Deuteronomy 28

Study Guide 21: Deuteronomy 27-34 DESTINY Overview Thirty years ago a traveler taking a train across dry and dusty Palestine remarked, “ And the Bible calls this a land of milk and honey!” A man overheard, tapped him on the shoulder, and showed him these words: Your children who follow you in later generations and foreigners who come from distant lands will see the calamities that have fallen on the land and the diseases with which the Lord hath afflicted it. The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur — nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the Lord overthrew in fierce anger. All the nations will ask: “ Why has the Lord done this to this land? Why this fierce burning anger?” Deuteronomy 29:22-24God had spelled out the principle of love which underlay the Law, and had detailed the specific stipulations of the contract He made with each generation of Israelites. Now the new generation ratified that covenant (Deuteronomy 27:1-26), and God spelled out the blessings of obedience (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). But God also spelled out the tragedies which would surely come if Israel went back on her commitment (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). The treaty was then summarized (chaps. 29-30), and this great Old Testament book concludes with the personal words, and the story of the death of Moses. The message? It is one of commitment. Commitment determines destiny.

Commitment Earlier, when Israel stood poised at Paran and sent spies to examine Canaan, the people reached a time of decision. God spoke and told them, “ Go.” And they refused. On this decision the destiny of that entire generation hinged. Because of their lack of trust in God, their decision was to disobey. We know how that single act of disobedience — though representative of a basic attitude and lifestyle — forced that generation away from the Promised Land out into the wilderness to die. But now we’ re dealing with a new generation, a generation that did “ hold fast” to the Lord. This generation was ready and eager to respond to the command to cross the Jordan and to battle for their heritage, Palestine. This new generation had a different heart attitude toward God, and was marked by a different lifestyle. They were a people who trusted God and who were willing to obey. But they too faced an important decision. This decision would express itself not in a single act of obedience or disobedience, but in a continuing pattern of life. The decision now facing Israel had to do with commitment. New Testament parallel. We can find a similar point of decision reflected in the Gospels. Jesus had spent a long time with His disciples, and a similar length of time in ministry to the crowds. Then one day He asked the Twelve, “ Who do people say the Son of man is?” He received many apparently flattering answers. John the Baptist. Elijah. Another of the ancient prophets. Then our Lord asked the Twelve, “ Who do you say I am?” And He received the right, the only adequate, response. “ You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The disciples knew who Jesus is, and trusted themselves to Him. They had made that initial, critical decision to respond to God’ s Word about His Son, even as this new, believing Israel was ready to respond to God’ s Word and to go up into Canaan. But that initial decision, vital as it is, had to be followed up. Jesus said to His disciples: If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? Luke 9:23-24In these words, Jesus sets before believers the second choice: the choice of commitment. Jesus was spelling out the ultimate impact of that choice on the human personality. If we choose to follow Jesus in daily commitment, we will “ save” our lives. We will become the self we potentially are through the presence of God within us. Or we can make the wrong choice. We can live for ourselves rather than in commitment to Christ. An inevitable result of that choice will be that we lose ourselves. The person we might have been because of intimate relationship with God — our “ very self” — will be forfeited. Commitment determines the destiny ahead in this world for each one of us. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Divide your group into several teams. Have each work together to list words and phrases that describe “ the kind of people we really want to be.” The only criteria for the list is that each of the several team members agree that the item represents something that he or she wants to be or be like personally. When the teams have had 10 or so minutes to work on their lists, come together and compare. You’ ll find that most items on the lists agree. Then give individuals 2 minutes to list privately present personal characteristics that they do not like; that fall short of their ideal self. These will not be shared. Read the Luke passage, and point out that the bridge between our two selves — the self we are, and the self we want to be — is daily commitment to Jesus. As we surrender our lives and our wills to Jesus, and are obedient to Him, our gain is the new self that each of us wants so badly to be. For Israel too. As we trace the culminating events in Deuteronomy, we see over and over again how the commitment decision determines the experience of Israel. Ultimately the promised Messiah will come, and all of God’ s promises to Abraham will be fulfilled. But until then, each generation’ s choice will determine its own destiny.

