The same principles that applied to Israel's success in Canaan apply to us today. Help us continue to equip Christians with knowledge, wisdom, and character. 1. Deuteronomy 28:1-2, The promise of God in Deuteronomy 28:1-2 offers many powerful insights that we can learn from when we listen with our hearts and open ourselves to applying the wisdom of its mighty blessing to our lives with obedience. Even though Christians are not under the law-covenant as a covenant, we need to be reminded of the incredible privilege it is to be Gods covenant people and take seriously Pauls admonition that all Scripture, including Deuteronomy, is for our instruction and admonition (2 Tim 3:15-17). Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. Could Deut. When we chose to believe in God, we are also given a fresh start. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you.". Sometimes the curse or judgment was pronounced by the servant of God as in Deuteronomy 27-28. You are using an out of date browser. First, Deuteronomy beautifully describes the covenant relationship between God and his people. Part of it was in response to the Jews. Because he is holy and just, as well as merciful and loving, he must punish wrong actions and attitudes. In all of this instruction, Israel had the supreme privilege of learning the fear of the Lord (Deut 31:12). The head is the leader, the one who . His command was also a dramatic warning to the nation of Israel that God's people should beware of being overcome by the evil practices of their enemies. The book recounts the teachings and events of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. We get a lot of questions in the inbox about how to interpret the Old Testament as a Christian, trying to understand which promises apply to us and which ones dont. It was a dividing wall that kept the Gentiles and Jews separated. God never changes, so we can always depend on him. Young people should be informed of the consequences that are sure to follow when God's instructions are ignored. Sometimes we are faced with big problems or strong opposition. No matter how much we give back to God, we should give it joyfully and thankfully. Everything from Exodus 20 through Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy is one long sermon given by Moses before his death. By so doing they will become faithful sons, which wonderfully and gloriously, God promises to do in the future. The moral lawsthose against lying, stealing . Deuteronomy is like a preflight check-list for one of the most important adventures in biblical history. Blessings Will Run After Us Deuteronomy 28:1-2 commentary by David Guzik, notes with L.Willows, Blue Letter Bible / David Guzik Study Guide, Songs of The Dawn, a worship poem from L.Willows (Hope in God, Heart Prayer, Faith), Praying for People of Every Tribe, Tongue and Nation, from Precept Austin (Redemption, Pray without Ceasing), Faith; Rejoicing in Grace, from Martin Lloyd Jones (Overcome, Trusting God, True Courage), Repent Unto Life, by Charles Haddon Spurgeon (Eternal Life in Christ, Divine Mercy of God, Resources). This was Jesuspoint. He wants us to turn back to him. The imagery of having blessings run after us and overtake us with their joyful power is wonderous! Deuteronomy 21:10-14 gives a law about divorce. Does that mean that Leviticus 5:16 doesnt apply to us? JavaScript is disabled. the covenant nation of God? not by the works of the law, and then teach that the law and its curse still apply today to New Testament believers . 1 Then Moses and the elders of Israel charged the people, saying, "Keep all the commandments which I command you today. Because of Solomon's disobedience, Israel became a divided nation, and many of the Israelites turned away from God. It was hard to keep all the laws, so they decided, lets keep the most important one. Their crops will yield abundant harvests, their flocks and herds will increase, and they will be blessed with many children. Deuteronomy 22 is entirely about instructions what to do and what not to do. What values do you need to maintain in life to be truly successful? Second, Moses in Deuteronomy does not pull any punches regarding the deep problem of the human heart. I recognize this and know the error. If youre seeking to justify yourself, then you have to treat your neighbor this way, and youre not going to be able to consistently treat your neighbor this way. Ultimately, of course, this is what the OT prophets and the NT announces occurs in the dawning of a new covenant secured by the life, death, and resurrection of Gods own obedient Son (Rom 3:21-31; cf. . This request is one we should follow, too. He received his Ph.D. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and he is the author of numerous essays and articles and the co-author of Kingdom through Covenant (Crossway, 2012). Finally, this passage reminds us of Gods faithfulness. There were debates between them about which law was the greatest commandment, so they asked Jesus. Possibly, Moses wanted to remind the new generation that had grown up during the desert wandering that they, too, were God's chosen people. Does the Covenant of Works Have 2 Aspects to it. We dont have all the laws that pertain to dietary and sacrificial things because Jesus did away with those laws. In the previous verse, the lender has wealth and power while the borrower is subservient. Seeing Jesus in Deuteronomy takes practice, but he is everywhere. It is all over the book of Hebrews, but here is Hebrews 10:12 and 14: When Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Deuteronomy 28 listed blessings and curses for by being obedience or disobedience and says do this (obey) or do that (disobey) and God does this (bless) or that (curse) - that's the religion of the law of Moses. 