A New Review of Covenant Making and Keeping...(1 Part of Covenantalism)...Chapters / Lessons 27 thru 30
Chapter 27
At the end of this Chapter, there contains 14 study questions for you to answer. There exists no right or wrong answers. Just answer them to your best ability with Yahweh’s guidance and study material presented in front of you. Now, as we open our bibles to Deuteronomy Chapter 27, one must remember to pray first and give S.P.A.C.E.
Do you have a Sin to forsake?
Do you have a Promise to claim?
Do you have an Attitude to change?
Is there a Command to obey?
Is there an Example to follow?
Do you have a Sin to forsake?
Do you have a Promise to claim?
Do you have an Attitude to change?
Is there a Command to obey?
Is there an Example to follow?
Here in Chapter 27, the instructions concerning the erection of large stones with the words of the law (vss. 2 – 4, 8), construction of an altar (vv. 5 – 6a), offering of sacrifices (vv. 6b – 7), recital of blessings and cursings (vv. 9 – 14), and the text of a dozen curses to be recited or the absence of the blessings (vv. 15 – 26) become a problem.
Problem
The problem is that the unity of this Chapter is usually treated diachronically causing a weakened theological appreciation of the Chapter. This weakness is caused by that fact that scholars fail to deal with the theology of the Chapter satisfactory.
“The theological contribution of [as far as the] the altar and sacrifices [are concerned] in vv 5-7 is mostly ignored by commentators who more frequently concern themselves with the compatibility of these instructions with the sanctuary law of Chapter 12, or with source-critical, diachronic issues, often regarding the verses as a later addition.”[1]
Now, what is exactly written on the stones? Some opinions include the whole book of Deuteronomy, the legal section of the book (Chapters 12 – 26), the Decalogue, a selection of laws in Deuteronomy, and the law of the covenant from Exodus 19 – 24.
Nevertheless, what exactly is Israel facing at this moment in Chapter 27? They have the choice to obey and be blessed or disobey and be cursed. It is not as much as the pronouncement of cursings; but, the very absent of blessings.
Deuteronomy 27:12 – 13 “When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.”
It remains striking that only the curses would follow. One would have to move onto Chapter 28 to find the blessings. There remains one common explanation for this and that is that the original reversal of the curses was left out with the text envisioning the blessings. This is a common misconception amongst the scholars. The reason for no blessings and only cursings is that Chapter 27 may be divided wrongly with Chapter 28. The end of Chapter 27 could possibly at verse 19 in Chapter 28 and Chapter 28 would start with verse 20. One must remember that the original text was written from right to left with no punctuation marks. Therefore, this should remain a high probability. Another reason for the absence of blessings is that Chapter 27 is likened to an ancient royal land grant treaty. The Babylonian kudurru were public monuments and legal documents. At the end of their documents contained curses without blessings. This may be an interesting comparison; but it does not take into account for Chapter 27:12 that suggests that in itself is a blessing.
Sanctions
Now, blessings always have something to do with inheritance. This inheritance can be personal or cultural, from holiness to financial and civilization prosperity. While, on the other hand, cursings involve death. Death of the same items for which blessings bring. These blessings and cursing (or sanctions) are also promises. This type of promissory goes all the way back to the Book of Genesis. Yahweh promised the blessing of rest on the Sabbath and the cursing of death if the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil was eaten. In addition, blessings can be judicial which involves judgment (or cursings) before receiving the blessing.
The way of the covenant now emerges. If you want to build a mud hut, it takes about a day. If you want to build a civilization, it takes a generation. The Kingdom of Yahweh is built brick by brick, piece by piece. Judgment always comes before blessing. One must meet Christ on The Cross rather than on Judgment Day. There should never be hatred for cursings. One must receive discipline, suffering, and correction in order to grow in spiritual maturity.
Oath
These sanctions where received by oath, a self-valedictory. The suzerain entered into the covenant by pledging and calling evil upon himself if he should fail to honor his words. The vassal would enter the covenant the same way. In other words, the vassal cosigned the suzerain pledge. Men enter into this covenant by saying “amen” to Yahweh’s’ self-valedictory oath. This would mean that “Yahweh would put upon me the curse that He would be willing to take upon Himself should I back-out of the covenant”. Therefore, saying “amen” should be taken very seriously.
5 sacrifices and 5 points
A sacrificial system is at the very heart of this covenant ratification. There are 5 sacrifices that needed to be done that match the 5 covenantalism points. The first was a reparation offering.
Leviticus 5:14 – 16
The LORD said to Moses: “When anyone is unfaithful to the LORD by sinning unintentionally in regard to any of the LORD’s holy things, they are to bring to the LORD as a penalty a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. It is a guilt offering. They must make restitution for what they have failed to do in regard to the holy things, pay an additional penalty of a fifth of its value and give it all to the priest. The priest will make atonement for them with the ram as a guilt offering, and they will be forgiven.”
This parallels the transcendence of Yahweh first by paying back a form of restitution as an offering.
The second was a sin (purification) offering by way of confessing the actual sin. This was done by the laying of hands on the sin (purification) offering and transferring the guilt from the sinner to the object (or animal). This is a representational principle (heirarchial).
Leviticus 4:33
“They are to lay their hand on its head and slaughter it for a sin offering at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered.”
Thirdly, there is the whole-burnt offering.
Leviticus 1:3 and 10
“‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that you may be acceptable to the LORD. ‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the flock, from either the sheep or the goats, you are to offer a male without defect.”
This is because of breaking the law the individual can offer himself to Yahweh completely. This is the ethics section of the covenant.
Fourthly, this exists a cereal offering.
Leviticus 2:13
“Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your [Yahweh] out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.”
This would be a tribute of grain and salt mixed, salt representing judgment. The sanctions part of the covenant comes to mind as blessings come thru judgment.
Finally, there is the peace offering.
Numbers 6:17
“He is to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering to the LORD, together with its grain offering and drink offering.”
This communion meal existed between the priest and the guilty party’s family. This will be brought to light in the next section.
The consignments of these [Yahweh] oath-sanctions are to be applied as a household, not just individually. When Adam and Eve fell, their entire family fell as well. The fall came upon their descendants by legal representation. Since sin is destroying the family, redemption saves it. This same legal representation holds true in salvation. The sanction section of Deuteronomy reads of the many categories of people in which these sanctions are applied.
