Commands and Curses

Deuteronomy Chapter 27

Moses and the leaders of Israel charged the people as follows: Keep all these commandments that I give you today. When you cross the Jordan River and enter the land God is giving you, set up large stones and coat them with plaster. Write the terms of this law on them. I repeat, you will soon cross the river to enter the land the God of your ancestors promised you. When you cross the Jordan, set up these stones at Mount Ebal and coat them with plaster, as I am commanding you today. Then build an altar there to the Lord using natural stones. Do not shape the stones with an iron tool. On the altar you must offer burnt offerings to the Lord. Sacrifice peace offerings on it also, and feast there with great joy before the Lord. On the stones coated with plaster, you must clearly write all the terms of this law.

Then Moses and the Levitical priests addressed all Israel as follows: O Israel, be quite and listen! Today you have become the people of the Lord your God. So obey the Lord by keeping these commands and laws I am giving you today! Moses said when the river is crossed, the tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin must stand on Mount Gerizim to proclaim a blessing over the people. And the tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali must stand on Mount Ebal to proclaim a curse. Then the Levites must shout to all the people of Israel: Cursed is anyone who carves or casts idols and secretly sets them up. These idols, the work of craftsmen, are detestable to the Lord. And the people will reply, “Amen” (after each curse).

Cursed is anyone who despises father or mother.
Cursed is anyone who steals property from a neighbor by moving a boundary marker.
Cursed is anyone who leads a blind person astray on the road.
Cursed is anyone who is unjust to foreigners, orphans and widows.
Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father.
Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with an animal.
Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with his sister, whether she is the daughter of his father or mother.
Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with his mother-in-law.
Cursed is anyone who kills another person in secret.
Cursed is anyone who accepts payment to kill an innocent person.
Cursed is anyone who does not affirm the terms of this law by obeying them.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Building the altar immediately after crossing the river was important , but it was equally important that it be made of stone not chiseled (see Exodus 20:24-25). The Israelites did not have the capacity yet to work with iron, and using iron tools might mean using the expertise of other nations.
Why did Moses repeat the laws? Because he was dealing with a new generation of people.
Why the curses? Because they were a series of oaths, spoken by the priests and affirmed by the people. By saying “amen”, the people were saying, “so be it.” We need to see these curses as restrictions, not threats, just as we lovingly warn our children to stay away from hot stoves or busy streets. God is motivated by love, not anger, but his words are strong to help us avoid the serious consequences that might result from wrongdoing.

How does this chapter relate to us today? Imagine if you will, that you are standing in the crowd that shall enter the Promised Land. You are charged, pumped and ready to go. Along comes Moses and the leaders and reminds you of God’s laws and you listen and confirm them. Fresh in your mind are the rules that God expects you to follow in this new land. God does this for us today. When you pray each day to God, he gives us a fresh reminder to always follow his laws. Without his laws, we would have no viable society. We would have anarchy and destruction. Our connection with God in today’s world means that we receive his blessings and mercy and those who obey his will, can experience the meaning of life everlasting.
Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer requests are needed for:
Health: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, Teli’s family, Logan and her unborn child
Spiritual uplifting: Gail, Mary
Restoration of faith: Al, John
Support: Haiti, Chile, those aiding the gulf coast and those who lost their livelihood in the oil spills. Pray for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.