1. They say it looks like were picking and choosing the Old Testament Law because were against homosexuality, but we dont follow these other details. Both versions allot six days for laboring (Exodus 20:9; Deuteronomy 5:13). 33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. Learn how your comment data is processed. In the healthiest churches, we find a holy conspiracy between pastors who gladly care for the sheep, and sheep who do what they can so that the pastors might serve joyfully. Being the head would have a similar meaning. Applying this principle to Deuteronomy 24:1-4, if husband and wife divorced because the wife is or became an unbeliever and departed from the marriage (which might be indicated, in principle, by the fact that the husband found "some uncleanness in her"), then the husband is free to remarry (The same would apply, of course, to a wife, that . See How To Advertise. Refusing to obey God's instructions always brings defeat. First and foremost, we need to realize that the Old Testament is still relevant to us today. Defeating Giants - Part 4. It is the manual for life! Posted Nov 28, 2016 by Michael L. Brown. 9. (1-2) God humbled and tested Israel. Gods lawsfrom both the Old Testament and New Testamentare not just arbitrary expressions of His power. This passage applies to us today because Gods character does not change. The "curse of the law" is not the curses found in Deuteronomy 28 that was specifically for the nation Israel in the Mosaic Covenant. It was made between God and Moses and Israel. Just as our law does, the Mosaic Law included universal moral principles. If they did, He would protect them, and if they didnt, He would forsake them(Deuteronomy 28). God dealt with Adam and Eve in one way, and He dealt with the Jews through Abraham with a different plan. The message inherent in The Promise of God is that when we obey His command to put Him first (to set Him high, above all other things in our lives and treasure Him as our first cause, our Creator) then the blessings in our lives will become so powerful that they will overtake us. This is because God is faithful to His promises. When a pilot wants to take his private plane up for a ride on a sunny afternoon, he goes throughapre-flight check-list. If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14). Israel is called to be an obedient son, yet they have failed and will fail. Your email address will not be published. Because God does not change, the blessings He gave to people in the past apply to us as much as they have ever . Years after Moses gave these instructions for kings, Israel's rulers refused to listen to this word of creation. The Puritans is the shining example of what abrogation vs general equity means. Then theres a new generation that takes the land under Joshua. Another adjustment is expected this fall, NBC News reported . As a literary form, this chapter is similar to ancient treaties between a king and his people; this is God the King, making a covenant with His people, Israel. God's command to destroy these nations was his judgment upon them for the wicked things they had done for many years. Put up a link or something. He was not pleased when the Israelites insisted on returning to their sinful practices. Deuteronomy 28:20 says, The LORD will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in all that you put your hand to do, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin. This means that if we live a life that is not pleasing to God, He will curse us with problems and confusion. These things are wrong in any culture. Stubbornness is characteristic of human nature, but that doesn't mean God likes it. It was made between God and Moses and Israel. Our Creator wishes to make Himself known to us. God had promised the Israelites that if they obeyed his laws and teaching, he would bless them with food, shelter, and land. These differences are evident in book iv chaper 20 pp. The astronauts flying a space shuttle mission endure days of preflight preparation. We are told that if we do not trust in Him, then we will not be blessed. Christians may rightly embrace the promises of the Old Testament made to Israel, because in union with the Messiah, Jesus, we are Israel, we are the true Israel. A life blessed by God according to Deuteronomy 28 is one that is full of His goodness and love. Pilots gladly endure all of these precautions in order to fly and land safely at their destinations. In Leviticus it is being expressed clearly as a universal, right next to bestiality and child sacrifice. There is no balancing involved or necessary as far as I can see. It's a hermeneutical problem; an undue flattening out of the covenantal administration. If we obey Gods laws, we will be blessed. Rom 5:20-21; 7:13)a lesson we must never forget. 