The cutting of a covenant creates a transfer of a new name. Abram to Abraham. Jacob to Israel. This means that person receiving the name change has been transferred into a new family. This is called adoption.
(TNIV) Chapter 27
The Altar on Mount Ebal
1 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all these commands that I give you today.
2 When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the LORD your [Yahweh] is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster.
3 Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the LORD your [Yahweh] is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the [Yahweh] of your ancestors, promised you.
4 And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster.
5 Build there an altar to the LORD your [Yahweh], an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on them.
6 Build the altar of the LORD your [Yahweh] with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your [Yahweh].
7 Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your [Yahweh].
8 And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones you have set up.”
Curses From Mount Ebal
9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the LORD your [Yahweh].
10 Obey the LORD your [Yahweh] and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.”
11 On the same day Moses commanded the people:
12 When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin.
13 And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.
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!”
Footnotes:
[1] Paul A. Barker. "The Theology of Deuteronomy 27.” Tyndale Bulletin, 49, 2, (1998); 294.
Problem
The problem is that the unity of this Chapter is usually treated diachronically causing a weakened theological appreciation of the Chapter. This weakness is caused by that fact that scholars fail to deal with the theology of the Chapter satisfactory.
“The theological contribution of [as far as the] the altar and sacrifices [are concerned] in vv 5-7 is mostly ignored by commentators who more frequently concern themselves with the compatibility of these instructions with the sanctuary law of Chapter 12, or with source-critical, diachronic issues, often regarding the verses as a later addition.”[1]
Now, what is exactly written on the stones? Some opinions include the whole book of Deuteronomy, the legal section of the book (Chapters 12 – 26), the Decalogue, a selection of laws in Deuteronomy, and the law of the covenant from Exodus 19 – 24.
Nevertheless, what exactly is Israel facing at this moment in Chapter 27? They have the choice to obey and be blessed or disobey and be cursed. It is not as much as the pronouncement of cursings; but, the very absent of blessings.
Deuteronomy 27:12 – 13 “When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.”
It remains striking that only the curses would follow. One would have to move onto Chapter 28 to find the blessings. There remains one common explanation for this and that is that the original reversal of the curses was left out with the text envisioning the blessings. This is a common misconception amongst the scholars. The reason for no blessings and only cursings is that Chapter 27 may be divided wrongly with Chapter 28. The end of Chapter 27 could possibly at verse 19 in Chapter 28 and Chapter 28 would start with verse 20. One must remember that the original text was written from right to left with no punctuation marks. Therefore, this should remain a high probability. Another reason for the absence of blessings is that Chapter 27 is likened to an ancient royal land grant treaty. The Babylonian kudurru were public monuments and legal documents. At the end of their documents contained curses without blessings. This may be an interesting comparison; but it does not take into account for Chapter 27:12 that suggests that in itself is a blessing.
Sanctions
Now, blessings always have something to do with inheritance. This inheritance can be personal or cultural, from holiness to financial and civilization prosperity. While, on the other hand, cursings involve death. Death of the same items for which blessings bring. These blessings and cursing (or sanctions) are also promises. This type of promissory goes all the way back to the Book of Genesis. Yahweh promised the blessing of rest on the Sabbath and the cursing of death if the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil was eaten. In addition, blessings can be judicial which involves judgment (or cursings) before receiving the blessing.
The way of the covenant now emerges. If you want to build a mud hut, it takes about a day. If you want to build a civilization, it takes a generation. The Kingdom of Yahweh is built brick by brick, piece by piece. Judgment always comes before blessing. One must meet Christ on The Cross rather than on Judgment Day. There should never be hatred for cursings. One must receive discipline, suffering, and correction in order to grow in spiritual maturity.
Oath
These sanctions where received by oath, a self-valedictory. The suzerain entered into the covenant by pledging and calling evil upon himself if he should fail to honor his words. The vassal would enter the covenant the same way. In other words, the vassal cosigned the suzerain pledge. Men enter into this covenant by saying “amen” to Yahweh’s’ self-valedictory oath. This would mean that “Yahweh would put upon me the curse that He would be willing to take upon Himself should I back-out of the covenant”. Therefore, saying “amen” should be taken very seriously.
5 sacrifices and 5 points
A sacrificial system is at the very heart of this covenant ratification. There are 5 sacrifices that needed to be done that match the 5 covenantalism points. The first was a reparation offering.
Leviticus 5:14 – 16
The LORD said to Moses: “When anyone is unfaithful to the LORD by sinning unintentionally in regard to any of the LORD’s holy things, they are to bring to the LORD as a penalty a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. It is a guilt offering. They must make restitution for what they have failed to do in regard to the holy things, pay an additional penalty of a fifth of its value and give it all to the priest. The priest will make atonement for them with the ram as a guilt offering, and they will be forgiven.”
This parallels the transcendence of Yahweh first by paying back a form of restitution as an offering.
The second was a sin (purification) offering by way of confessing the actual sin. This was done by the laying of hands on the sin (purification) offering and transferring the guilt from the sinner to the object (or animal). This is a representational principle (heirarchial).
Leviticus 4:33
“They are to lay their hand on its head and slaughter it for a sin offering at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered.”
Thirdly, there is the whole-burnt offering.
Leviticus 1:3 and 10
“‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that you may be acceptable to the LORD. ‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the flock, from either the sheep or the goats, you are to offer a male without defect.”
This is because of breaking the law the individual can offer himself to Yahweh completely. This is the ethics section of the covenant.
Fourthly, this exists a cereal offering.
Leviticus 2:13
“Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your [Yahweh] out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.”
This would be a tribute of grain and salt mixed, salt representing judgment. The sanctions part of the covenant comes to mind as blessings come thru judgment.
Finally, there is the peace offering.
Numbers 6:17
“He is to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering to the LORD, together with its grain offering and drink offering.”
This communion meal existed between the priest and the guilty party’s family. This will be brought to light in the next section.
The consignments of these [Yahweh] oath-sanctions are to be applied as a household, not just individually. When Adam and Eve fell, their entire family fell as well. The fall came upon their descendants by legal representation. Since sin is destroying the family, redemption saves it. This same legal representation holds true in salvation. The sanction section of Deuteronomy reads of the many categories of people in which these sanctions are applied.
