This is depressing. 😞
It’s like there’s a little sunshine then a storm rolls in and it gets super dark.
I mean, Moses is talking cannibalism before it’s all over. 😳🫣
#blessed 🤩 vs. #thedonnerparty 💀
And the bad tragic horrific things listed as possible consequences for disobedience aren’t random. If you know your OT, then you know that these nightmare scenarios are going to come true.
Chapters 27-28 are kind of a blessing sandwich 🥪 – two thick slices of multi-grain curses with blessing-salad in between.
Here’s the final score:
Chapter 27 Curses: 11 verses
Chapter 28 Blessings: 11 verses
Chapter 28 Doomsday Scenario: 52 verses!
The main thing I think about when I read this chapter is how I’ve heard the blessings taken out of context and used as “positive confessions.” (cue the organ music)
“I’m blessed goin’ out and comin’ in.”
“I’m the head and not the tail.”
“I’m above and not beneath.”
“I’m blessed and highly favored.”
Let’s just say, for the sake of argument, that these blessings weren’t specifically for the people of Israel under the Mosaic Covenant. They are, but let’s pretend for a minute they’re for all of God’s people all the time.
What about the curses?
🤔 What do you mean?
I mean you can’t just cherry-pick the parts you like. 🍒 If the blessings are for the Christian today, so are the curses.
😯 Oh- I don’t think I like that.
I know. This is how I see Christians “selectively applying” scriptures like these:
In Christ we are redeemed from the curse of the Law. We talked about that yesterday. We’re not in covenant with God through the Law of Moses at all. We are in covenant with God through the New Covenant that Christ made in His own blood. So, if we’re not promised the curses of the Mosaic Law, we’re not promised the blessings either.
😧 WHAT?!
😠 Don’t you try to steal my blessings!
I’m not stealing anything here. The blessing of salvation through Christ by faith is not part of the Mosaic Covenant. And in the New Covenant of Christ, the Church is given a whole new set of unconditional, eternal blessings that are actually FAR superior to the conditional, earthly blessings promised to Israel.
Let’s see if we can compare some of them…
🤨 Ok, but I’m warnin’ you…
🤓 Relax. It’ll be fine.
“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world.” Deuteronomy 28:1 NLT
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.” Ephesians 1:3-4, 19-22 NLT
❎ Israel – conditionally above the nations
✅ Church – unconditionally above all creation, material and immaterial
The Church is the clear winner here. Next.
“Your towns and your fields will be blessed. Your children and your crops will be blessed. The offspring of your herds and flocks will be blessed. Your fruit baskets and breadboards will be blessed.” Deuteronomy 28:3-5 NLT
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:11-13, 19 ESV
❎ Israel – material blessing is a sign of God’s favor. Being in want is a cause for concern.
✅ Church – the Lord is faithful to provide, being in want is only a test of faith and an opportunity to display the glory of God
“The Lord will conquer your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will scatter from you in seven!” Deuteronomy 28:7 NLT
“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ESV
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:11-12 ESV
❎ Israel – God would empower them to defeat those who attacked them physically.
✅ Church – Empowered to withstand and ultimately bring down the spiritual and ideological forces that are the source of physical violence and warfare in the world.
“If you obey the commands of the Lord your God and walk in his ways, the Lord will establish you as his holy people as he swore he would do. Then all the nations of the world will see that you are a people claimed by the Lord, and they will stand in awe of you.” Deuteronomy 28:9-10 NLT
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35 ESV
🤓 Ok – this one is kinda a tie.
“The Lord will give you prosperity in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, blessing you with many children, numerous livestock, and abundant crops.”
Deuteronomy 28:11 NLT
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:35-39 ESV
❎ Israel – temporary blessings tied to the land
✅ Church – temporary hardship but eternal blessings and supreme victory in the love of God in Christ.
“If you listen to these commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom.”
Deuteronomy 28:13 NLT
“Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men Lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.” Luke 22:25-26 NLT
“But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12 NLT
❎ Israel – If you obey, you’ll be on top.
✅ Church – Jesus is so good that the ones who have disobeyed and are at the tail, are offered forgiveness and brought to the head of the line. The last become first and the bottom gets lifted up to the top.
So… you still want to cling to the blessings of the Law or would you prefer the blessings in the Messiah? It’s really a no-brainer.
😏 Ok. You got me. Jesus’ blessings are way better. But can we still cue the organ music? 🎶
You bet! But you better push back the furniture first. You’re gonna need room. 😉
Ready?
Here’s some midweek shoutin’ music:
(You’re welcome)
To The Reader 