Deuteronomy 28:43

Deuteronomy 28:43 says, The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low.  Moses said that when they were cursed for disobeying God that the stranger would be over them.  We can either serve God or be under the power of the world. Verse forty-four adds, He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.  Moses then said strangers would be better off financially than the people of Israel were and in a position of authority over them because they had not kept their covenant with God.  Verse forty-five declares, Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:  Moses said that they brought all these curses on themselves by failing to listen to the voice of God and keep His commandments.   We cannot effectively serve God without obeying His laws, even if we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse forty-six adds, And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.  Moses said that these curses would be on the people of Israel forever, as long as they refused to obey His commandments and listen to His voice.  Verse forty-seven continues, Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;  Moses said that these curses would also be on them because they had not served God joyfully even as He had supplied them with an abundance of all things.  I believe that we as Christians too often complain to God or about God instead of praising Him for meeting our needs abundantly.   We will not be cursed, or lose our salvation because of this, but we will certainly lose the joy of our salvation and harm our witness for God if we complain all the time as followers of Christ.  Verse forty-eight concludes,  Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.  Moses said instead of blessing them with success, God would allow them to be totally defeated because they had failed to be obedient to Him by keeping His commandments.  Verse forty-nine states, The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;  Moses said God was going to bring a nation against them from the far ends of the earth who spoke a language that the people of Israel did not understand.  This nation was the Romans.  As a Christian nation, we have always had God on our side, but if we continue to turn farther and farther away from His commandments and say they no longer apply, then this will no longer be true.  Verse fifty adds, A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:  Moses said that this nation that would destroy them would give no consideration to whether or not a person was old or young.  All would be at the mercy of this nation.  Verse fifty-one continues, And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.  Moses said that the people of Israel would be left with nothing because they had refused to obey God Who had given them everything to start with.  We as Christians cannot expect to have our needs met by God if we do not live by faith in Him, glorifying Him for all His provisions He has provided for us to use.  Verse fifty-two says, And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.  Moses said that although God had given them the victory over all their enemies when He gave them the Promised Land, that now without His protection because of their disobedience that all their walled cities would not protect them.  As Christians, if we fail to obey God's commandments, we should not be surprised if we are besieged by sin.  Verse fifty-three adds, And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:  Moses said that they would become so hungry that they would resort to eating their own children.  This was in the land flowing with milk and honey that God had given them.  Though God is ready to bless us today, He will not do so if we do not keep His commandments and give Him the glory.   Verse fifty-four continues, So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:  Verse fifty-five concludes, So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.  Moses said that the fathers who committed this barbaric act would not even share with their wife and other children.  Verse fifty-six states, The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,  Verse fifty-seven adds, And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.  Moses said that the women who were usually so kind and compassionate toward their children would even be reduced to eating them because of their hunger.  There is no end to the depravity of people when they refuse to acknowledge God and follow His commandments.  We may not even be able to imagine this happening, but without God in our life, there is no limit to the wickedness that we might give in to, especially if we are starving.  

