Deuteronomy 27 -- Agreeing And Obeying

Moses directed the people and their leaders to publicly announce and agree to blessings and curses based on their actions once they entered the Promised Land.  My commentary said, “They weren’t predicting what would happen if the people disobeyed God.  They were calling upon the Lord to send these curses on His people if they turned away from Him.  And when the people said ‘Amen’ after each statement, they were telling God that they were willing to be chastened if they disobeyed Him.  Their ‘Amen’ wasn’t just their agreement with the words spoken; it was their acceptance of the terms of the covenant.”

Perhaps the telling verse was verse 26:  “Anyone will be cursed who does not agree with the words of these teachings and does not obey them.”  I was reading a book this last weekend that mentioned how the first question in the Bible is, “Did God really say ….?”  That’s exactly where this curse applies!

Father, please help me not to doubt that You mean exactly what You say in Your Word.  Don’t let me try to put it into any historical context.  Instead, firmly show me that Your “no” means “no” for all time, and by agreeing with You on that and obeying, I am also agreeing to the promised blessings You have for me.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford