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Blessings & Curses from Mount Gerizim & Ebal Deuteronomy 27 & 28 Introduction:
Much of the Old Law contained ceremonies to stress the Law.
The scapegoat in Leviticus 16 was a literal goat that was to bear the
sins of the nation and then let lose to roam the land.
Before entering the I)
God’s Instructions A)
Remember to keep all of God’s commandments, Deuteronomy 27.1 1.
When they crossed over the 2.
Set up large stones, and white wash them on 3.
Build an altar there, v. 5 4.
Offer burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord, v.
6-7
a. Burnt offering --This was perhaps the most solemn of the sacrifices,
and symbolized worship in the full sense, i.e. adoration, devotion,
dedication, supplication, and at times expiation. (ISBE)
b. Peace offerings --These were sacrifices of friendship expressing or
promoting peaceful relations with the Deity, and almost invariably
accompanied by a meal or feast, an occasion of great joy. (ISBE) B)The
Mounts 1.
a. Tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. V.
13
b. The Levites were to pronounce the curses, v.
14.
c. The curses given in vv. 15-26a.
d. The people were to say “Amen”
meaning so be it or so let it be. 2.
a. The Tribes of Simeon,
b. They were to pronounce the blessings,
v. 12
c. Deuteronomy 28.1-6 states the blessings. C)
Fulfilled in Joshua 8.30-35 in the rest of the Old Testament we see the
blessings and curses of God 1.
Later on 2.
John 4.5 speaks of Sychar which was
the city close to II)
Lessons From A)
God blesses the obedient 1.
To be obedient one must know the law. Deuteronomy
4.1
a. Parents were to instruct their children in the law, Deut.
6.4ff.
b. Here the Levites were to speak the Law,
Deuteronomy 27.9, 14
c. We are to give attention to diligently study the Law of Christ,
2 Timothy
2.15 2.
God blesses those that do His law, Hebrews
5.9 3.
Many want to be blessed by God but do nothing so God will bless them.
a. They expect God to protect them but they do nothing
b. They expect God to financially bless them but they do nothing
c. They expect God to do everything for them and their family
without doing anything
d. They expect to go to heaven without obeying God. 4.
Psalm 1.1-3 brings out the one that God will bless
a. He delights in God’s law
b. He meditates day and night B)
God curses the disobedient, Psalm 1.4ff 1.
Interesting how people blame God when they sin against God. 2.
God is righteous and He is just. Therefore, His punishment must also be
righteous and just. 2 Thessalonians 1.5-9 C)
We must accept the judgment of God as being just. Acts 25.11 1.
A lot of people acknowledge they have sinned but act horrified that God will
actually send them to hell for eternity!
a. If that is the way God is then I don’t want anything to do with Him.
b. How can God condemn anyone for eternity for a sin that last only
a short time. Therefore some
deny the existence of hell. Such is
false logic. 2.
The criminal is not the one that gets to determine the punishment for the crime.
3.
We see Paul’s attitude in Acts 25.11 D)
One must keep all the Law and not bits and pieces 1.
Deuteronomy 27.1 states they were to
keep all the Law. 2.
Verses 15-26 the people were to say
“Amen” after each sin is mentioned and Amen at the end. 3.
a. They do most everything except lie about their neighbor, or steal, or
use profanity, or worship God in spirit and truth.
b. God will punish the law breaker. 4.
See this stated in James 2.10-11. Conclusion:
We will not stand on
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