Deuteronomy 8 - A Warning Against Pride A. God's work of building humility in Israel during the wilderness wanderings. When we disobey God, he will forgive us if we turn away from our sin and turn back to him. A man must NOT treat his wife as a person he can disrespect or demean. ). Aside from that, though, God's people should have an attitude of wantings to help others instead of trying to take advantage of someone else's loss. Blessings for Obedience. No matter how much we give back to God, we should give it joyfully and thankfully. Copy. They say it looks like were picking and choosing the Old Testament Law because were against homosexuality, but we dont follow these other details. God dealt with Adam and Eve in one way, and He dealt with the Jews through Abraham with a different plan. How to Apply Deuteronomy 6. It is a life in which we are obedient to His commands and live in accordance with His will. And I think if Joe takes these two steps and these two illustrations that I have given from Leviticus 5 and 2 Chronicles 7, he will be well on his way of appropriating the Old Testament for good Christian use. ii. Deuteronomy 28:20 says, The LORD will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in all that you put your hand to do, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin. This means that if we live a life that is not pleasing to God, He will curse us with problems and confusion. Hes saying that this sums up the obligation of the Old Testament Law. (Read Deuteronomy 28:15-44) If we do not keep God's commandments, we not only come short of the blessing promised, but we lay ourselves under the curse, which includes all misery, as the blessing all happiness. We can remind ourselves of the many times he has helped us, our family, and our friends. In fact, given sins entrance into the world, Israels role in the world was not only to be the nation by which Messiah would come and reverse the effects of sin and death (see Gen 3:15; 12:1-3); they were also called to live as Adam and the entire human race was supposed to liveas obedient sons (Ex 4:22-23) and servant kingsin relationship to the Lord and the entire creation. In all these ways, Deuteronomy is a Gospel book and required reading for Gods people today. In fact, one of the purposed effects of giving the law to Israel was to reveal and intensify sinto show us clearly that apart from Gods grace and provision, we cannot change our hearts (Deut 30:6; cf. This is because God is faithful to His promises. Defeating Giants - Part 4. 2# Short Commentary & Lesson From Deuteronomy 5.28-30. This passage is a reminder that we need to put our faith in God and not in ourselves. If Beeke actually lists it as his #1 commentary, as you claim, I'd have to say that's a pretty poor choice, since it technically is not a commentary. They were not chosen to be saved, rather they were chosen to be used to accomplish Gods plan of salvation. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God: a. Then, the lawyer who raised the question, seeking to justify himself, asks who is his neighbor. For God to say to any people: I am your God and you are my people is the very reason and purpose for our existence as Gods image-bearers. He was not pleased when the Israelites insisted on returning to their sinful practices. 10. God loves us even when we do things that go against his commands. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you.". Now, Jews and Gentiles alike who put their faith in Jesus are under the new contract. Learn how your comment data is processed. The first Kings is the first half of a single book that was divided into two parts, 1 and 2 Kings because together they were too long to 19 Life Lessons from The Book of Deuteronomy | Deuteronomy Bible Study. Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. Let me see if I can simplify some very complex issues and provide a two-step process that enables Joe and the rest of us Christians to appropriate the Old Testament, especially the promises for our use as Christians in the 21st century. He expects His people to obey Him, and He will bless them when they do. Our hearts are confident because of Gods Love, encouraged by the joy of His Loving Presence, gathered together by the enduring power of His Holy Spirit., Andif you faithfully obey the voice of the, If you diligently obey the voice of the LORD, That the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. Ohio has its own statutes. He shall be forgiven. So, forgiveness is offered through the offering of a ram, and nowadays now, since Jesus he has replaced the work of that priest and the offering of that ram. God does not make one thing up today and make up something contradictory tomorrow. Does he hate some people and love others? Salvation in the OT (based on the Abrahamic Covenant) was always by faith, and never by works. June 9, 2015 by Karin. The purpose of finding the greatest commandment was to focus on keeping that really well and not worry so much about the others. They had to keep the terms of the covenant. Others may be trying to trick us. This question is answered in Deuteronomy 28:15. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. In this regard, Deuteronomys exposition of the law-covenant must be viewed as wholly positive: torah from the living covenant Lord who speaks and relates to his people on how to live life in the land and know Gods blessing in their lives and in all of their relationships. And, therefore, all the promises made to the circumcision, the true Israel, belong to us, Jew and Gentile in Christ Jesus. As Adam alluded to, there is always application. Deuteronomy is like a preflight check-list for one of the most important adventures in biblical history. 19-21. God did punish the people several times for their disobedience, but he always remained faithful to them. The passage in Deuteronomy 23:2, and similar passages, are no longer valid today, nor can they be applied to the Church of God. When things are going well in family, career, or any other area of life, we are tempted to become proud. What was the point of the book of Deuteronomy? Sometimes we are faced with big problems or strong opposition. We often do not realize or understand that there is an unspoken opposite action for not obeying the treaties. 3. Positioned strategically at the end of the Pentateuch, concluding the incredible life and ministry of Moses, renewing and expanding the Sinai covenant for the post-wilderness generation, Deuteronomy serves as the covenant instruction (torah) for a new generation posed to enter the Promised Land. And He is still a just God who curses those who disobey Him. 2 Samuel 24:24) to her father and remain married to the girl. Faith in the finished work of the Cross of Christ is the Christian key to blessings in all aspects of life. We must always give God the credit for our health, riches, and well-being. We need to keep our hearts focused on God, so that we can obey His commands and enjoy His blessings (v. 43-45). Fine, try these two on for size. When we disobey Him, we open ourselves up to His curse. This allows us to answer a lot of challenges that people might make regarding the old law. Years after Moses gave these instructions for kings, Israel's rulers refused to listen to this word of creation. There is a plan that we can use for our lives. 28 is specifically about the covenant relationship between God and Israel. All of Gods Promises (legal treaties) which were a covenant with His people ended with a blessing. Fine, but having skimmed the longish introduction where Jordan tries to make his case is already a strike against it for me. A commercial airline pilot about to take a 747 loaded with passengers from New York to Los Angeles talks his crew through a much more elaborate preflight ritual. 1. Observe the justice of this curse. Do not ever think that God is too kind to do anything about sin. For example, love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself are in both the Old and New Testaments. Could Deut. We are blessed in our relationships, our health, our work, and every area of our lives. This was doubly important in biblical times because many of the pagan religions surrounding Israel made prostitution a regular part of their religious ceremonies. L.Willows, Blessings on obedience, Commentary by David GuzikBlue Letter Bible / David Guzik Study Guide. The same principles that applied to Israel's success in Canaan apply to us today. There are also laws and rules that are unique to a particular states situation. We need to have faith in God, even when we face difficult circumstances (v. 37-39). We need to obey Gods laws and statutes, so that we can experience His righteousness and peace (v. 30-32). His command was also a dramatic warning to the nation of Israel that God's people should beware of being overcome by the evil practices of their enemies. Deuteronomy 28:1-14 speaks to us of the need to put our trust in the Lord. He was simply a really good interpreter of the Old Testament. Nothing that is in the Mosaic Law applies to me as a Gentile in virtue of it being in the Mosaic Law. Israel was chosen for a purposeGenesis 12:13. We have no such promise in the Bible. Another adjustment is expected this fall, NBC News reported . Ultimately, of course, this is what the OT prophets and the NT announces occurs in the dawning of a new covenant secured by the life, death, and resurrection of Gods own obedient Son (Rom 3:21-31; cf. You are using an out of date browser. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Moses knew that he was about to die, so before he left the people he blessed them. On the other hand, the Israelites had promised to obey God. + 2 All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you, + because you keep listening to the voice of Jehovah A direction to the judges in scourging malefactors, v. 1-3. 