Today’s passage: Deuteronomy 28
Helpful thoughts:
- The theme of blessings and curses on Israel as they do or do not follow the law continues. The blessings are wonderful and the curses are utterly grim.
- These curses are a reversal of all that God had committed to Israel in their covenant with Him.
- The northern kingdom of Israel would fall to Assyria in 2 Kings 17 and the kingdom of Judah would fall to Babylon in 2 Kings 25. Even what seems like the worst of these curses happened in the history of Israel (2 Kings 6:24-31).
Questions to consider:
- As overwhelming and terrifying as much of this chapter might be, what is abundantly clear about what Israel needed to do as a people? Whether all of them liked it or not, who were they to follow? Who alone was worthy of their worship?
- From our finite perspective, this chapter may come across as a threat (Obey God, or else!). Knowing that other nations around the world have suffered in the same ways, what is the true motive of this message? How is God revealing truth in love to His covenant people in these blessings and curses?
- What is the “blessings and curses” message of the gospel of Jesus Christ? What is already true of every person in their sin? What must a person do to be saved (Acts 16:30-31)? What are the blessings of salvation in Christ?