28 "And if you will without fail listen to the voice of Jehovah your God by being careful to do all his commandments that I am commanding you today, Jehovah your God will certainly put you high above all other nations of the earth. Here is the first step: 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, All the promises of God find their Yes in him [Christ]. On an individual level, we can expect to be blessed with a clear conscience, a sense of Gods presence, and joy in our daily lives. Deuteronomy 28:15-68 is a powerful passage that contains a lot of practical applications for our lives today. Moses Wrote The Book Of Deuteronomy. We need to look at the passages in question and ask: Does this seem to express a moral obligation that transcends the Mosaic Law? They wouldnt be able toescapethe blessings. 3. 1. 2 All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: 3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. In all these ways, Deuteronomy is a Gospel book and required reading for Gods people today. We are not blessed because we do this or that in the New Testament, we are blessed because Christ already took away the curse of the law and we are ONLY left with blessings. I can't give a satisfactory explanation of why Deuteronomy 20 should be in our Bibles. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. When we disobey Him, we open ourselves up to His curse. Thank you for this brief but important rudiment of the simplicity of the gospel of Christ . When we live a life blessed by God, we are truly living the best possible life. "Christians become the heirs of all the promises in the Old Testament through union with Christ." Here is the first step: 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, "All the promises of God find their Yes in him [Christ]. King Solomon, for example, was very successful at first. There is a unique kind of plan that He has in the new covenant that's expressed through Jesus and what He did on the cross. L.Willows, Blessings on obedience, Commentary by David GuzikBlue Letter Bible / David Guzik Study Guide. 28 be applied to the United States? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Editorial: Reading Deuteronomy for Gods People Today. 6, God gives Moses instructions to give to Israel. He promises to remove the curse if the Israelites obey Him, and He is faithful to His promises. Does that mean we can go around murdering people because were not under the Mosaic Law? In a six-part series, we explored family devotions the importance of it as well as ways to structure the time, to overcome obstacles, and to keep the gospel central. Best Answer. . 1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice That is my understanding of Romans 11. It should be an expression of intimacy between husband and wife within marriage. 8. Here is the way Paul puts it in Philippians 3:3. The rest of the bible of course shows us that the principles, blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience still apply, but as a matter of bible interpretation I don't see how this particular passage has direct application outside of Israel in the land. Let me make a distinction between how the Israelites were chosen then and how we as Christians are chosen now because it relates to the purpose of the Law and how we apply it today. Were on a mission to change that. how far can a duck . They hesitated and by staying outside of the land, they were not obeying God's instructions. Share Improve this answer Follow answered May 24, 2022 at 21:53 conceptualinertia 1,112 10 16 Add a comment God told Moses he was pleased when the Israelites obeyed him because they wanted to, not because they had to. God did punish the people several times for their disobedience, but he always remained faithful to them. From the context of Deuteronomy 28:13, we know it is better to be the head than the tail. Positioned strategically at the end of the Pentateuch, concluding the incredible life and ministry of Moses, renewing and expanding the Sinai covenant for the post-wilderness generation, Deuteronomy serves as the covenant instruction (torah) for a new generation posed to enter the Promised Land. Therefore, the application we make of this verse is not that if Christians will repent God will heal America. He is to exhort the Israelites regarding God's law. God changes a lot of different things. They seem to be universals and are therefore in the New Testament. Deuteronomy 31:6. This book is named after the main character of its second part. . Others may be trying to trick us. This passage contains a list of curses that will befall the Israelites if they disobey God. We must always give God the credit for our health, riches, and well-being. "Be strong and courageous. In our own lives, we are subject to the same reveal of God. If not, we have reason to question whether our faith is real. Idolatry-the worship of handmade statues or images - was everywhere in the land. "Romans 7 talks about the Jesus of the law and Christ of the New Testament, the resurrected one", This is the Christ that represented the law in his, Another One, not the One that died in his BODY being representative of the law, The One who is not after the body of the One that died to the law in his body, this is, the resurrected One and not the same as the one represented in the law because that One is already DEAD, Deuteronomy 28 Is Not For Christians; Ephesians 1:3 Is Our Key To Blessings, Scriptures Expounded: About Wet Dreams And Human Wastes - Deuteronomy 23:10-14. But if we disobey, we will be cursed. Ohio has its own statutes. .this right here is the good news but also the 'offence of the cross', Galatians 5v11. These xtian fellas keep shooting themselves in d leg..that is