters or mother-in-law, struck down his neighbor secretly, took a contract to kill an innocent person, refused to confirm the words of the laws by doing them. The people answered, "Amen."

Does God make any promises?

• God promised to curse those who refused to confirm the words of the laws.
• On the other hand, God promised that if they would affirm the laws they would be set above all other nations of the earth. The Levites stood in the valley and pronounced blessings in the city and the field, for abundant increase of children and produce and livestock, for abundance in storage, for blessings upon all their business affairs, all enemies would be smitten, daily routines would be blessed, and God would establish them as holy people for Himself as He had promised to do so that all people of the earth would see that the Hebrews were protected by God and would respect them. There would always be plenty. The LORD would open all His treasures to them including giving the rain in season so that crops would grow and all work would be prosperous. They would always be the lenders but never the borrowers. God would put them ahead of everyone else and never behind. These promises were all conditional: they must obey His commands.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the peace offering in the Promised Land. Through Him we pass from death unto life!
• Jesus was sinless. He never did anything to bring a curse upon Himself. He died for our sins, not His own. He took our curse for us.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• Sometimes the picture of "crossing over Jordan" is used to illustrate the death of a believer (it also signifies entering into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ because the believer passes from death unto life). When a believer dies, he will enter the land that flows with milk and honey: a land where obeying the former commands will be automatic and without temptation to do otherwise. The peace offering has already been given on the believer's behalf by Jesus. The believer will be able to eat and he will definitely rejoice!
• God promised a curse to those who refused to follow His way of righteousness. That still stands. Someday those who have not been made righteous through Jesus Christ will be eternally cursed.
• God promised to bless all who accepted His way of righteousness and that still stands as well. Someday all who have been made righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ will eternally be blessed by sharing in God's riches. He promised to open his good treasure to those who obey His commands.