CommentaryBlessing or Curse: Deuteronomy 27-29 Covenant entered (Deuteronomy 27:1-26). It seems strange to read words like these in this section of Deuteronomy: “ You have now become the people of the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 27:9). Weren’ t these descendants of Abraham automatically the people of the Lord? Yes, in one sense. But in another sense the Hebrews, as a people and as individuals, chose to enter into the relationship with God that was defined by Law. The promise made to Abraham held firm, no matter what a given generation did. But each generation’ s own experience of God’ s blessing, and its own relationship with the Lord, was defined by the Mosaic Law Covenant, and that covenant was entered into by personal choice and commitment. Thus the Deuteronomy passage we’ re studying picks up this critical point, and explains for living Israel for all time the meaning of this commitment decision. “ All of you are standing today in the presence of the Lord your God. . . . In order to enter into a covenant with the Lord your God, a covenant the Lord is making with you this day and sealing with an oath” (Deuteronomy 29:10, Deuteronomy 29:12). The Lord is “ the Lord your God.” But only by entering voluntarily into the covenant of Law would an individual or given generation experience the blessings of being “ His people.” To mark off this day as special, an appropriate ceremony was determined. Israel was told to act out her commitment in an unmistakable way. When she was over Jordan, the commandments were to be written plainly on large, whitewashed stones. Half the tribes were to stand on Mount Ebal, and shout out “ Amen” to the curses pronounced by the Levites for disobedience (cf. Deuteronomy 27:15-26). The other half of the tribes were to stand on Mount Gerizim to bless. And an altar was to be built — on the mount of cursing. Thus commitment was to be marked formally. It was to be a distinct experience, this entering of the covenant, and was to be remembered by the Israelites. Definition and outcome of commitment (Deuteronomy 28:1-68). The definition of commitment given here is extremely simple. Daily obedience. We see it over and over. “ If you fully obey the Lord your God, and carefully follow all His commands I give you today” (Deuteronomy 28:1). It is just as simple to define lack of commitment, or uncommitment. Daily disobedience. “ 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” (Deuteronomy 28:58). The decision the believer makes is to live out his commitment to God as daily obedience — or not to do so. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT As your group members enter ask them to each write down a brief definition of “ commitment.” Share these and let them talk for a few minutes of the basic nature of commitment. Then put Deuteronomy 28:1, Deuteronomy 28:58 on the chalkboard, side by side. If you wish, have teams work with concordances to find “ obey” and “ disobey” in the New Testament. Can they find parallels to these Deuteronomy verses that suggest commitment still is a choice between daily obedience and daily disobedience? What is the outcome of commitment, for the nation and for the individual? We see it clearly in this chapter. Obedience brings blessing. For Israel there would be an increase of cattle and crops in the land. Israel’ s undertakings would prosper. They would be victorious in warfare. God promised, “ The Lord will establish you as His holy people, as He promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God, and walk in His ways. Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 28:9-10). In serving the Lord “ joyfully and gladly” (Deuteronomy 28:47), Israel would find her fulfillment. The men and women Moses spoke to that day beyond the Jordan River did move on. They lived a life of commitment. And their generation received all the blessings that God had promised. Theirs was an experience of true fulfillment. But their descendants, to whom Moses also spoke through the written Word, did not. The descendants of this generation turned from serving God, and the very experiences so graphically described in Moses’ warnings are inscribed on the record of history. In Deuteronomy 28:15-68 the destiny ahead of Israel is described, and the pivot on which sacred history turns defined. At every point in Israel’ s history — and in our own personal destiny — the issue is one and the same. Commitment. What was the future against which Israel was futilely warned? The Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses. He will bring upon you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you. The Lord will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law until you are destroyed. You who were as numerous as the stars in the sky will be left but few in number; because you did not obey the Lord your God. Just as it pleased the Lord to make you prosper and increase in number, so it will please Him to ruin and destroy you. You will be uprooted from the land you are entering to possess. Then the Lord will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship other gods — gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. 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. Deuteronomy 28:59-66The land of milk and honey, of fulfillment and promise, would also bear the judgment, to become a “ burnt-out waste.” And just this has happened. The destiny written as a warning so long ago has become history. The word was true. The danger inherent in rejection of commitment is very, very real. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT A German emperor of the last century is said to have asked his court pastor to prove to him that the Bible is true. The minister replied, “ I can prove the Bible is God’ s Book in just two words.” The Emperor looked amazed. “ What are they?” And the pastor answered, “ The Jew.” Tell your group this story, and have them read Deuteronomy 28:59-66. Then discuss: “ What did this pastor mean?”