all I can say if you deeply understand the post.. 2# Short Commentary & Lesson From Deuteronomy 5.28-30. Unfortunately, the Israelites broke their promise to God. Moses let it be known that from this day on, the Israelites were God's people, so they needed to obey God's instructions. It is not an agreement God made with anyone else. Editorial: Reading Deuteronomy for Gods People Today. As a nation, we can expect to be blessed with political stability, economic prosperity, and military success. General Equity would be a contradiction if you assume Abrogated as used by the divines means totally nullified in its entirety. In the New Testament, God doesn't bless us because of what we do but because of our faith in Christ and His finished works. Universal moral obligations from the Mosaic Law are repeated in the New Testament. In any case, God's Word is the one true standard against which all activities show be judged. He is author of. Hes saying that this sums up the obligation of the Old Testament Law. First, it shows us the importance of obeying God. The people are to keep the Sabbath in remembrance of their enslavement in Egypt. Confess them over you life and let the blessings of God literally run you down and overtake you. The passage also includes a promise from God that these curses will be removed if the Israelites obey Him. But if we disobey, we will be cursed. Here's a slightly different slant: of course it applies to us! As Adam alluded to, there is always application. John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. As New Testament Christians in the New Covenant, which commands or moral principles are obligatory and would apply regardless of the covenants because they are universal morals that transcend the Mosaic Law? Deuteronomy emphasizes the heart and feeling of the lawto love God with all your being and your neighbor as yourself. In the ancient Near East it was customary for legal treaties to conclude with passages containing blessings upon those who observed the enactments, and curses upon those who did not. (Harrrison). He expects His people to obey Him, and He will bless them when they do. He reminds them of how the previous generation died in the wilderness because they had disobeyed the LORD and turned aside to other gods. The ritual laws of sacrifice teach us that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22) and point us to Jesus on the cross. And let me give you one more example, because he asked about it. He can make plans and play things out so that certain things apply in some cases and dont apply later, though His purpose is constant and unchanging. There are some laws which had a ceremonial or civil component, which have since passed away, but retain their moral component and still apply today . They served their purpose for the carnal, physical nation of Israel, but they have been superseded by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ Who has opened a new way to God the Father, based on personal responsibility and . A. Deuteronomy, rightly understood and placed in its location in redemptive-history, is far more than an ancient history book of Israel. 11 You shall remain outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. In other words, when step one says that we are heirs of all the promises, we have to take into account that those promises may be fulfilled differently today because of the changes that have come into history through the words and the work of Jesus. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God: a. In ch. Do not ever think that God is too kind to do anything about sin. Now, how do Christians embrace and apply this today? being referred to and other "gotcha" laws which might be mentioned fall into one of the first two bins and no longer apply to us today. We need to be humble before God and remember His goodness to us (v. 33-36). For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He says, For we are the circumcision and he is talking to his Gentile audience there in Philippi we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. And what he means when he says, we are the circumcision, is: We Gentiles who are united to the Jewish Messiah Jesus are the true circumcised people, the true Israel of God. This remind of when I was in school(primaryschool) my mum always told me if you do well at school and pass all your exams I will buy new dress and special food only for me,and those things she promised to give will entice me and I will put more effort in my study, I thought to myself the creator of heaven and earth the all knowing God, he that exists before every other thing were created promised us all these blessings, and I started thing living life without stress, depress,no sickness, etc,and said prayer asking God to give me Grace to stay under his law and commandments, my heart fill with joy and hope,..GLORY TO HE THAT NEVER FAIL. There is no greater privilege for humans than to know, love, obey, and serve our glorious covenant Lord. For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. If their teachings and their lifestyles do not line up with God's word, stay far away from them! "But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:" Copy. Deuteronomy 28:1 English Standard Version Blessings for Obedience 28 "And qif you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you rhigh above all the nations of the earth.

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