Deuteronomy - Chapters 27-30

In this transcription, Julie Callio discusses chapters 27-30 of the book of Deuteronomy. She explains that if the Israelites obey the Lord, they will be blessed, but if they disobey, they will be cursed. Moses instructs the people to set up stones with the laws written on them and make offerings to the Lord. Half of the tribes are to bless the people from one mountain, while the other half pronounce curses from another mountain. Julie lists the curses, which include idolatry, dishonoring parents, injustice, inappropriate sexual relations, and murder. She then discusses the blessings for obedience, including prosperity and victory over enemies. The curses for disobedience are also outlined, including exile and suffering. Moses explains that the covenant with the Lord applies to everyone who confesses their sins and believes in Jesus Christ. He reassures the people that if they repent and obey, the Lord will have compassion on them and bring them back from captivity. Julie encourages the I am Julie Callio, your host, and thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedules to tune in with me today. If by chance you want to contact me, you can do that at theab.bc.pc at gmail.com. Today we are looking at chapters 27-30, which could be wrapped up with the title, The Retribution Principle. If we obey the Lord and walk in His ways, we are blessed. If we do not, we are cursed. We saw a little of this in Deuteronomy already, but here comes full force. Moses reviewed the laws of the Lord to the people before they entered the promised land, and they declared they would obey. Now chapter 27 is an object lesson. Moses told the people when they cross over the Jordan, they are to set up large stones and write the words of the laws on them. These stones are to be placed on Mount Ebal, and they are to make an altar to the Lord their God, and they are to make burnt offerings, fellowship offerings, and eat and rejoice in the presence of the Lord their God. Then half of the tribes, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin are to stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people. Then the other half of the tribes, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali are to stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses. The Levites, who were the priests, would then proclaim a responsive reading of curses, and all the people of Israel would respond, Amen. There were 12 curses, and I'll give you the condensed version. Cursed is the man who carves an image or casts an idol, Amen. Cursed is the man who dishonors his father and mother, Amen. Cursed is the man who moves his neighbor's boundary stone, Amen. Cursed is the man who leads the blind astray on the road, Amen. Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless, or the widow, Amen. Cursed is the man who sleeps with his father's wife, Amen. Cursed is the man who has sexual relations with an animal, Amen. Cursed is the man who sleeps with his sister or half-sister, Amen. Cursed is the man who sleeps with his mother-in-law, Amen. Cursed is the man who kills his neighbor secretly, Amen. Cursed is the man who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person, Amen. Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out, Amen. I find it interesting what is and is not included in this list. The first and last refer to God as if they are bookends and the last is all inclusive of the law of the Lord. Four deal with honoring people such as parents, neighbors, the blind, the alien, the fatherless, and the widow. Four deal with inappropriate sexual relations and two deal with murder. These mountains are mentioned in Deuteronomy chapter 11 verse 29. And I mentioned in last year's lesson Moses' plea that the children of Israel choose life on February 16, 2023 that I didn't even notice it last year. But this year after reading through Deuteronomy and Joshua chapter 8 verses 30 to 35 last year I noticed it when I read it this year. I am learning and I knew what was coming. I say that just to encourage you to keep on reading your Bible because I have learned so much since last year and I hope that you have too. Chapter 28 covers the blessings for obedience. Their cities and country would be blessed. They would have children and crops, livestock, flocks, and food. Deuteronomy chapter 6 declares you will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. Their enemies would be defeated and verse 12 says that they would lend to many nations but will borrow from none. Verse 9 reads the Lord will establish you as His holy people as He promised you on oath if you keep the command of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. Then verse 15 to the end of the chapter verse 68 cover the curses of disobedience. The opposite of the blessings would happen. Verse 36a says the Lord will drive you and the king you sit over you to a nation unknown to you or your fathers. Things will get really bad and verses 58 and 59 tell them why. 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 God, the Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses. We see Moses referred to Deuteronomy as the book of the law in chapter 28 verse 61, chapter 29 verse 21, and chapter 30 verse 10. Even more than the outward plagues chapter 28 verse 65 says when they are scattered among the nations there the Lord will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart. You will live in constant suspense filled with dread both night and day never sure of your life. Chapter 29 Moses explained 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 that's verse 1. Horeb is also called Mount Sinai and this was with the first generation and now they are in Moab on the east side of the Jordan River about to enter the promised land. He also said in verses 12 through 15 you are standing here in order to enter into a covenant the Lord is making with you this day and sealing with an oath to confirm you this day as His people that He may be your God as He promised you and as He swore to your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I am making this covenant with its oath not only with you who are standing here with us today in the presence of the Lord our God but also with those who are not here today. Ladies the covenant continues even to this day and it applies to everyone who confesses their sin and believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Moses told the people that they would disobey and they would be taken captive and they would experience the curses of God and then chapter 30 verses 2 and 3 say and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today then the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where He scattered you. The Lord desires to bring you back to Himself. Verse 6 says the Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the heart of your descendants so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul and live. Moses said that what he commands is not too difficult or beyond their reach. It's near to them. It's in their mouths and in their hearts so that they may obey. Chapter 30 ends with verses 19 and 20. This day I call heaven and 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 God. 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. Well according to my Old Testament timeline Joshua brought the people into the promised land around 1407 to 1406 BC. Their first king was Saul in 1050 BC then King David in 1010 BC and then his son King Solomon who built the temple in 959 BC. Due to the people's sin the kingdom became divided in 930 BC. The northern tribes named Israel fell to Assyria in 722 BC and they were wiped out. The southern tribe Judah was taken over by Babylon in 605 BC and they deported the first group of Jews like Daniel. There was a second deportation in 597 BC which was the time of Ezekiel and the third deportation which was when the temple was destroyed by Babylon which was 586 BC. So the Israelites lived in the promised land around 600 to 800 years as promised before they were exiled and then the Lord brought them back. Cyrus king of Persia conquered Babylon in 539 BC and he allowed the Jews to go back home to their land. Around 536 BC the first group returned. 457 BC the second group returned with Ezra and Haggai and in 445 to 444 BC the third group came back and this brought Nehemiah. They rebuilt the temple and Jerusalem and the Lord kept his word. So ladies let me ask you are you in the promised land or are you exiled? Do you have an anxious mind, weary eyes and a despairing heart? Do you need to return to the Lord? Moses said it is not out of our reach. As in that day before us is a choice, life or death, blessings or curses. Jesus said in John chapter 14 verse 6 I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you have heard the voice of the Lord today please don't harden your hearts. Instead choose life. Let's be women who love the Lord, listen to his voice and hold fast to him because in him, in Jesus we have life. Until next time and thanks so much for listening.