SCRIPTURE: DEUTERONOMY 27
IMPORTANT VERSE:
“Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.” (Deuteronomy 27:10)
THE ALTAR ON MOUNT EBAL (vs. 1-8)
Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all these commands that I give you today. 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. Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your fathers, promised you. And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster. Build there an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool upon them. Build the altar of the Lord your God with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God. Sacrifice fellowship offerings there eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the Lord your God. And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones you have set up.”
CURSES FROM MOUNT EBAL (vs. 9-26)
Then Moses and the priests, who are Levites, said to all Israel, “Be silent, O Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God. Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.”
On the same day Moses commanded the people:
When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people” Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses” Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.
The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice:
Cursed is the man who carves an image or casts an idol – a thing detestable to the Lord, the work of the craftsman’s hands – and sets it up in secret.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”:
“Cursed is the man who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
“Cursed is the man who leads the blind astray on the road.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
“Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow..” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
“Cursed is the man who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he dishonors his father’s bed.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
“Cursed is the man who has sexual relations with any animal.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
“Cursed is the man who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
” Cursed is the man who sleeps with his mother-in-law.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
“Cursed is the man who kills his neighbor secretly.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
“Cursed is the man who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
“Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
THOUGHTS: (By Warren Wiersbe)
This ceremony was observed only once, after Israel entered the land and began to conquer it. It was a solemn reminder to them that obedience to God was the secret of success.
The Law was written on large stones so that everyone could read it. Today, as we read and meditate on God’s Word, the Spirit writes it on our hearts and transforms us from within.
The ceremony was a renewal of the nation’s covenant with God, for new beginnings deserve new acts of dedication. The burnt offering spoke of total dedication to God. The peace offerings and the meal that followed, spoke of joyful fellowship with God.
The curses are related to the Law already given in the The Commandments and cover many aspects of personal life. Israel’s obeying the Law did not deliver them from Egypt or take them into Canaan, but it did enable them to live together and enjoy the blessings of God.
None of us can wholly keep God’s law for fully meet all His righteous demands. We give thanks for what Christ has done for us on the cross and what the Spirit does at our lives.