A Hedge of Curses: Deuteronomy 27 (1)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 119.1-4
Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the LORD!
Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart!
They also do no iniquity;
They walk in His ways.
You have commanded us
To keep Your precepts diligently.

Psalm 119.1-4
(Ode to Joy: Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee)
Blessed are they whose way is blameless, all who walk within God’s Law,

who, His testimonies keeping, seek Him, filled with joy and awe.
These are they who, no wrong doing, ever walk within God’s ways.
Lord, Your precepts You command us; we would keep them all our days.

Today’s Text: Deuteronomy 27.1-8

Preparation
1. What were the people supposed to do upon entering the land?

2. What were they to do once that task had been completed?

Meditation
This passage introduces the final section of the book of Deuteronomy. It is rich with insights concerning the nature and importance of God’s Law.

Note first of all that the Law of God is all of a piece (v. 1). The Hebrew says, “Keep all the commandment…” – singular, not plural, as in NKJV. As James wrote, if you disobey one of the commandments, you break the entire Law (Jms. 2.10). Being a little bit obedient would not suffice. Keeping the Law is the way unto salvation, but not our keeping of it. Jesus alone could accomplish this. We keep the Law not to be saved, but because Jesus, Who saves us, has shown us that the Law is the path for full and abundant life in Him (1 Jn. 2.1-6).

The people of Israel couldn’t keep the Law, either. But they were commanded to do so anyway. God made provision for their failures of obedience, as we shall see. The Law was to be on their minds, in their hearts, on the doorposts of their homes and the gates of their cities, and represented in tassels on the corners of their garments. Here God instructs the people through Moses to paint the Law – probably just the Ten Commandments – on the mountain that marks the entry of God’s people into the land of promise (vv. 2-4).

This is not the only use of art God will make to help shape His people for obedience. Many American states post signs at their borders, so that as people enter by a highway they read, “Welcome to Vermont” or some such. Here, God’s people are reminded, at the entrance of the land, of what the character and calling of this land and its people are to be: Fear God and keep His commandments.

Note, too, that in the shadow of that imposing work of art – the Law in black and white (no shades of gray) – the people were to make offerings of peace on an altar made without tools (vv. 5-7). As much as the people needed the Law, they would need sacrifices seeking peace with God to remain in His favor and promises.

The same is true for us. Without the sacrifice of Jesus, we would have no peace with God and no ability to understand or obey His Word.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
In trying to tell me of her frustration regarding another person’s inability to grasp what she was saying, my daughter once told me, “I had to get out the big-grip crayons to explain it!” I enjoyed that phrase then, and still enjoy it today. Unless it is directed at me. And then maybe it’s not so funny. In this passage, God is telling us that we need to get out the big-grip crayons and write His Law clearly and plainly in very large letters on very large stones for ourselves, so that we remember how we are supposed to behave toward Him and others. “And you shall write very plainly on the stones all the words of this law” (Deut. 27.8). And in clearly seeing the Law, we very clearly see that we need a Savior. Without seeing our extreme neediness, we will never see and appreciate properly the gift God gives us in Jesus Christ – the whitewashing with lime of our sins. “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow…” “These are the ones who…washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Ps. 51.7; Is. 1.18; Rev. 7.14). “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1 Jn. 2.3). If it is written largely, clearly, and plainly enough, then we see it, and we rejoice in the forgiveness offered through Jesus, knowing we cannot keep the Law in our own strength. But then through Him, because of Him, and in Him, we do it.

Reflection
1. Meditate on Ezekiel 36.26, 27 and Matthew 5.17-19. How does God use the big-grip crayons to direct us in following His Law?

2. What is the significance of Israel having posted the Law on their entrance to the land? What’s the significance of God’s Spirit posting the Law on your heart?

3. Why do you suppose God chose to use the arts to reinforce His teaching to Israel?

This precept is of the same character as those that have preceded it; for, as God would have His precepts written on the door-posts, and on the borders of their garments, so that they might constantly meet their eyes, so also would He have a monument existing at the very entrance of their land, from which the people might learn that they dwelt in it, in order that they might worship God purely. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Deuteronomy 27.1-8

O Lord, let Your holy Word be always before me, in my mind, on my heart, and in…

Closing Prayer: Psalm 119.5-8
Commit all your ways to the Lord for this day, to walk the paths of His holy Word in righteousness and uprightness.

Psalm 119.5-8
(Ode to Joy: Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee)
Let my ways steadfastly keep to all the statutes of Your Word.
Then shall I, no shame enduring, fix my eyes on You, O Lord!
With an upright heart I praise You, in Your rules will I abide.
I will keep Your statutes wholly; keep me ever by Your side.

T. M. and Susie Moore

Listen to our summary of last week’s study in Deuteronomy by clicking here. You can download all the studies in the series by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy: Ancient Christian Commentary Series III, Joseph T. Lienhard, S. J. ed. in collaboration with Ronnie J. Rombs, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001). All quotations from John Calvin from John Calvin, Commentaries on The Four Last Books of Moses Arranged in the Order of A Harmony, Rev. Charles William Bingham M. A., tr. and ed. (Edinburgh: The Calvin Translation Society, 1863. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).