13 When the sun goes down you shall surely return the pledge to him, that he . In all of this instruction, Israel had the supreme privilege of learning the fear of the Lord (Deut 31:12). The imagery of having blessings run after us and overtake us with their joyful power is wonderous! We are also told that if we do trust in the Lord, then we will be blessed. When we think about the Old Testament, we often think of it as a book that contains a lot of laws and regulations. We are not obliged by everything in the Mosaic Law. From the context of Deuteronomy 28:13, we know it is better to be the head than the tail. It is my prayer that the various articles and contributions in this issue of SBJT will lead us to a greater understanding of Deuteronomy and a renewed appreciation for our Lord Jesus Christ, the one whom the message of Deuteronomy ultimately points. The two laws are completely different, so the way they apply to us are different. No human being could break a curse pronounced by God; he could only submit to it and repent under it. Confess them over you life and let the blessings of God literally run you down and overtake you. Rom 5:20-21; 7:13)a lesson we must never forget. Now, a side note: This does not exclude a real future for present day ethnic Israel in Gods purposes, because they will one day profess faith in Messiah Jesus and be grafted back in to become part of the true Israel along with all other Christians who are part of Jesus Christ. God had promised the Israelites that if they obeyed his laws and teaching, he would bless them with food, shelter, and land. But Did He Also Write Chapter 34? Thank you for this brief but important rudiment of the simplicity of the gospel of Christ . 2 All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: 3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. If we are no longer under the Sinai covenant, how do we apply the blessings and curses of Deuteronomy 28 to believers today? We need to be obedient to Gods commands if we want to enjoy His blessings (v. 15-16). Gods lawsfrom both the Old Testament and New Testamentare not just arbitrary expressions of His power. He received his Ph.D. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and he is the author of numerous essays and articles and the co-author of Kingdom through Covenant (Crossway, 2012). If we do these things, we will be blessed. JavaScript is disabled. The people are to keep the Sabbath in remembrance of their enslavement in Egypt. So what does this have to do with us today? The list of curses in this passage is exhaustive, and demonstrates the severity of Gods curse. It is here supposed that, if a man be charged with a crime, the accuser and the accused ( Actor and Reus) should be brought face to face before the judges, that the controversy may be determined. How does he expect me to respond?". Having the proper attitude helps keep us from becoming greedy and selfish. how does deuteronomy 28 apply to us today. So, that is step one. What benefit or dangers may there be in carrying over meaning from Israel to these other modern day audiences? He will also cause us to fail in everything we try to do. 9. In this chapter, Moses exhorted the nation withchoice. When we do this, we can rest assured that He will bless us. The New Testament says that the Old Testament law was intended "to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith" (Galatians 3:24). 1. I know what I think but I'm waiting for the Covenant Theology "experts" to reply to this one. Moses warned the Israelites about the false prophets who would encourage them to worship other gods and idols. The Ten Commandments are recounted in ch. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory." God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice . Virtually every one of the Ten Commandments, save the Sabbath, is also expressed in some way or another in the New Testament as morally obligatory. There are blessings and curses in the Mosaic Covenant meant for Israel. I recognize this and know the error. What does it mean to choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19)? On an individual level, we can expect to be blessed with a clear conscience, a sense of Gods presence, and joy in our daily lives. When Jesus is talking about loving your neighbor he is not advancing it as a separate ethic. (1-2) Overtaken by blessing. He promises to remove the curse if the Israelites obey Him, and He is faithful to His promises. Deuteronomy 28 listed blessings and curses for by being obedience or disobedience and says do this (obey) or do that (disobey) and God does this (bless) or that (curse) - that's the religion of the law of Moses. Possibly, Moses wanted to remind the new generation that had grown up during the desert wandering that they, too, were God's chosen people. We should think again! . 4. Jesus responds with the parable of the Good Samaritan, which points out even your enemies are your neighbor. God took them out of the land, He rescued them, and they were obligated to Him as their Sovereign. In Deuteronomy 28:1-13, God tells the Israelites that He would reward their obedience by giving them children, crops, livestock, and victory over their enemies, but He also tacks on fifty-four more verses describing the curses that would come upon the nation if they didn't obey Himincluding diseases, heat and drought, military defeat, boils, 4:3-5, ". Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever because He is God. Indeed, at the end of the chapter, it says people in other cultures practiced these things and they were judged for them. Other things, like homosexuality are forbidden in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. Thats another hint that these are universals and not just a peculiar law limited to the Jews, though the particular application of law was limited to their system of law. Just as one finds curses for disobedience in the Old Testament and Book of Mormon, Deuteronomy 28 contains a list of blessings that Israel would receive when they were obedient. We understand the Old Testament law was given as a contract to Moses and was therefore very unique and particular for the nation of Israel. In Deuteronomy 28, Moses spells out the blessings that will come upon the Israelites if they obey Gods commands. We need to trust in Gods plan for our lives, even when it doesnt make sense to us (v. 40-42). This request is one we should follow, too. Deuteronomy 22:5 and 1 Corinthians 11:3-16 (wearing a veil) make it clear that men and women are not to purposely cross-dress. If we are obedient to Gods commands, we will experience His blessings. The lawyer is interested in finding a way that he can work his own salvation out by himself. If you diligently obey the voice of the LORD: The word if looms large. How can you show God you love him? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? See How To Advertise. It was based on their obedience. Moses summed up his song by once again stressing to the people the importance of knowing God's Law, applying it to their lives, and teaching it to younger generations. The short answer is, "No." Help us continue to equip Christians with knowledge, wisdom, and character. When a pilot wants to take his private plane up for a ride on a sunny afternoon, he goes throughapre-flight check-list. What is needed is for the covenant Lord unilaterally to act and circumcise their hearts (Deut 30:6). Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers. There is a statute against murder in California. We are not under the Mosaic Law, but under the New Covenant. He's the true king, who did not capitulate to the compromises of sin (contrast, for example, Solomon in 1 Kings 11 in light of Deut. Prayer: 10 Minutes: If there is any situation in your life that needs prayer, ask the Holy Spirit to pray through you for that situation. The list is severe, and includes everything from being cursed in the city to being cursed in the field. The LORD wants us to obey him because we love him. The Israelites are told that if they obey the Lord and keep His commandments, they will be blessed in every way. I cannot justify myself, Greg Koukl, based on the demands of those simple commandments. Deuteronomy 28:1 English Standard Version Blessings for Obedience 28 "And qif you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you rhigh above all the nations of the earth. We still must live with the consequences of that sin, though. It was made between God and Moses and Israel. . But Did He Also Write Chapter 34? The new contract is a new enterprise. Blessings Will Run After Us Deuteronomy 28:1-2 commentary by David Guzik, notes with L.Willows, Blue Letter Bible / David Guzik Study Guide, Songs of The Dawn, a worship poem from L.Willows (Hope in God, Heart Prayer, Faith), Praying for People of Every Tribe, Tongue and Nation, from Precept Austin (Redemption, Pray without Ceasing), Faith; Rejoicing in Grace, from Martin Lloyd Jones (Overcome, Trusting God, True Courage), Repent Unto Life, by Charles Haddon Spurgeon (Eternal Life in Christ, Divine Mercy of God, Resources). The spiritual implications of Deuteronomy 28:15-68 are far-reaching. One can certainly see how people might find these . The book of Judges tells how the Israelites kept rejecting the Lord and worshiping idols. John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. The Lord's careful instructions to the Israelites about making and collecting loans show how concerned he is for those who are in need. Many of those Jews took advantage of the mercy offered through that plan, and many went wayward. Deuteronomy, rightly understood and placed in its location in redemptive-history, is far more than an ancient history book of Israel. It exalts Jesus Christ, crucified and raised as our only hope against sin. 2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: 3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. Deuteronomy 4:26. God took them out of the land, He rescued them, and they were obligated to Him as their Sovereign. Here is another example. Here are some key points from the passage that we can apply to our lives: 1. A. God restored the Israelites even though they continued to turn against him. Part of it was in response to the Jews. I can't give a satisfactory explanation of why Deuteronomy 20 should be in our Bibles. If we are slaves to sin we choose to go our own way; but when we become God's followers, he gives us the freedom, as well as the strength and courage, to follow God's way. Deuteronomy 31:6. If youre seeking to justify yourself, then you have to treat your neighbor this way, and youre not going to be able to consistently treat your neighbor this way. He is still a good God who blesses those who obey Him. Here are some key points from the passage that we can apply to our lives: 1. Old is usually quite good, but not necessarily above correction or improvement. These blessings and curses are based on obedience to Gods laws. And the second curse is for those who break Gods covenant. God had made his laws very clear and understandable so the people could not claim they were impossible to obey - they simply had to decide what they would do. Does that mean we can go around murdering people because were not under the Mosaic Law? There was a unique relationship God had with the nation of Israel as part of the execution of that plan. He said that dividing wall has been torn down now so that the Jews and Gentiles can be combined into one new man on the New Covenant having been built on the foundation of the prophets and apostles in Christ Jesus the cornerstone. If they did, He would protect them, and if they didn't, He would forsake them (Deuteronomy 28). . There is no greater privilege for humans than to know, love, obey, and serve our glorious covenant Lord. 6. We are in a different state now. 8. 