The cutting of a covenant creates a transfer of a new name. Abram to Abraham. Jacob to Israel. This means that person receiving the name change has been transferred into a new family. This is called adoption.
(TNIV) Chapter 27
The Altar on Mount Ebal
1 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all these commands that I give you today.
2 When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the LORD your [Yahweh] is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster.
3 Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the LORD your [Yahweh] is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the [Yahweh] of your ancestors, promised you.
4 And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster.
5 Build there an altar to the LORD your [Yahweh], an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on them.
6 Build the altar of the LORD your [Yahweh] with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your [Yahweh].
7 Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your [Yahweh].
8 And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones you have set up.”
Curses From Mount Ebal
9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the LORD your [Yahweh].
10 Obey the LORD your [Yahweh] and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.”
11 On the same day Moses commanded the people:
12 When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin.
13 And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.
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!”
Footnotes:
[1] Paul A. Barker. "The Theology of Deuteronomy 27.” Tyndale Bulletin, 49, 2, (1998); 294.
Study Questions for Chapter 27
On a blank piece of paper, try to answer the following questions. Remember, there exists no right or wrong answers.
1.) What do you think of Moses’ final words to the people in Deuteronomy 27:1-33:29?
2.) Does it sound like a parent speaking to his children?
3.) Why is it so important for us to remember the Word of [Yahweh]?
4.) What were the Israelites supposed to build after they entered Canaan?
5.) Why where the Israelites instructed to build an altar there too?
6.) What was to be written down as a reminder to the Israelites?
7.) What is the purpose of a stop sign on a highway?
8.) If the Christian life is supposed to be a life of liberty and freedom, why are there negative commandments?
9.) Why is the Christian life like a marriage?
10.) Why is there more liberty in the word stop than in the word go?
11.) What was the purpose of the altar that was to be built by the Jordan River?
12.) What was to be written on the stones?
13.) Who was to read the “curses” to the people?
14.) How were the people to respond to the curses?
1.) What do you think of Moses’ final words to the people in Deuteronomy 27:1-33:29?
2.) Does it sound like a parent speaking to his children?
3.) Why is it so important for us to remember the Word of [Yahweh]?
4.) What were the Israelites supposed to build after they entered Canaan?
5.) Why where the Israelites instructed to build an altar there too?
6.) What was to be written down as a reminder to the Israelites?
7.) What is the purpose of a stop sign on a highway?
8.) If the Christian life is supposed to be a life of liberty and freedom, why are there negative commandments?
9.) Why is the Christian life like a marriage?
10.) Why is there more liberty in the word stop than in the word go?
11.) What was the purpose of the altar that was to be built by the Jordan River?
12.) What was to be written on the stones?
13.) Who was to read the “curses” to the people?
14.) How were the people to respond to the curses?
Chapter 28
At the end of this Chapter, there contains 35 study questions for you to answer. There exists no right or wrong answers. Just answer them to your best ability with Yahweh’s guidance and study material presented in front of you. Now, as we open our bibles to Deuteronomy Chapter 28, one must remember to pray first and give S.P.A.C.E.
Do you have a Sin to forsake?
Do you have a Promise to claim?
Do you have an Attitude to change?
Is there a Command to obey?
Is there an Example to follow?
Do you have a Sin to forsake?
Do you have a Promise to claim?
Do you have an Attitude to change?
Is there a Command to obey?
Is there an Example to follow?
Deuteronomy 28 is full of blessings and, of course, cursings that stretch over 68 verses. The word blessing means prosperity, but not necessarily financial prosperity. Where as it is naturally thought that the word curse comes from the satanic realm, it means the absence or reversal of a blessing. The first 13 blessings where not something sought after; [Yahweh] automatically gives the blessings over. Furthermore, when we follow [Yahweh]’s commandments He promises that we will be the head, not the tail.
Deuteronomy 28:13 “The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your [Yahweh] that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.”
However, He also promises that those who refuse to heed to His voice would be cursed in everything that they do. They would live in a lower realm in every aspect of their lives. They would be cursed coming in and going out. The curses not only affect the body, but every facet of their lives. [Yahweh] has promised that:
Deuteronomy 28:20 “The LORD will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking him.”
Does anyone remember the 1980’s?
Deuteronomy 28:44 “They will lend to you, but you will not lend to them. They will be the head, but you will be the tail.”
Every aspect of life is plagued: our personal health, the agriculture community, industry, the financial structure of the nation, and the family unit itself.
Deuteronomy 28:60 - 61 “He will bring on you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you. The LORD will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed.”
“[Yahweh] has given us, His body, the key in His Word as to how we can break the chain of sickness, disease, and decay. We can reverse the curse in our own lives if we hear His voice and turn from our evil ways and become a praise unto [Yahweh] in the earth. Then, and only then, can we expect the blessings of [Yahweh] to begin to flow to us.”[1]
(TNIV) Chapter 28
Blessings for Obedience
1 If you fully obey the LORD your [Yahweh] and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your [Yahweh] will set you high above all the nations on earth.
2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your [Yahweh]:
3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.
4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.
6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.
7 The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.
8 The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your [Yahweh] will bless you in the land he is giving you.
9 The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your [Yahweh] and walk in obedience to him.
10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you.
11 The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you.
12 The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.
13 The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your [Yahweh] that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.
14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other [Yahweh]s and serving them.
Curses for Disobedience
15 However, if you do not obey the LORD your [Yahweh] and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you:
16 You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country.
17 Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed.
18 The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
19 You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out.
20 The LORD will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking him.
21 The LORD will plague you with diseases until he has destroyed you from the land you are entering to possess.
22 The LORD will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish.
23 The sky over your head will be bronze, the ground beneath you iron.
24 The LORD will turn the rain of your country into dust and powder; it will come down from the skies until you are destroyed.
25 The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will come at them from one direction but flee from them in seven, and you will become a thing of horror to all the kingdoms on earth.
26 Your carcasses will be food for all the birds and the wild animals, and there will be no one to frighten them away.
27 The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors, festering sores and the itch, from which you cannot be cured.
28 The LORD will afflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of mind.
29 At midday you will grope about like a blind person in the dark. You will be unsuccessful in everything you do; day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you.
30 You will be pledged to be married to a woman, but another will take her and ravish her. You will build a house, but you will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard, but you will not even begin to enjoy its fruit.
