OVERVIEW:
The altar to be built; blessing and cursing; the new covenant; return to the Lord; the choice set before the children of Israel.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
As chapter 27 begins, Moses instructs the children of Israel that when they crossed the Jordan River and entered the land that was promised, the first thing God wanted them to do was to build a memorial of stones covered with plaster, upon which “all the words of this law” (the Ten Commandments) would be written. This instruction will be carried out by Joshua in Joshua 8:30–35. Note that the stones which displayed the “words of the law” was to be set upon Mount Ebal. Interestingly enough, this is the mountain associated in this passage with “cursing”. God is screaming out the message to all that the law can only bring a curse! Romans 3:20 tells us, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Paul further clarifies that in Galatians 3:10, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”
Note also that an altar was to be built at the base of this mountain, where both the burnt offering and the peace offering were to be sacrificed. Recognize that both of these Old Testament offerings find their fulfillment in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Galatians 3:13 tells us, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” The picture here, in Deuteronomy 27, is that the law condemns every man, and the ensuing curse of his sinfulness can only be remedied by the substitutionary death of Christ. Only through Christ is the “curse of sin” removed, and only through Christ can a condemned sinner find “peace with God”! Hallelujah! Romans 5:1–2 tells us, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
In 27:11, Moses then instructs that the 12 tribes were to be divided between two mountains (six tribes on each mountain): Gerizim (representing BLESSING—verse 12) and Ebal (representing CURSING—verse 13). The valley between these two mountains forms a natural amphitheater about two miles wide providing a perfect arena for the Levites to be heard as they were commanded by God to speak to Israel (27:14), and the mountains on each side provided a perfect illustration of the message God was about to present to Israel of their choice of BLESSING or CURSING once they entered the land.
Notice that as God begins to speak through the Levites, the next 12 verses all begin with the same exact word: “CURSED!” (27:15–26) The word “bless, blessed, or blessing” is not to be found. Once again, the simple, but abundantly profound truth God is clearly communicating is that all the law is capable of producing is CURSING!
In chapter 28, God tells Israel that once they came into the land, the choice between BLESSING and CURSING would be completely theirs. Quite simply, OBEDIENCE would bring “BLESSING”, and DISOBEDIENCE would bring “CURSING”. Notice that the first word of verses 3, 4, 5, and 6 is “blessed,” and that the promise of “blessing” is found in verses 7–14. Notice also that the first word of verses 16, 17, 18, and 19 is “cursing” and that the promise of “cursing” is found in verses 20–68. That’s 49 straight verses of nothing but the warning of “cursing”! God spells it out very simply: If the children of Israel will diligently hearken to the Lord and do His commandments, the Lord will set them on high (28:1). The Lord will bless them in their home, their work, their nation, and everything that has anything to do with their lives. (28:2–14) But, if they will not hearken (28:15), curses would be certain to come upon them and overtake them. They would be cursed in their body, their work, their home, their land, and their nation. The rain would be dust. (28:24) In verse 30, three of the military exemptions (20:5–7) would be turned into curses. Without the Lord fighting for them, it was inevitable, they would be conquered.
Note that this chapter is not only a warning to Israel, but also a prophecy of the future of Israel. The blessings of the Lord that He talks about in this chapter will be seen repeatedly in the kingdom as they obey the Lord. The curses will likewise be seen in the conquests, the captivities, and the famines throughout the rest of the Old Testament and beyond. Jeremiah cries, in the book of Lamentations, as he looks out of his window and sees the people and the city destroyed as these very curses have unfolded.
Practically speaking, what are we to learn from these things?
Chapters 29 and 30 complete the third message from Moses. He begins chapter 29 with a reminder of the covenant God had made with them in Horeb, and their inability to keep it. Moses reminds them of the provision and protection of the Lord, the wrath of the Lord, and their unique relationship with Him. Once again, Moses reminds them that if they obey God they will be blessed, and if they disobey Him they will be cursed. God tells them that there are certain secret things that He had not revealed to them, but He lets them know in no uncertain terms that everything He had revealed to them, they were required to obey! (29:29)
As we come into chapter 30, our Lord is revealing that if Israel, after living under the curse of their disobedience, would return to Him, and once again begin to obey the things He had commanded through His word, He would extend His grace and compassion to them, and allow them to live in His blessing. Wow! What a God! (See Psalm 111:4) Notice that this passage is not only another promise to Israel, but also another prophecy of the future of Israel. It looks forward to a time of renewal for the children of Israel in the last days, when they shall return unto the Lord and obey His voice.
In 30:11–20, Moses extends the invitation to the children of Israel. The words have been plain, not hidden, or out of reach. (30:11) It was all really very simple. God concised these four chapters (Deuteronomy 27–30) into two simple verses. The first verse is 30:15: “See, I have set before thee this day LIFE and GOOD, and DEATH and EVIL.” The choice was theirs: LIFE or DEATH…and GOOD or EVIL. Seems like it should have been the biggest no-brainier in the history of earth! The second verse is 30:19, where Moses says to the people: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you LIFE and DEATH, BLESSING and CURSING: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” Again, how hard could that decision be?! Don’t miss the fact that God presents that same choice to you and me today, and every day, for the remainder of our lives. (Galatians 6:7–8) It really is that simple!
I am reminded today of what I would consider one of the saddest and most tragic verses in the entire Bible. Jesus said in John 5:40: “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” May that not be true of us.
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
As THE PEACE OFFERING — Deuteronomy 27:7 (John 14:27; Romans 5:1; Colossians 1:20)
As THE BLESSING OF GOD — Deuteronomy 28:1–2 (Ephesians 1:3; 1st Peter 1:3)
As LIFE — Deuteronomy 30:15 (John 11:25; 6:40)