Deuteronomy 27:1 says, And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day. Moses was joined by the elders in issuing this command to the people of Israel. Moses was not going into the Promised Land with them, so it was important for them to know that God's law was still going to apply. Christian leaders may leave or die today, but God's word still applies and others will take their place. Verse two adds, And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister: Moses with the elders said the day that they crossed over Jordan, they were to set up great stones and cover them with plaster. These were not to be polished stones, but simply rough stones covered over with plaster. They weren't to wait until they totally possessd the land, but were to do this immediately. We as followers of Christ should never wait to start obeying Him as He calls us to do, but should begin to obey Him immediately, even if the world seems overpowering to us. Verse three continues, And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee. Moses said that they were to write God's law on these stones, because God had given them the land flowing with milk and honey in accordance with His promise to their fathers. God's promise to their fathers did not come to pass immediately, but it was now being fulfilled. God's promises to us today may not come to pass immediately, but they will be fulfilled. Verse four concludes, Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaister them with plaister. Moses said that they would then see these laws anytime they passed over the Jordan at Mount Ebal, where they were crossing over. We today as Christians need to keep God's laws written in our heart, beginning from the time we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Verse five states, And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them. They were also to build an altar to God out of rough stones that had not been reshaped or smoothed out by any tools. God wasn't looking for a polished altar, because it was the sacrifice and not the altar that was important. We today need to realize that God isn't looking for us to be perfect before we worship Him, nor does He expect elaborate places for us to worship Him, but He expects us to come to Him as we are, rough and unpolished in our faith. Verse six adds, Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God: Moses said that they were to build the altar of whole stones and offer offerings to God on them. Again, God was not demanding a perfectly fit together altar, but simply one made of stones they found, which He had created. Verse seven continues, And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God. Moses said that they were to offer peace offerings on the altar and eat there and rejoice in the Lord. They were to do this when they entered the Promised Land, even before they had conquered it. We today are to sing praises to God as followers of Christ, even though we have yet to reach our heavenly home or conquer all the evil in this world. Verse eight says, And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly. Moses said they were to write on the stones all the words of the law. Matthew Henry says there is debate on whether this was to be just the Ten Commandments or all of the laws of God. We need to write the Ten Commandments on our heart, but we also must know and keep all of God's law. Verse nine adds, And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God. Moses and the priests and Levites called on the people of Israel to take heed and hearken to the fact that they became God's people that day. They were crossing over into the Promised Land by faith finally. Until we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord by faith, we can never be a part of God's kingdom, and once we do, we must follow Him faithfully. Verse ten continues, Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day. As Moses told the people of Israel then, once we become a part of God's kingdom, we must strive to keep His laws and obey His voice. We not only have the Bible, God’s written word to guide us, but we have the Holy Spirit to help us understand and follow what the Bible teaches us.
No comments:
Post a Comment