God Speaks
Then Moses and the leaders of Israel gave this charge to the people: “Obey all these commands that I am giving you today. 2 When you cross the Jordan River and enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. 3 Write this whole body of instruction on them when you cross the river to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you—a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4 When you cross the Jordan, set up these stones at Mount Ebal and coat them with plaster, as I am commanding you today.
5 “Then build an altar there to the Lord your God, using natural, uncut stones. You must not shape the stones with an iron tool. 6 Build the altar of uncut stones, and use it to offer burnt offerings to the Lord your God. 7 Also sacrifice peace offerings on it, and celebrate by feasting there before the Lord your God. 8 You must clearly write all these instructions on the stones coated with plaster.”
9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests addressed all Israel as follows: “O Israel, be quiet and listen! Today you have become the people of the Lord your God. 10 So you must obey the Lord your God by keeping all these commands and decrees that I am giving you today.”
11 That same day Moses also gave this charge to the people: 12 “When you cross the Jordan River, the tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin must stand on Mount Gerizim to proclaim a blessing over the people. 13 And the tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali must stand on Mount Ebal to proclaim a curse.
14 “Then the Levites will shout to all the people of Israel:
15 ‘Cursed is anyone who carves or casts an idol and secretly sets it up. These idols, the work of craftsmen, are detestable to the Lord.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
16 ‘Cursed is anyone who dishonors father or mother.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
17 ‘Cursed is anyone who steals property from a neighbor by moving a boundary marker.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
18 ‘Cursed is anyone who leads a blind person astray on the road.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
19 ‘Cursed is anyone who denies justice to foreigners, orphans, or widows.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
20 ‘Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with one of his father’s wives, for he has violated his father.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
21 ‘Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with an animal.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
22 ‘Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with his sister, whether she is the daughter of his father or his mother.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
23 ‘Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with his mother-in-law.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
24 ‘Cursed is anyone who attacks a neighbor in secret.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
25 ‘Cursed is anyone who accepts payment to kill an innocent person.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
26 ‘Cursed is anyone who does not affirm and obey the terms of these instructions.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Deuteronomy 27:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
1. God will cause blessings or curses to come on people who obey or disrespect Him, respectively.
2. People (especially Jews and Christians) have no excuse for not knowing what God expects of them.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Deuteronomy 27?
Dear LORD God, You graciously want Your children to understand and obey the rules for life You have given us. Please help me to understand and obey them. I pledge to write them out and study them so that I can explain them to others–especially the next generations. I will celebrate them with feasting and peace offerings. LORD, please help me to establish daily (and special) times for quietly listening to Your commands and instructions. How I obey You will demonstrate how much I love You. May I declare that You are my God by everything that I do. May I not deserve Your curses by letting anything steal my attention and affection away from You; by dishonoring my father, my mother, or anyone in authority over me including You; by stealing land or anything from my neighbor or other people; by leading the blind or anyone else astray; by having sexual relations with anyone other than my legal spouse (including animals); by secretly killing or attacking someone (physically, emotionally, or socially) or conspiring to do so; or by giving or receiving bribes against the innocent, rich, or poor. I hereby agree that all of these rules for life are right and just and say amen with the intention of keeping them. May You receive all the glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Deuteronomy 27? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will review commentaries on these laws and apply them in my life. [The Rational Bible: Deuteronomy by Dennis Prager pages 413-425, or The MacArthur Study Bible by John MacArthur pages 281-283, for example.]
- I will write out a list of these laws, say AMEN to each one, then sign and date the list. [Saying AMEN means that I agree that what is said true or accurate and I will abide by it.]
- I will confess to God (privately or publicly) when I have broken any of these laws or had them broken against me.
- I will receive or extend forgiveness for the breaking of these laws on the basis of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.