31 Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will eat none of it. Your donkey will be forcibly taken from you and will not be returned. Your sheep will be given to your enemies, and no one will rescue them.
32 Your sons and daughters will be given to another nation, and you will wear out your eyes watching for them day after day, powerless to lift a hand.
33 A people that you do not know will eat what your land and labor produce, and you will have nothing but cruel oppression all your days.
34 The sights you see will drive you mad.
35 The LORD will afflict your knees and legs with painful boils that cannot be cured, spreading from the soles of your feet to the top of your head.
36 The LORD will drive you and the king you set over you to a nation unknown to you or your ancestors. There you will worship other [Yahweh]s, [Yahweh]s of wood and stone.
37 You will become a thing of horror, a byword and an object of ridicule among all the peoples where the LORD will drive you.
38 You will sow much seed in the field but you will harvest little, because locusts will devour it.
39 You will plant vineyards and cultivate them but you will not drink the wine or gather the grapes, because worms will eat them.
40 You will have olive trees throughout your country but you will not use the oil, because the olives will drop off.
41 You will have sons and daughters but you will not keep them, because they will go into captivity.
42 Swarms of locusts will take over all your trees and the crops of your land.
43 The foreigners who reside among you will rise above you higher and higher, but you will sink lower and lower.
44 They will lend to you, but you will not lend to them. They will be the head, but you will be the tail.
45 All these curses will come on you. They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the LORD your [Yahweh] and observe the commands and decrees he gave you.
46 They will be a sign and a wonder to you and your descendants forever.
47 Because you did not serve the LORD your [Yahweh] joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity,
48 therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the LORD sends against you. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you.
49 The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away, from the ends of the earth, like an eagle swooping down, a nation whose language you will not understand,
50 a fierce-looking nation without respect for the old or pity for the young.
51 They will devour the young of your livestock and the crops of your land until you are destroyed. They will leave you no grain, new wine or olive oil, nor any calves of your herds or lambs of your flocks until you are ruined.
52 They will lay siege to all the cities throughout your land until the high fortified walls in which you trust fall down. They will besiege all the cities throughout the land the LORD your [Yahweh] is giving you.
53 Because of the suffering that your enemy will inflict on you during the siege, you will eat the fruit of the womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters the LORD your [Yahweh] has given you.
54 Even the most gentle and sensitive man among you will have no compassion on his own brother or the wife he loves or his surviving children,
55 and he will not give to one of them any of the flesh of his children that he is eating. It will be all he has left because of the suffering your enemy will inflict on you during the siege of all your cities.
56 The most gentle and sensitive woman among you—so sensitive and gentle that she would not venture to touch the ground with the sole of her foot—will begrudge the husband she loves and her own son or daughter
57 the afterbirth from her womb and the children she bears. For in her dire need she intends to eat them secretly because of the suffering your enemy will inflict on you during the siege of your cities.
58 If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name—the LORD your [Yahweh]—
59 the LORD will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses.
60 He will bring on you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you.
61 The LORD will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed.
62 You who were as numerous as the stars in the sky will be left but few in number, because you did not obey the LORD your [Yahweh].
63 Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper and increase in number, so it will please him to ruin and destroy you. You will be uprooted from the land you are entering to possess.
64 Then the LORD will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship other gods—gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your ancestors have known.
65 Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart.
66 You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life.
67 In the morning you will say, “If only it were evening!” and in the evening, “If only it were morning!”—because of the terror that will fill your hearts and the sights that your eyes will see.
68 The LORD will send you back in ships to Egypt on a journey I said you should never make again. There you will offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one will buy you.
Footnotes:
[1] George Kirkpatrick, “Blessings and Cursings,” http://www.newfoundationspubl.org/blessing.htm (accessed 13 June 2009).
Deuteronomy 28:13 “The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your [Yahweh] that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.”
However, He also promises that those who refuse to heed to His voice would be cursed in everything that they do. They would live in a lower realm in every aspect of their lives. They would be cursed coming in and going out. The curses not only affect the body, but every facet of their lives. [Yahweh] has promised that:
Deuteronomy 28:20 “The LORD will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking him.”
Does anyone remember the 1980’s?
Deuteronomy 28:44 “They will lend to you, but you will not lend to them. They will be the head, but you will be the tail.”
Every aspect of life is plagued: our personal health, the agriculture community, industry, the financial structure of the nation, and the family unit itself.
Deuteronomy 28:60 - 61 “He will bring on you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you. The LORD will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed.”
“[Yahweh] has given us, His body, the key in His Word as to how we can break the chain of sickness, disease, and decay. We can reverse the curse in our own lives if we hear His voice and turn from our evil ways and become a praise unto [Yahweh] in the earth. Then, and only then, can we expect the blessings of [Yahweh] to begin to flow to us.”[1]
(TNIV) Chapter 28
Blessings for Obedience
1 If you fully obey the LORD your [Yahweh] and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your [Yahweh] will set you high above all the nations on earth.
2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your [Yahweh]:
3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.
4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.
6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.
7 The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.
8 The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your [Yahweh] will bless you in the land he is giving you.
9 The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your [Yahweh] and walk in obedience to him.
10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you.
11 The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you.
12 The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.
13 The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your [Yahweh] that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.
14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other [Yahweh]s and serving them.
Curses for Disobedience
15 However, if you do not obey the LORD your [Yahweh] and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you:
16 You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country.
17 Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed.
18 The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
19 You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out.
20 The LORD will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking him.
21 The LORD will plague you with diseases until he has destroyed you from the land you are entering to possess.
22 The LORD will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish.
23 The sky over your head will be bronze, the ground beneath you iron.
24 The LORD will turn the rain of your country into dust and powder; it will come down from the skies until you are destroyed.
25 The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will come at them from one direction but flee from them in seven, and you will become a thing of horror to all the kingdoms on earth.
26 Your carcasses will be food for all the birds and the wild animals, and there will be no one to frighten them away.
27 The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors, festering sores and the itch, from which you cannot be cured.
28 The LORD will afflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of mind.
29 At midday you will grope about like a blind person in the dark. You will be unsuccessful in everything you do; day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you.
30 You will be pledged to be married to a woman, but another will take her and ravish her. You will build a house, but you will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard, but you will not even begin to enjoy its fruit.
31 Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will eat none of it. Your donkey will be forcibly taken from you and will not be returned. Your sheep will be given to your enemies, and no one will rescue them.
