May 14, 2021
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Reading along with us in Deuteronomy? Here’s today’s reading:
Deuteronomy 27 (NIV)
The Altar on Mount Ebal
1 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all these commands that I give you today. 2 When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster.......Continue Reading
I can only imagine how powerful a sight it must have been to have God’s commands called out in a loud voice as all the people would respond “AMEN” meaning they agree and will follow!
I know I have said it before but sometimes these acts of agreement or making of altars, these processes of remembrance while seem so odd to us are such a powerful tool in actually remembering all God has done for us and some times practical and physical reminders like our present day communion help our human brain not get too comfortable with things and take them for granted!
What powerful ways to reenforce what God’s law was: to write it down on rocks and have it declared out loud with throngs of people yelling out curses on one mountain and blessings on the other. It would certainly not be easy to forget that picture and cause people to remember the content and value of God’s law! God is such a good teacher!
Deuteronomy 27
Here we see God finally making it clear his stands on bestiality, incest, deception. These things might seem trivially wrong to us now but I think, it’s only because the law has been made known to us. We wouldn’t know something is wrong unless someone in authority says it is. I know some people who need to be guided about where the Bible stands on specific issues and I believe it is my duty to help them understand.
How often are we reminded in scripture that we are not only to hear God’s words but to keep them? We are to be doers of God’s word. If we love Him, we will obey his words.
The imagery of the tribes on two separate hills, Gerizim and Ebal, expressing their commitment to God’s law is fascinating.
We covered this event in Joshua. I wondered how all of Israel could possibly hear one person speaking, even in a “loud voice”. These two mountains are perfectly positioned for excellent acoustics.
https://www.bibleplaces.com/blog/2008/12/acoustics-of-mounts-gerizim-and-ebal/
9Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God. 10Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.”
11On the same day Moses commanded the people:
12When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. 13And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.
14The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice:
15“Cursed is anyone who makes an idol—a thing detestable to the Lord, the work of skilled hands—and sets it up in secret.”