A Hedge of Curses: Deuteronomy 27 (7)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 132.13-18
For the LORD has chosen Zion;
He has desired it for His dwelling place:
“This is My resting place forever;
Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
I will abundantly bless her provision;
I will satisfy her poor with bread.
I will also clothe her priests with salvation,
And her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
There I will make the horn of David grow;
I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed.
His enemies I will clothe with shame,
But upon Himself His crown shall flourish.”

Psalm 132.13-18
(Finlandia: Be Still, My Soul)
God dwells among us, and He will forever, to meet our needs and clothe us with His grace.
He has to us sent Jesus Christ, our Savior, and made us His eternal resting-place.
His foes are banished from His Presence ever, but we shall reign with Him before His face.

Review Deuteronomy 27; meditate on Deuteronomy 27.9, 10

Preparation
1. What did God expect Israel to do with His Law?

2. Why were they supposed to do this?

Meditation
We should expect that there would be a “down side” to the Law of God. Indeed, I suspect that most people, when they think of the Law, regard it in negative terms: don’t do this, don’t do that, an eye for an eye, and so forth.

But we must remember that the Ten Commandments are just that – commandments, not suggestions. They carry an urgency as such, as if to warn us, like we would a child, from behavior that is dangerous to their wellbeing: “Don’t run out into the street!” We are such dull-minded and hard-hearted people that God must command us, with threats and warnings, how we are to behave so as to promote love, justice, and personal flourishing in everything. The people of ancient Israel consistently thought they knew better than God how they should act. They were never very far from idolatry, moral compromise, and outright rebellion against the Lord.

And neither are we.

God gave His Law to mark out the path of blessing, flourishing, and life. The twin guard rails – love for God and love for our neighbors – clearly delineate how we should walk in our journey through this life. The blessings of God are strewn along that path, as we shall see in Deuteronomy 28. If we keep to the path – the path of God’s Law, which Jesus walked (1 Jn. 2.1-6) – then we will realize full and abundant life by the grace and guidance of God.

Beyond those guard rails lay prickles, quagmires, and quicksand of sin. God has put them there. He means to hedge us in, to encourage us by warnings to hew to the designated path. Furthermore, He has told us that’s what lies outside the boundaries and landmarks He has set for us His people. If we don’t believe Him, if we venture outside the path He has marked out so clearly, we will find ourselves entangled in a hedge of curses. And it won’t be pretty (Heb. 12.3-11).

Our duty – indeed, our privilege as God’s chosen and set-aside people – is to “take heed and listen” and to “obey the voice of the LORD your God, and observe His commandments and His statutes”. This is not a suggestion. It is the way to life. God has saved us and set us on this path. He wants us to prosper and be blessed. If that’s what we want, this is the path we’ll walk. And as we walk this path, we both prove that we are the people of His grace, and we improve in love for Him and our neighbor.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
People who find the Law of God restraining are not thinking about God’s heart. God gave His Law because He loves us. Which one of those commandments would you like to have violated against yourself? Murder? Adultery? Theft of your property? Lots of lies told about you? Your stuff being wanted so badly by someone else that they would do just about anything to get it? You see, God wants you treated carefully and lovingly by others. But in order for the message to get out, that you need to be treated well, all of us need to take heed, listen to, obey, and observe these same commandments. And as we all obey, we all benefit. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 Jn. 5.3). The prickles that keep us hedged in and on the right path are for everyone’s good. Especially yours!

Reflection
1. Why do you think so many people have a negative view of the Law of God? What would you say to encourage someone not to think that way?

2. How would you explain each of these terms: heed, listen to, obey, observe?

3. How would you explain to a new believer why it’s important to be daily instructed from the Law of God?

In the Old Testament the words of the law are written, with the curse annexed; which would overcome us with horror, if we had not, in the New Testament, an altar erected close by, which gives consolation. Blessed be God, the printed copies of the Scriptures among us, do away the necessity of such methods as were presented to Israel. The end of the gospel ministry is, and the end of preachers ought to be, to make the word of God as plain as possible. Yet, unless the Spirit of God prosper such labors with Divine power, we shall not, even by these means, be made wise unto salvation: for this blessing we should therefore daily and earnestly pray. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Deuteronomy 27.9-11

Grant me grace, Lord, to grow in Your Word and to walk the path of righteousness each day, so that I…

Closing Prayer: Psalm 132.1-12
Pray that God will make you faithful, today and every day, in seeking the path of righteousness and walking faithfully in it at all times. Pray that you will know His Presence with you, to remind, direct, encourage, and, yes, warn.

Psalm 132.1-12
(Finlandia: Be Still, My Soul)
Remember, Lord, we pray, in David’s favor, the hardships he endured, the oath he swore,
the vow he made to Jacob’s mighty Savior: “I shall not enter through my palace door;
I shall not sleep, nor slumber my eyes favor, until I make a dwelling for the Lord!”

The word throughout the chosen nation spread, to Ephrata, and in the fields of Jaar:
“Now let us go,” the faithful people said, “and worship where our Savior’s dwellings are!
Around His footstool let our worship spread; come, gather to Him, all from near and far!”

Arise, O Lord, come to Your resting place; Your holy Presence meet with us in might.
Clothe us with righteousness in Jesus’ grace, and we will shout to Your divine delight!
For David’s sake, turn not away Your face, but look upon us in Your holy light.

Remember, Lord, the oath You swore to David; do not turn back, do not deny Your Word:
“One of your sons, with your throne I will favor, and He shall keep My cov’nant evermore, and walk within My testimonies ever, thus He shall ever rule as Israel’s Lord.”

T. M. and Susie Moore

Listen to our summary of last week’s study in Deuteronomy by going to today’s column at the website. 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).