32 Your sons and daughters will be given to another nation, and you will wear out your eyes watching for them day after day, powerless to lift a hand.
33 A people that you do not know will eat what your land and labor produce, and you will have nothing but cruel oppression all your days.
34 The sights you see will drive you mad.
35 The LORD will afflict your knees and legs with painful boils that cannot be cured, spreading from the soles of your feet to the top of your head.
36 The LORD will drive you and the king you set over you to a nation unknown to you or your ancestors. There you will worship other [Yahweh]s, [Yahweh]s of wood and stone.
37 You will become a thing of horror, a byword and an object of ridicule among all the peoples where the LORD will drive you.
38 You will sow much seed in the field but you will harvest little, because locusts will devour it.
39 You will plant vineyards and cultivate them but you will not drink the wine or gather the grapes, because worms will eat them.
40 You will have olive trees throughout your country but you will not use the oil, because the olives will drop off.
41 You will have sons and daughters but you will not keep them, because they will go into captivity.
42 Swarms of locusts will take over all your trees and the crops of your land.
43 The foreigners who reside among you will rise above you higher and higher, but you will sink lower and lower.
44 They will lend to you, but you will not lend to them. They will be the head, but you will be the tail.
45 All these curses will come on you. They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the LORD your [Yahweh] and observe the commands and decrees he gave you.
46 They will be a sign and a wonder to you and your descendants forever.
47 Because you did not serve the LORD your [Yahweh] joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity,
48 therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the LORD sends against you. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you.
49 The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away, from the ends of the earth, like an eagle swooping down, a nation whose language you will not understand,
50 a fierce-looking nation without respect for the old or pity for the young.
51 They will devour the young of your livestock and the crops of your land until you are destroyed. They will leave you no grain, new wine or olive oil, nor any calves of your herds or lambs of your flocks until you are ruined.
52 They will lay siege to all the cities throughout your land until the high fortified walls in which you trust fall down. They will besiege all the cities throughout the land the LORD your [Yahweh] is giving you.
53 Because of the suffering that your enemy will inflict on you during the siege, you will eat the fruit of the womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters the LORD your [Yahweh] has given you.
54 Even the most gentle and sensitive man among you will have no compassion on his own brother or the wife he loves or his surviving children,
55 and he will not give to one of them any of the flesh of his children that he is eating. It will be all he has left because of the suffering your enemy will inflict on you during the siege of all your cities.
56 The most gentle and sensitive woman among you—so sensitive and gentle that she would not venture to touch the ground with the sole of her foot—will begrudge the husband she loves and her own son or daughter
57 the afterbirth from her womb and the children she bears. For in her dire need she intends to eat them secretly because of the suffering your enemy will inflict on you during the siege of your cities.
58 If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name—the LORD your [Yahweh]—
59 the LORD will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses.
60 He will bring on you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you.
61 The LORD will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed.
62 You who were as numerous as the stars in the sky will be left but few in number, because you did not obey the LORD your [Yahweh].
63 Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper and increase in number, so it will please him to ruin and destroy you. You will be uprooted from the land you are entering to possess.
64 Then the LORD will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship other gods—gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your ancestors have known.
65 Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart.
66 You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life.
67 In the morning you will say, “If only it were evening!” and in the evening, “If only it were morning!”—because of the terror that will fill your hearts and the sights that your eyes will see.
68 The LORD will send you back in ships to Egypt on a journey I said you should never make again. There you will offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one will buy you.
Footnotes:
[1] George Kirkpatrick, “Blessings and Cursings,” http://www.newfoundationspubl.org/blessing.htm (accessed 13 June 2009).
Study Questions for Chapter 28
On a blank piece of paper, try to answer the following questions. Remember, there exists no right or wrong answers.
1. What is the only way to receive [Yahweh]’s blessing?
2. What does the word curse in Deuteronomy 28 mean?
3. How many blessings where promised in the first thirteen verses of Deuteronomy 28 to those who are obedient?
4. What are molten images?
5. What does the Hebrew word TERAPHIYM mean?
6. What does [Yahweh] promise to those who do not keep His commandments?
7. The first disease mentioned in Deuteronomy 28 is vexation, which means what?
8. When we do not listen to the voice of our [Yahweh] but listen to the voice of confusion, what will happen to us?
9. When we do not follow the Lord’s commandments, what spirit do we give place to?
10. Fear, not only causes _______________ anguish, but can also cause ________________ ______________.
11. What is the opposite of the joy of the Lord?
12. What is the result when the food producing ability of the earth fails?
13. What is one of the main commandments of [Yahweh] in the Bible that man has violated over the centuries?
14. Why has the medical profession proclaimed we are starving?
15. How have we destroyed the life-giving quality of the earth?
16. Today, what percentage of crime is drug related?
17. Who will [Yahweh] set His hand against?
18. In ten short years of the 1980’s, this nation has gone from the______________, to the _____________ _____________ nation on earth.
19. Is the American family still a blissful unit?
20. How can we reverse the curse in our lives?
21. What do you think of the uncannily precise predictions of what would happen to the children of Israel if they turned away from [Yahweh] to serve other “god’s”?
22. Didn’t virtually all these predictions happen almost exactly as He had predicted?
23. What was the one prerequisite for the receiving of [Yahweh]’s blessing?
24. What were some of the blessings that where promised to the Israelites?
25. What is the difference between [Yahweh]’s blessings in the Old Testament and in the New Testament times?
26. Did Jesus curse anyone or anything in the New Testament?
27. Who permits the thistles to grow in the fields along with the worthwhile crops?
28. Finish the verse, “Whatsoever a man soweth that shall, he also _______ .”
29. When trouble comes into our lives, what are some possible reasons for it?
30. How was the curse, which is upon all men, removed?
31. What were the alternatives facing the children of Israel?
32. What would happen to the Israelites if they would not serve [Yahweh] with joy?
33. Give a summary of the blessings of obedience.
34. Give a summary of the curses of obedience.
35. What was the ultimate curse of disobedience?
1. What is the only way to receive [Yahweh]’s blessing?
2. What does the word curse in Deuteronomy 28 mean?
3. How many blessings where promised in the first thirteen verses of Deuteronomy 28 to those who are obedient?
4. What are molten images?
5. What does the Hebrew word TERAPHIYM mean?
6. What does [Yahweh] promise to those who do not keep His commandments?
7. The first disease mentioned in Deuteronomy 28 is vexation, which means what?
8. When we do not listen to the voice of our [Yahweh] but listen to the voice of confusion, what will happen to us?
9. When we do not follow the Lord’s commandments, what spirit do we give place to?
10. Fear, not only causes _______________ anguish, but can also cause ________________ ______________.
11. What is the opposite of the joy of the Lord?
12. What is the result when the food producing ability of the earth fails?
13. What is one of the main commandments of [Yahweh] in the Bible that man has violated over the centuries?
14. Why has the medical profession proclaimed we are starving?
15. How have we destroyed the life-giving quality of the earth?
16. Today, what percentage of crime is drug related?
17. Who will [Yahweh] set His hand against?
18. In ten short years of the 1980’s, this nation has gone from the______________, to the _____________ _____________ nation on earth.
