CHAPTER 27:
I love a to-do list. There is nothing as satisfying as looking back at a long list of things I need to accomplish and seeing them all crossed off. But my romance with my to-do lists is not always a happy ending. More often than not, I over estimate and load too many things on my daily list. Then I feel disappointed in myself for not getting everything completed, and go into loser mode. Loser mode is never good. In fact, it is a curse that I cannot escape alone. My husband knows me well and is great at freeing me from the loser grips. He is such a blessing.
Blessing and curse. Deuteronomy 11 spoke of the blessings and curses that the Israelites were to place on two separate mountains - the blessing on Mount Gerizim, the curse on Mount Ebal. Today’s reading expands on the curses first mentioned in chapter 11. They are somewhat like a to-do list, or a NOT to-do list. So, I can totally empathize with the problem that will spring from this list.
Read Deuteronomy 27:1-4.
What were the Israelites to build when they first entered the Promised Land?
What were the lime-coated stones supposed to have written on them?
What was the reason for doing this?
Do you sometimes need a visual to remind you of things, like a to-do list, or a witty saying on the wall that keeps you focused?
If you were going to give yourself a visual reminder of something the LORD is placing on your heart and mind right now, what would it be?
The problem with to-do lists is that when they sit there too long with things left undone, I tend to not see them. Oh, I guess I see them, but I don't pay attention to them. They are just part of the scenery. I think this is true for a lot of things. I live in a beautiful city with landscapes and iconic scenes that people long to see in person, but I drive right past them without a second thought. They are just part of my every day view therefore nothing special. Knowing that is how people tend to be, this lime-coated pillar with God's Law written on it will probably lose its visual value over time. If we are not careful, the same will be true about God's Law for us: it will lose its value in our every day world. And that little thing God just placed on your heart, it will fade too - if you let it. We will need to be intentional about remembering the things the Lord has called us to do, and not allow them to be swallowed up in the rush of life.
Read Deuteronomy 27: 5-8.
What else were they to build?
What were the specific instructions for this altar?
This is what was done at Mt. Sinai 40 years earlier. The people gathered in celebration of the covenant with God, and they offered peace offerings and thanksgiving to the LORD. So, they were to do this again when they entered the land God had promised to them. Both were celebrations of deliverance - one from Egypt and one from the desert. They commemorated the fulfillment of God's promises to them. We should remember too - remember the day we were saved, remember what Jesus did for us, remember how we felt. It is good to remember for if you don't remember you will forget and if you forget you will not be as thankful or as obedient and the love for your Lord will grow cold. Love. Remember. Fear. Obey. Teach.
Read Deuteronomy 27:9-14.
What was special about this day?
What was required of the people?
In what way would the curses be announced to everyone?
Read Deuteronomy 27:15-26.
When you read the curses, what things stuck out to you? Why?
Were there any new items on this list that had not been mentioned before?
Would you place the new item in the category of respect toward God or respect toward fellow man?
What is said at the end of each announced curse?
What does “Amen’”mean?
Amen! We say it all the time. At the end of every prayer. When we agree with someone. So these Israelites were saying “Amen” to all of these curses that were being pronounced over them if they did not obey. “We agree. Bring it on,” was essentially what they were saying. I can’t even imagine! Can you? They must have felt very sure of themselves. But then again, so do I sometimes, and I still fail, and not just with my to-do list.
Years ago, I had this little ongoing conversation with the Lord about “Amen.” I never ended my prayers with it. I wanted to leave them open-ended, like my conversation was always open with Him. “They can put it on my tombstone when I die,” I would tell the Lord, because then it would be over and I would be with Him.
He let me go on like this for a while, but then He started working on my understanding of “Amen.” One day I was prompted to look the word up in the dictionary. Webster’s says, “to express solemn ratification or hearty approval.” Okay. I understood that. Then I looked it up in my Vine’s Bible Dictionary. Oh! It is so much more than “the end.” In the Old Testament, the word “amen” is a transliteration, which means that the Hebrew letters are replaced by similar sounding English letters. Hanukkah is a transliterated word as well. But as languages go, sometimes there isn’t an equivalent word in another language. For example, our word for love is pretty generic. We can love our husband and love pizza with the same word. In the Greek, there are multiple words for love so that you can be specific: agape, eros, philia, storge.
The meaning of the word “Amen” can be seen in Deuteronomy 7:9: “Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful [the Amen] God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments. . .” The transliterated "the Amen" was replaced with "faithful" because that makes more sense to us in English. The idea is that God is faithful and you can count on His word to be true.
You see this same concept again in Isaiah 65:16: “Because he who is blessed in the earth, will be blessed by the God of truth [God of Amen]; and he who swears in the earth will swear by the God of truth [God of Amen].” The phrase God of truth is literally translated God of Amen. He is the very God, the true God, and you can depend on what He says. He is faithful.
After knowing this, how do you feel about the Israelites saying “Amen” at the end of all of those curses?
Has this changed your thoughts about the word we place at the end of each prayer, maybe even thoughtlessly? If so, what has changed?
Read Psalm 111:7.
How is “Amen” translated in these verses?
Read Hosea 5:9.
How does “Amen” fit with a warning?
Read Revelation 3:14.
Who is the Amen in these verses?
If you aren't sure, the next verse will help. Read 2 Corinthians 1:19-20.
Who accomplishes all the promises of God?
Let that soak into your brain for a second. . . Jesus is the “Yes” to every promise of God. Think about all the promises God has made just in the book of Deuteronomy – promises to bless, provide for, protect. Jesus is “the Amen,” the faithful, the true. He fulfills all of these promises as well as all of God's promises throughout the Bible. Think about all the promises of curses we just read. The final curse is for anyone who does not uphold all of the law given that day. That is impossible. No one can could possibly do everything right all the time. We are sinners at heart. Our to-do list would be left undone because we aren't able. We would be cursed, no way around it because God is faithful to His word. He is the Amen.
Read 2 Corinthians 5:21.
Who was the one to accomplish the impossible?
Jesus was the only one able to NOT receive the curses promised by our true and faithful God. He is the only sinless man.
Now back up and read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.
What are we in Christ?
How does God view us when we are in Christ?
Because of this great trade, our sin for Christ’s sinlessness, we are righteous before a holy God. We are sinless. The curse that should have been on you is not. What should be our response?
Do you purposefully work to tell others about Christ out of thankfulness for your curse being removed?
What is the thing that holds you back the most?
God is faithful. He will do what He has promised. His word is true. And Jesus is that word. He is “The Amen, the faithful and true Witness.” He stands and offers you a blessing instead of a curse. Won’t you take it, and then go and share His good news with others?
Lesson to Remember: God is faithful and true.
A Way to Walk: Tell others about Jesus so they too may be new creations, reconciled to God. This will bring Him glory!
