Read Deuteronomy
26-27 & Mark
15:1-26
To discover:
As you read consider how conviction that God would give the
land is expressed.
To ponder:
Moses sermon(s) stretches from chapter 5 to 26. Here it
expresses utter certainty in God’s promise. We can talk of “when” we receive
our inheritance in the same way.
To mark the
possession and settling of the “inheritance,” at the first harvest (and
possibly every subsequent feast of Weeks/Pentecost) the firstfruits are to be
taken to the tabernacle at “the place” God chooses. The Israelite is to recite
given words, declaring to God before the priest that the LORD has brought him
to the promised land, and recounting the miracle of how God created and
redeemed such a great nation from Jacob - the “wandering Aramean.” The point is
that Israel now
have a fixed home! The Israelite is then to bow down as he lays the basket
“before” the LORD. His household, the Levites and any aliens, should then rejoice
in all God had given with a feast. When giving his tithe to the Levite, alien,
fatherless and widow in the third year, he is to say to God that he has done
this according to his commands, praying God would bless his people in the land
from his real “dwelling-place” in heaven. Likewise, preaching to ourselves (and
celebrating) our own story of redemption in Christ, keeps us thankful and full
of faith.
The sermon
ends with a call to obey, and an affirmation of the covenant: The people have
declared the LORD is their God and they will “walk” in his ways; and he has
declared they are “his people” and “treasured possession,” that they are to
“keep his commands,” and that they will be regarded more highly than any nation
and be holy and so set-apart to the LORD. Peter declares these same things
whilst reciting how God has redeemed us (1 Pet 2v9-10). And this is the basis
for his call that we “abstain from sinful desires” and “live such good lives
amongst the pagans” that they come to “glorify God” – ie. regard us highly to
his credit. So our obedience is no less important.
Moses and
the elders now command the people to mark the beginning of their life in the
land by setting up some stones on Mount
Ebal, coating them in plaster and
writing the law on them. This may have been the Ten Commandments, the whole
book, or just the curses that follow. They are also to make an altar there,
offer burnt offerings (for unintentional sin), sacrifice fellowship offerings
(marking the peace achieved with God), and eating with joy “in God’s presence.”
The sense is that the burnt offerings atone for sins against the laws written
on the stones. As our sacrifice, Christ actually embodied the law, making full
atonement so we could have fellowship and joy with God.
Moses and
the priests then silence Israel,
affirming the need to obey now they are God’s people. Moses also commands that
in the centre of the land the tribes are to be split between Mount
Gerizim - to bless the people, and Mount
Ebal - to curse them. The blessings
are not recorded here. The curses to be spoken by the Levites seem to stress
sins reflecting God’s main concerns: ie. idolatry, dishonouring parents,
stealing people’s inheritance, abusing the needy, withholding justice, sexual
immorality, and murder. The promise of curse is of God’s judgement even for
“secret” sins (27v15,24), implying direct action from him against those whose
sins are not found out by the people. By crying “Amen” to each, the people
effectively accept the terms of the covenant. The NT also affirms severe
punishment to those who keep sinning having received the gospel and taken their
place in the church, for “the LORD will judge his people” (Heb 10v26-31).
Praying it home:
Thank God that our inheritance is so certain we can talk
about it as ours, and ponder what will be “when” there. Pray that you and
Christians you know would live such good lives that others come to glorify God.
Thinking further:
None today.
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