19. Is the American family still a blissful unit?
20. How can we reverse the curse in our lives?
21. What do you think of the uncannily precise predictions of what would happen to the children of Israel if they turned away from [Yahweh] to serve other “god’s”?
22. Didn’t virtually all these predictions happen almost exactly as He had predicted?
23. What was the one prerequisite for the receiving of [Yahweh]’s blessing?
24. What were some of the blessings that where promised to the Israelites?
25. What is the difference between [Yahweh]’s blessings in the Old Testament and in the New Testament times?
26. Did Jesus curse anyone or anything in the New Testament?
27. Who permits the thistles to grow in the fields along with the worthwhile crops?
28. Finish the verse, “Whatsoever a man soweth that shall, he also _______ .”
29. When trouble comes into our lives, what are some possible reasons for it?
30. How was the curse, which is upon all men, removed?
31. What were the alternatives facing the children of Israel?
32. What would happen to the Israelites if they would not serve [Yahweh] with joy?
33. Give a summary of the blessings of obedience.
34. Give a summary of the curses of obedience.
35. What was the ultimate curse of disobedience?
Chapter 29
At the end of this Chapter, there contains 16 study questions for you to answer. There exists no right or wrong answers. Just answer them to your best ability with Yahweh’s guidance and study material presented in front of you. Now, as we open our bibles to Deuteronomy Chapter 29, one must remember to pray first and give S.P.A.C.E.
Do you have a Sin to forsake?
Do you have a Promise to claim?
Do you have an Attitude to change?
Is there a Command to obey?
Is there an Example to follow?
Do you have a Sin to forsake?
Do you have a Promise to claim?
Do you have an Attitude to change?
Is there a Command to obey?
Is there an Example to follow?
Deuteronomy 29:2 – 3 “Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them: Your eyes have seen all that the LORD did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land. With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those signs and great wonders.”
This is a historical summary that motivates for action. Yahweh intended to show Israel the power of His deeds. There was a repetition of the words “eyes” (a noun) and “to see” (a verb) for Israel was to be a personal witness for what Yahweh had done. While the verb “to see” refers to the very act of looking with the physical “eyes”, the reference to “eyes” in verse 4 heads in a slightly different direction.
Deuteronomy 29:4 “But to this day the LORD has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear.”
The reference to these organs (heart / mind, eyes, ears) reveals Israel’s inability to totally understand Yahweh’s dealings with them. The heart / mind signifies the “the seat of understanding and knowledge”[1] which Deuteronomy displays. The eyes where not only used for physical sight; but, also for “the capacity of moral and spiritual perception”[2]. Moses quite often tells the Israelites to listen and heed to Yahweh’s word that instructs, teaches, and commands.
(TNIV) Chapter 29
Renewal of the Covenant
1*These are the terms of the covenant the LORD commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in Moab, in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Horeb.
* 2 Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them: Your eyes have seen all that the LORD did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land.
3 With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those signs and great wonders.
4 But to this day the LORD has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear.
5 During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.
6 You ate no bread and drank no wine or other fermented drink. I did this so that you might know that I am the LORD your [Yahweh].
7 When you reached this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out to fight against us, but we defeated them.
8 We took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
9 Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do.
10 All of you are standing today in the presence of the LORD your [Yahweh]—your leaders and chief men, your elders and officials, and all the other men of Israel,
11 together with your children and your wives, and the foreigners living in your camps who chop your wood and carry your water.
12 You are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with the LORD your [Yahweh], a covenant the LORD is making with you this day and sealing with an oath,
13 to confirm you this day as his people, that he may be your [Yahweh] as he promised you and as he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
14 I am making this covenant, with its oath, not only with you
15 who are standing here with us today in the presence of the LORD our [Yahweh] but also with those who are not here today.
16 You yourselves know how we lived in Egypt and how we passed through the countries on the way here.
17 You saw among them their detestable images and idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold.
18 Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our [Yahweh] to go and worship the [Yahweh]s of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.
19 When such persons hear the words of this oath and invoke a blessing on themselves, thinking, “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way,” they will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry.
20 The LORD will never be willing to forgive them; his wrath and zeal will burn against them. All the curses written in this book will fall on them, and the LORD will blot out their names from under heaven.
21 The LORD will single them out from all the tribes of Israel for disaster, according to all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law.
22 Your children who follow you in later generations and foreigners who come from distant lands will see the calamities that have fallen on the land and the diseases with which the LORD has afflicted it.
23 The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur—nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, which the LORD overthrew in fierce anger.
24 All the nations will ask: “Why has the LORD done this to this land? Why this fierce, burning anger?”
25 And the answer will be: “It is because this people abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the [Yahweh] of their ancestors, the covenant he made with them when he brought them out of Egypt.
26 They went off and worshiped other gods and bowed down to them, gods they did not know, gods he had not given them.
27 Therefore the LORD’s anger burned against this land, so that he brought on it all the curses written in this book.
28 In furious anger and in great wrath the LORD uprooted them from their land and thrust them into another land, as it is now.”
29 The secret things belong to the LORD our [Yahweh], but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
Footnotes:
[1] Michael A. Grisanti, “Was Israel Unable to Respond to [Yahweh]? Deuteronomy 29:2 – 4,” Bibliotheca Sacra, April – June 2006, pg. 179
[2] Ibid., pg. 180
This is a historical summary that motivates for action. Yahweh intended to show Israel the power of His deeds. There was a repetition of the words “eyes” (a noun) and “to see” (a verb) for Israel was to be a personal witness for what Yahweh had done. While the verb “to see” refers to the very act of looking with the physical “eyes”, the reference to “eyes” in verse 4 heads in a slightly different direction.
