Chapter 27 of Deuteronomy is such a pivotal chapter. It is the place where everyone in ancient Israel is leaving their time of the long, long journey through the wilderness and finally coming into the new land.
As this happens; God is directing Moses to write on their hearts just exactly what that means. They are made to realize that all that happens from this point forward depends on their obedience or disobedience to God.
It is critical that the whole nation understands the laws of God and how to implement them.
WELCOME
Welcome to our COME AS A CHILD, Thursday Bible Study. We are so pleased that you have joined us today! Turn your bible to Deuteronomy 27 and follow along.
GOD’S BEST WAYS TO LIVE
Israel (as well as Christians today) must always remember how God has told us to live. These important facts of life will be accented when the Children of Israel begin to enter the new land. To help them remember; Moses instructs them to write these laws down on huge stones for all the world to see.
I’m thinking that now it would be impossible for anyone to go in and out of Israel without seeing these huge pillars of the law, and without knowing God’s will for the land.
First though; the people must hear them for the last time from the lips of their beloved Moses.
TWO SIGNIFICANT OPPOSITES
The tribes stand on the two mountaintops; Girizim and Ebal. The Levites and The Ark of The Covenant stand in the middle from the land called Shechem, the place where Abraham built his first altar.
Both sides, from each mountain hear and agree to the blessings and the curses that come to those who are obedient or disobedient to God.
Mt. Gerizim listeners are the descendants of the sons of Rachel and Leah. They are confirming the blessings of obedience by saying “Amen.”
At the end of Chapter 27 we see that the other six sons and their ancestors are standing on Mt. Ebal. One such son’s tribe; the Tribe of Ruben, who was Leah’s first born who lost his rights as the first-born son through sin, stands along side the ancestors of and her youngest son Zebulun’s Tribes, who stand with the ancestral tribes of all the sons of the two hand-maids who belonged to Rachel and Leah.) They all confirm each curse for disobedience out loud with the word “Amen.”
The Amen in this case means “so be it.”
One cannot help but recall the words of Galatians 3:10; “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.””
IT IS ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS
As each curse is called out by the Levites; you notice something significant. Only the first curse pertains to the First Stone Tablet of the law, which details one’s relationship with God. Each of the other curses deal with words from the Second Stone Tablet; the tablet that speaks of one’s relationship with others.
Here are the curses taken from Deuteronomy 27:14:
The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice:
15 “Cursed is anyone who makes an idol—a thing detestable to the Lord, the work of skilled hands—and sets it up in secret.”
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
16 “Cursed is anyone who dishonors their father or mother.”
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
17 “Cursed is anyone who moves their neighbor’s boundary stone.”
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
18 “Cursed is anyone who leads the blind astray on the road.”
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
19 “Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.”
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
20 “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he dishonors his father’s bed.”
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
21 “Cursed is anyone who has sexual relations with any animal.”
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
22 “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.”
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
23 “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his mother-in-law.”
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
24 “Cursed is anyone who kills their neighbor secretly.”
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
25 “Cursed is anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.”
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
26 “Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.”
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
So we hear how we can be cursed by disobedience to God in relation to how we treat our parents, our neighbor, blind people, aliens, orphans, widows, other innocent people, our father’s wife, sister, the daughter of our father, the daughter of our mother, our mother-in-law, and other family members.
It becomes very clear that God desires us to practice righteousness and faithfulness in our relationships with others. It is impossible to disobey these things and stay in right relationship with God.
Also; many of the sins listed are sins that are done in secret; things that no one would know except you and God and perhaps one other victim that may not speak out. God abhors such sins. These curses should make that plain and put fear into the hearts of the wicked.
The most visible proof that we are Christians and God-followers would be our relationship with others. No one wants to accumulate curses on their life because of careless considerations and abuse of others. It is so much easier to be kind and gentle and to get along with one another.
Let’s aim for the blessing side of these curses, and pray that all who enjoy such sins turn and repent; so that our whole nation can be one that is living “under-God” and righteous before Him.
Like Israel renewing their allegiance to the Covenant of God with Abraham; let us be faithful and sure to renew our Covenant with Jesus Christ; Our Messiah.
Let there be no more curses; so that God may bless America!