Bible Pathways 03/10/2002
March 10
Read Deuteronomy 28
In Today's Reading:
Blessings upon blessings if you shall hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, to observe and to do all His Commandments. . . . The Lord shall make you the head, and not the tail. . . . (Deuteronomy 28:1).
Verse for Today:
But it shall come to pass, if you will not hearken to the voice of the Lord your God, to observe to do all His Commandments . . . all these curses shall come upon you, and overtake you (Deuteronomy 28:15).
Highlights:
Blessings for obedience; consequences for disobedience.
In Moses' final, heart-touching review of the Law, 14 verses show the wonderful blessings that are experienced by those who are obedient to the Word of God. But almost four times that many verses were used to warn the Israelites of the results of disobedience. This emphasis on the "curses" was to awaken everyone to the terrible consequences of disobedience.
The Lord chose Mount Gerizim as the place where the blessings of obedience would be promised; the curses for disobedience were to be proclaimed on Mount Ebal, located to the north of Mount Gerizim. In the small valley between these two mountains was the city of Shechem, near Jacob's Well.
These mountains, located opposite each other, stand about 3,000 feet high, near the center of the Promised Land -- a reminder that there are blessings and curses -- "a Heaven to gain and a hell to shun."
Divine judgment is certain. Mount Ebal still stands as a constant, gracious reminder to all unbelievers to repent and receive Christ as Savior and Lord while the Holy Spirit still speaks to their conscience -- that internal recognition of what is right and wrong. To those who were questioning His Deity, Jesus said: No man can come to Me, except the Father which has sent Me draw him (John 6:44). Furthermore, God has warned: My Spirit shall not always strive with man (Genesis 6:3).
Some Christians are like the Israelites -- they have never fully realized that their enjoyment of life is directly related to their obedience to His Word.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. . . . Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness (2 Peter 3:9).
A Thought from Psalms: I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I have loved (119:47).
Christ Revealed:
As the voice of God (Deuteronomy 28:2). In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1).
Word Studies:
28:5 store = kneading trough or bread bin; 28:20 vexation = frustration, distress; 28:26 fray them away = scare them off; 28:27 botch = boils; emerods = tumors; 28:28 madness = mental disorder; 28:53 fruit = offspring; children; straitness = distressing confinement; 28:59 plagues wonderful = extraordinary afflictions.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for the missionary ministries · Country: Tuvalu (11,000) nine islands in the southwestern Pacific · Major languages: Tuvaluan and English · Religious freedom · 92% Protestant; 5% Baha'i; 2% Roman Catholic · Prayer Suggestion: Pray and thank God for all His blessings (Psalms 68:19).
Optional Reading: John 1
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 5:14