Deuteronomy 29:4 “But to this day the LORD has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear.”
The reference to these organs (heart / mind, eyes, ears) reveals Israel’s inability to totally understand Yahweh’s dealings with them. The heart / mind signifies the “the seat of understanding and knowledge”[1] which Deuteronomy displays. The eyes where not only used for physical sight; but, also for “the capacity of moral and spiritual perception”[2]. Moses quite often tells the Israelites to listen and heed to Yahweh’s word that instructs, teaches, and commands.
(TNIV) Chapter 29
Renewal of the Covenant
1*These are the terms of the covenant the LORD commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in Moab, in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Horeb.
* 2 Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them: Your eyes have seen all that the LORD did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land.
3 With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those signs and great wonders.
4 But to this day the LORD has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear.
5 During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.
6 You ate no bread and drank no wine or other fermented drink. I did this so that you might know that I am the LORD your [Yahweh].
7 When you reached this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out to fight against us, but we defeated them.
8 We took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
9 Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do.
10 All of you are standing today in the presence of the LORD your [Yahweh]—your leaders and chief men, your elders and officials, and all the other men of Israel,
11 together with your children and your wives, and the foreigners living in your camps who chop your wood and carry your water.
12 You are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with the LORD your [Yahweh], a covenant the LORD is making with you this day and sealing with an oath,
13 to confirm you this day as his people, that he may be your [Yahweh] as he promised you and as he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
14 I am making this covenant, with its oath, not only with you
15 who are standing here with us today in the presence of the LORD our [Yahweh] but also with those who are not here today.
16 You yourselves know how we lived in Egypt and how we passed through the countries on the way here.
17 You saw among them their detestable images and idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold.
18 Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our [Yahweh] to go and worship the [Yahweh]s of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.
19 When such persons hear the words of this oath and invoke a blessing on themselves, thinking, “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way,” they will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry.
20 The LORD will never be willing to forgive them; his wrath and zeal will burn against them. All the curses written in this book will fall on them, and the LORD will blot out their names from under heaven.
21 The LORD will single them out from all the tribes of Israel for disaster, according to all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law.
22 Your children who follow you in later generations and foreigners who come from distant lands will see the calamities that have fallen on the land and the diseases with which the LORD has afflicted it.
23 The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur—nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, which the LORD overthrew in fierce anger.
24 All the nations will ask: “Why has the LORD done this to this land? Why this fierce, burning anger?”
25 And the answer will be: “It is because this people abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the [Yahweh] of their ancestors, the covenant he made with them when he brought them out of Egypt.
26 They went off and worshiped other gods and bowed down to them, gods they did not know, gods he had not given them.
27 Therefore the LORD’s anger burned against this land, so that he brought on it all the curses written in this book.
28 In furious anger and in great wrath the LORD uprooted them from their land and thrust them into another land, as it is now.”
29 The secret things belong to the LORD our [Yahweh], but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
Footnotes:
[1] Michael A. Grisanti, “Was Israel Unable to Respond to [Yahweh]? Deuteronomy 29:2 – 4,” Bibliotheca Sacra, April – June 2006, pg. 179
[2] Ibid., pg. 180
Study Questions for Chapter 29
On a blank piece of paper, try to answer the following questions. Remember, there exists no right or wrong answers.
1.) Does Deuteronomy 29:17-28 make you think of a kind and loving [Yahweh] who is forgiveness personified?
2.) What is necessary on our part for us to receive the blessings of Christian salvation?
3.) What was necessary on the part of the Israelites for them to receive the blessings they where promised from [Yahweh]?
4.) What signs had [Yahweh] given to strengthen the Israelites' faith in Him?
5.) What did [Yahweh] want from the Israelites in addition to faith?
6.) As we grow in faith, what does the Lord expect of us?
7.) Were the Ten Commandments all of the Israelites' law?
8.) In what ways did the Lord demand one hundred per cent commitment?
9.) What would happen if the Israelites rejected [Yahweh]’s way and served other gods instead?
10.) What are some things that man cannot know?
11.) What are some truths about [Yahweh] that we know only because He revealed them to us through Jesus Christ?
12.) What is one thing we can learn that will help us to have victory over sin in our daily lives?
13.) What did Moses remind the people of?
14.) What blessings did they receive in the wilderness?
15.) What oath was made on this occasion?
16.) Who were the parties of this covenant?
1.) Does Deuteronomy 29:17-28 make you think of a kind and loving [Yahweh] who is forgiveness personified?
2.) What is necessary on our part for us to receive the blessings of Christian salvation?
3.) What was necessary on the part of the Israelites for them to receive the blessings they where promised from [Yahweh]?
4.) What signs had [Yahweh] given to strengthen the Israelites' faith in Him?
5.) What did [Yahweh] want from the Israelites in addition to faith?
6.) As we grow in faith, what does the Lord expect of us?
7.) Were the Ten Commandments all of the Israelites' law?
8.) In what ways did the Lord demand one hundred per cent commitment?
9.) What would happen if the Israelites rejected [Yahweh]’s way and served other gods instead?
10.) What are some things that man cannot know?
11.) What are some truths about [Yahweh] that we know only because He revealed them to us through Jesus Christ?
12.) What is one thing we can learn that will help us to have victory over sin in our daily lives?
13.) What did Moses remind the people of?
14.) What blessings did they receive in the wilderness?
15.) What oath was made on this occasion?
16.) Who were the parties of this covenant?
Chapter 30
At the end of this Chapter, there contains 9 study questions for you to answer. There exists no right or wrong answers. Just answer them to your best ability with Yahweh’s guidance and study material presented in front of you. Now, as we open our bibles to Deuteronomy Chapter 30, one must remember to pray first and give S.P.A.C.E.
Do you have a Sin to forsake?
Do you have a Promise to claim?
Do you have an Attitude to change?
Is there a Command to obey?
Is there an Example to follow?
Do you have a Sin to forsake?
Do you have a Promise to claim?
Do you have an Attitude to change?
Is there a Command to obey?
Is there an Example to follow?
