The rest of Deuteronomy is like the first--the end of a LONG speech by Moses. Like last week, many things we read are repeats of things we have heard before.
In chapter 27-28 new instructions are given for building an altar to help remember the law. Moses gives details of the blessings and curses that God has in store for the children of Israel, depending on whether or not they continued to love the Lord and serve Him. (My money’s on “not.”)
Some of these curses are really extreme--”If you do not obey,” says the Lord, “If you fail to honor me and then do not fear and respect my name,then you will overrun by your enemies to such an extent that you will even eat your own children.” Wow. But this is a stubborn and stiff-necked people (called that by God Himself), and they have a tendency to disobey despite God’s continual favor and miraculous provision, so I think such an invasion is exactly what we shall find in later books of the Bible.
God then institutes a new covenant. And He again gives a terrible warning: If the Israelites disobeyed, and refused to love and honor God, if they would forsake the covenant and worship other gods, then God would destroy them and the land so badly that people who walked past years later would be able to tell that He destroyed it. Yikes. So what He’s saying is, He’s really serious about this “Don’t worship other gods” thing.
Again and again throughout the Law it is repeated more than any other commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength...” Yes, the ordinances are important; yes, the other laws matter. But MOST IMPORTANT is to LOVE GOD. WITH YOUR WHOLE SELF. Moses sums up his speech in chapter 30 by saying, “Choose life, that you may live.” How? “By loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, by holding fast to him.”
This is the challenge that we must face as we read the Bible. Now that we have seen this command so abundantly in the scripture, we cannot help but love God with everything that we have, and everything that we are. It is the most important thing you will ever do.
Moses ends the book of the law with a blessing for each of the twelve tribes of Israel (combining Ephraim and Manasseh into just “Joseph” and including Levi). We also read Psalm 90 this week. Moses writes that although God is the place where Israel dwells, He is also their Judge. He ends with a note of hope, that the favor of the Lord may be upon them.
Moses does get a glimpse of the promised land before he dies on Mount Nebo, and is buried by God Himself, in a secret place known only to the Lord. I am a little sad to leave this character that we have been following for so long.
Next time, Joshua and the Promised Land!
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