Return: Deuteronomy 30:1-20Along with the warning, God gave Israel promises. Even in the middle of judgment, if the blessings and the cursings would be called to mind and God’ s people would “ 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 restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where He scattered you” (Deuteronomy 30:2-3). This too we have seen in history, in the return from Babylon. And many Christians believe that the establishment of Israel in 1948 is the precursor of an even more wonderful regathering that will be associated with the return of Christ. But what is important for us here is a bright and wonderful message: The invitation to commitment is an open one!It is never too late for the believer to return to God. The door remains open to the people of God. All the Lord asks is that we respond to Him. “ I set before you today,” God says to every generation, “ life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands, decrees, and laws: then you will live and increase. . . . But if your heart turns away, and you are not obedient” (Deuteronomy 30:15-17). If you will not hear, then destiny becomes history. Again. So Jesus’ words to His disciples in Luke really echo an age-old story. The person who will not follow his Lord may gain the whole world, but he will forfeit himself. What he could have become he will not be, even as Israel’ s tragic choices would lead her to forfeit the blessings of the Promised Land.

Observations on the Text: Deuteronomy 31-34 Moses’ life work was now done. He had been marvelously used by the Lord. His confrontation with Pharaoh, the plagues God brought at Moses’ word, the parting of the Red Sea, the Ten Commandments, all these will be forever linked with the name of Moses, Israel’ s Law-Giver. But now that Moses was about to die, he left a last heritage to the new generation. Moses left a new leader (Deuteronomy 31:1-8). Joshua, who with Caleb remained faithful to God when the first generation rebelled, and who had served as Israel’ s military chief, would guide the people in the Promised Land. Moses left a written Law (Deuteronomy 31:9-13). The contents of our first five books of the Old Testament were traditionally, and conservative scholars are sure actually, written by Moses or at his direction. This written Law was entrusted to the priests, to be carried in the ark of the covenant, and to be read to all the people every seventh year at the Feast of Tabernacles. This Word was for all the people — “ men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns.” And while it was read to all only the seventh year, the priests and Levites were to teach it to all, and the elders to administer communities by it. Moses left a song to memorize (Deut. 31:30-32:47). Copies of Scripture were not available to the people of Israel. How would they remember the central teachings of Moses, and retain their commitment to the Lord? Moses wove promise and blessing together in a song or poem that affirms the greatness of Israel’ s God. This was written down to be taught to the people, so that memorized and sung, it would always remind them of the necessity of personal commitment to Yahweh. Like the final chapters of the covenant, it contains an open invitation to commitment and to blessing. See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides Me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded, and I will heal, and no one can deliver from My hand. Deuteronomy 32:39In commitment to this God is safety and joy. They can only be found in Him. Moses left his blessing on each tribe (Deuteronomy 33:1-29). “ Bless” and “ blessing” occur some 415 times in the Hebrew Old Testament, showing the importance of this concept in biblical times. Essentially, to bless means “ to endue with power for success, prosperity, fecundity, longevity, etc.” The person who is “ blessed” is giving some gift which will lead to a rich and abundant life. It was common for superiors to bless children or subordinates, as Moses here spoke God’ s blessing on the tribes of Israel. Moses left an example (Deuteronomy 34:1-12). The book closes with the death of Moses. The Lord took His faithful servant to the top of the mountains across from Jericho. There, Moses could look out over then-green slopes and purpled mountain ranges. “ This is the land,” God told Moses. And there Moses, the servant of the Lord, died. And a scribe added an epitaph which stands erect over the unknown grave, marking Moses forever in the eyes of God’ s people. Since then no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face-to-face, who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt — to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. Deuteronomy 34:10-12 Teaching Guide Prepare Meditate for a time on Moses, and on what Hebrews 3:2-5 tells you about him. Pray that you and your group members will grow to be as faithful in your commitment to God as Moses was.

Explore

1. Have group members individually define, and then briefly discuss commitment. How might a committed Christian be or act differently than an uncommitted Christian?
2. Or begin by having your group members define “ the person I want to be” from the activity suggested in the “ link-to-life” activity above.

Expand

1. Have your class members read aloud together, Deuteronomy 28:59-66. Show how the decision not to make a full commitment to God led to tragedy.
2. Introduce Deuteronomy 28:16 and Deuteronomy 28:58 as Keys to Commitment. Follow the suggestions in the “ link-to-life” activity outlined above.

Apply

1. Moses developed a ceremony as Mounts Ebal and Gerizim to emphasize the importance of the commitment decision. Why not have your group work out a similar ceremony, but using Luke 9:23-24? If they wish, material from Deuteronomy might be included. Then actually have the ceremony your group designs as a concluding activity.
2. Or, emphasize the fact that the invitation to commitment remains open. Sometimes Christians feel that their sins and failures have disqualified them. But this is not true. Any believer can “ return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart” (Deuteronomy 30:2).