“References earlier in Deut 30, "the nations where the Lord your [Yahweh] has driven you" (Deut 30:1b) and "the peoples among whom the Lord your [Yahweh] has scattered you" (Deut 30:3b) immediately bring to mind the Babylonian exile—the time when many of the people living in Judah were forced to leave their homeland, to make the long march east to what is today southern Iraq, and to live there, we can presume, under less than desirable circumstances.”[1]
Deuteronomy 30:11 - 14 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
Deuteronomy is considered the climax of the magnificent sermon of Moses. The question here “Is this a prophecy of the New Covenant?”. There are three reasons that emerge from these verses that support this. First, the use of a subordinating conjunction in verses 11 and 14, for. This can introduce a subordinate clause of cause, condition, content, or time. Therefore, reading these verses in the future tense would be natural. Second, the phrase “in your mouth and in your heart” is referring to [Yahweh]’s word in the mouth. This is associated with Old Testament prophesying. Thirdly is another phrase “this commandment that I command you today.” There seems to be a contrast between the word “commandment” that Moses speaks and the “Law” for which he has been speaking of.
Deuteronomy 30:15 - 20 “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your [Yahweh], to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your [Yahweh] will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other [Yahweh]s and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your [Yahweh], listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
The issue of life-and-death has been addressed on a basis of personal rights. The problem, though, is that advances in technology generate alternatives that far outreach the previous generations. But, how is the word choose used in Biblical terms? In verse 15, both life and death parallel good and bad. Israel would choose to either reap the full benefits of the blessings or suffer the full measure of the curses. Israel was to choose life in order to live long in the land and to love and obey Yahweh. In choosing life is to choose Yahweh. According to Biblical terms, life and death do not parallel living and dying, but refer to the existence under [Yahweh]’s favor and to His wrath.
(TNIV) Chapter 30
Prosperity After Turning to the LORD
1 When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the LORD your [Yahweh] disperses you among the nations,
2 and when you and your children return to the LORD your [Yahweh] and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today,
3 then the LORD your [Yahweh] will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.
4 Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the LORD your [Yahweh] will gather you and bring you back.
5 He will bring you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors.
6 The LORD your [Yahweh] will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.
7 The LORD your [Yahweh] will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you.
8 You will again obey the LORD and follow all his commands I am giving you today.
9 Then the LORD your [Yahweh] will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors,
10 if you obey the LORD your [Yahweh] and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your [Yahweh] with all your heart and with all your soul.
The Offer of Life or Death
11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.
12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”
13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”
14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.
16 For I command you today to love the LORD your [Yahweh], to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your [Yahweh] will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other [Yahweh]s and worship them,
18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live
20 and that you may love the LORD your [Yahweh], listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Footnotes:
[1] Bruce Wells. "Between Text and Sermon: Deuteronomy30:6 - 14.” Interpretation, 61, 2, (April 2007); 198.
Deuteronomy 30:11 - 14 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
Deuteronomy is considered the climax of the magnificent sermon of Moses. The question here “Is this a prophecy of the New Covenant?”. There are three reasons that emerge from these verses that support this. First, the use of a subordinating conjunction in verses 11 and 14, for. This can introduce a subordinate clause of cause, condition, content, or time. Therefore, reading these verses in the future tense would be natural. Second, the phrase “in your mouth and in your heart” is referring to [Yahweh]’s word in the mouth. This is associated with Old Testament prophesying. Thirdly is another phrase “this commandment that I command you today.” There seems to be a contrast between the word “commandment” that Moses speaks and the “Law” for which he has been speaking of.
Deuteronomy 30:15 - 20 “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your [Yahweh], to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your [Yahweh] will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other [Yahweh]s and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your [Yahweh], listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
The issue of life-and-death has been addressed on a basis of personal rights. The problem, though, is that advances in technology generate alternatives that far outreach the previous generations. But, how is the word choose used in Biblical terms? In verse 15, both life and death parallel good and bad. Israel would choose to either reap the full benefits of the blessings or suffer the full measure of the curses. Israel was to choose life in order to live long in the land and to love and obey Yahweh. In choosing life is to choose Yahweh. According to Biblical terms, life and death do not parallel living and dying, but refer to the existence under [Yahweh]’s favor and to His wrath.
(TNIV) Chapter 30
Prosperity After Turning to the LORD
1 When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the LORD your [Yahweh] disperses you among the nations,
2 and when you and your children return to the LORD your [Yahweh] and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today,
3 then the LORD your [Yahweh] will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.
4 Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the LORD your [Yahweh] will gather you and bring you back.
5 He will bring you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors.
6 The LORD your [Yahweh] will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.
7 The LORD your [Yahweh] will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you.
8 You will again obey the LORD and follow all his commands I am giving you today.
9 Then the LORD your [Yahweh] will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors,
10 if you obey the LORD your [Yahweh] and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your [Yahweh] with all your heart and with all your soul.
The Offer of Life or Death
11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.
12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”
13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”
14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.
16 For I command you today to love the LORD your [Yahweh], to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your [Yahweh] will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other [Yahweh]s and worship them,
18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live
20 and that you may love the LORD your [Yahweh], listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Footnotes:
[1] Bruce Wells. "Between Text and Sermon: Deuteronomy30:6 - 14.” Interpretation, 61, 2, (April 2007); 198.
Study Questions for Chapter 30
On a blank piece of paper, try to answer the following questions. Remember, there exists no right or wrong answers.
1.) What are the two aspects of being saved?
2.) What were the two aspects of Israel's deliverance?
3.) What is the promise [Yahweh] offers to those who have sinned?
4.) Why do some people think that salvation is complicated?
5.) What is the choice that everyone must make?
6.) In what way is [Yahweh] a jealous [Yahweh]?
7.) What blessing was promised to the one who would return to [Yahweh]?
8.) What choice was set before the people?
9.) Who were the “witnesses” of this covenant?
1.) What are the two aspects of being saved?
2.) What were the two aspects of Israel's deliverance?
3.) What is the promise [Yahweh] offers to those who have sinned?
4.) Why do some people think that salvation is complicated?
5.) What is the choice that everyone must make?
6.) In what way is [Yahweh] a jealous [Yahweh]?
7.) What blessing was promised to the one who would return to [Yahweh]?
8.) What choice was set before the people?
9.) Who were the “witnesses” of this covenant?