3 He quotes Deut 27.26: All who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." The Mosaic Law contained some universal moral principles that apply today because they transcend the old law, but arent applied in the same way judicially. Does that mean since Im not in California its okay for me to murder in Ohio? The book of Psalms is the longest book in the Bible. As a literary form, this chapter is similar to ancient treaties between a king and his people; this is God the King, making a covenant with His people, Israel. It's all a lot for a simple guy like myself to digest. Israel was to fulfill the role of Adam by living as a kingdom of priests (Ex 19:5-6), to serve as Gods son and representative and thus display to this poor, fallen world what it means to be truly human. Mar 2, 2023: When we make mistakes, the enemy wants us to feel miserable.but God wants us to bounce back. The question we have to ask ourselves as New Testament Christians in the New Covenant is, which commands or moral principles are obligatory and would apply regardless of the covenants, because they are universal morals that transcend the Mosaic Law? We are picking and choosing, but we are not doing so arbitrarily. What values do you need to maintain in life to be truly successful? You want to justify yourself? It is all over the book of Hebrews, but here is Hebrews 10:12 and 14: When Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Finally, this passage reminds us of Gods faithfulness. He can make plans and play things out so that certain things apply in some cases and dont apply later, though His purpose is constant and unchanging. The Puritans is the shining example of what abrogation vs general equity means. 10 " When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not enter his house to take his pledge. All the commands in the Old Testament are obsolete. He says, For we are the circumcision and he is talking to his Gentile audience there in Philippi we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. And what he means when he says, we are the circumcision, is: We Gentiles who are united to the Jewish Messiah Jesus are the true circumcised people, the true Israel of God. All rights reserved. In the New Testament, God doesn't bless us because of what we do but because of our faith in Christ and His finished works. When we do, we can expect His blessings in our lives. 23 If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.". Because God does not change, the blessings He gave to people in the past apply to us as much as they have ever . Read more Explain verse Share Copy Show footnotes A A In Deuteronomy 28, we see that obedience is a key factor in experiencing the blessings or curses of God. Are The Blessings and Curses in Deuteronomy 28 for Today? God's command to destroy these nations was his judgment upon them for the wicked things they had done for many years. For now, a single person can expect to receive an average of $197 a . Deuteronomy 28:1-2, The promise of God in Deuteronomy 28:1-2 offers many powerful insights that we can learn from when we listen with our hearts and open ourselves to applying the wisdom of its mighty blessing to our lives with obedience. Deuteronomy 28:1-2: What is this requiring? Through Moses' instruction, Deuteronomy also describes the future of the nation, which later biblical authors use as a template to interpret Israel's history and to hold out hope for a new and better covenant (see e.g., Deut 29-30).. how does deuteronomy 28 apply to us today. Deuteronomy is the second time the law is given. In Leviticus it is being expressed clearly as a universal, right next to bestiality and child sacrifice. Second, Moses in Deuteronomy does not pull any punches regarding the deep problem of the human heart. 1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice Is it an over-simplification to say that the passages are directed toward a specific covenant God made with (ethnic) Israel but the principles contained therein have application to us today? Our gifts show how much we appreciate God's kindness. He deals with Christians now through a new plan, a new covenant. ( Deu 28:1-2) Overtaken by blessing. Stephen J. Wellum is Professor of Christian Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and editor of Southern Baptist Journal of Theology. His blessings are poured out on us abundantly, and we enjoy His favour and protection. The choice was up to Israel. It should be an expression of intimacy between husband and wife within marriage. This book is named after the main character of its second part. Anything we read from the Bible falls under 1 of these dispensations and it should not be carried or used in another dispensation practically.