Deuteronomy 28:28

Deuteronomy 28:28 says, The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:  Moses continued to tell of the punishment God would send on them if they didn't obey His commandments.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee.  Moses said God would strike them with madness, blindness, and their hearts would be astonished as they groped around in the middle of the day as though it were dark.  If we refuse to believe God and accept His commandments today, we are spiritually blind and grope around in spiritual darkness.  God said they would not prosper materially, and we will not prosper spiritually if we do not obey God's commandments.  Verse thirty continues, Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.  Moses said if they didn't obey God's commandments that they would never be successful in anything thay did.  We today as Christians do not put our faith in Jesus Christ for material success, but even though we are saved if we truly put our faith in Him, we will never prosper spiritually if we do not obey God's commandments once we do.  Verse thirty-one states, Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue them.  Just as God had blessed them with great riches when they left Egypt, they would see them taken away if the didn't obey God’s commandments.   No matter how rich a person may become today, if they do not put their faith in Jesus Christ and then live by God's commandments, one day they will lose it all.  Verse thirty-two adds, Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long: and there shall be no might in thine hand.  Moses said their sons and daughters would be taken captive by other people and they would be helpless to do anything about it.  Their children were a blessing from God, and if they did not obey God's commandments and teach their children to do so as well, they would lose them.  Our children are still a blessing from God, and we will lose them spiritually if we do not follow God's commandments and teach them to as well.  Verse thirty-three says, The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:  Verse thirty-four, So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.  Moses said that they would see all the fruit of their labor taken by another nation and they would go mad at the sight.  God was the One Who had given them success, and if they did not live up to their part of their covenant relationship with Him, He would allow it to all be taken away, since they would be His people in name only and not in fact.  If we are Christians in name only without really putting our faith in God, one day we will lose everything.  Verse thirty-five continues, The LORD shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.  Moses said that not only would they lose everything to another nation, but God would cause them to suffer physically from the soles of their feet to the top of their head.  Just as God gives us physical health,  He can remove His protective hand as well.  Of course, this doesn't mean that everyone who suffers physically is guilty of turning away from  God.  Verse thirty-six states, The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.  Moses said that if they didn't obey God that they would be taken captive by a nation they had never even heard of, and there they would serve false gods made of wood and stone.  We today can either put our faith in God, or we can serve the false gods of the world.   Verse thirty-seven adds, And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.  God said the people of Israel would become an astonishment to the rest of the world.  They were known as God's people, and if they were carried away captive and worshipped other gods, this would be an amazement to others, because they had professed their God to be all powerful.   As followers of Christ today, we follow the all powerful God, and if we turn away from His teachings when we face opposition, people should still be amazed at our failure to obey Him.  Verse thirty-eight says, Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.  Verse thirty-nine adds, Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.  Moses said that they would never reap very much from what they sowed.  Verse forty continues,  Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.  Moses said no matter how great the number of olive trees they had throughout the land, they would have very little oil.  God was the One Who had given them the land flowing with milk and honey, and if they refused to obey Him, He would take it away.  God promises us that He has prepared a place for us,  a place called heaven, that is a place of perfection, but if we do not accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we will never see it.  Verse forty-one states, Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity.  Moses said that they would continue to have children, but they would never enjoy them.  Verse forty-two adds, All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.  Moses then said that the fruit of all their trees would be consumed by locusts.  Nothing that we do outside of God's will can ever bring us everlasting happiness. 

Deuteronomy 28:15

Deuteronomy 28:15 says, But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:  Moses switched from the blessings of following God's word to the curses of not following God's word.  These are still our two choices.  Verse sixteen adds, Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.  Moses said both their cities and fields, or basically all their land, would be cursed.  We cannot turn away from God today and expect Him to bless our nation.  Verse seventeen continues, Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.  Moses said both their basket, or harvest, and their store, those things that could be bought to meet their needs, would be cursed.  We can see this happening in our world today.  Verse eighteen states, Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.  Moses said their children and their cattle would be cursed.  If we are aware of the news today, we can see this happening all-around us.  Verse nineteen adds, Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.  Moses said they would be cursed whether they were coming or going, since they were not following God when going in any direction.  If we are not following Christ while be led by the Holy Spirit, we are cursed which ever way we go.  Verse twenty declares, The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.  Verse twenty-one adds, The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land,whither thou goest to possess it.  Moses said that the LORD would send on them cursing, vexation, and rebuke in all that they did, until they perished quickly away, because of their wickedness whereby they had forsaken God.  No matter how long we live, from the perspective of eternity, we will quickly pass away because of our sin if we forsake the salvation that God offers us if we put our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-two continues, The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.  Moses said God would smite them in a variety of ways.  We simply have to look to the last two or three years to see this happening today.  Whether this is God actually punishing people for their wickedness or not I cannot say, but at the least it is His not stopping it.  Verse twenty-three says, And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.  Moses said the skies would dry up, leading to the land drying up as hard as iron.  This is very much happening in the world today.   Verse twenty-four adds, The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.  Moses said that God would make the rain as dust.  Verse twenty-five states, The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.  Moses said that just as their enemies had come at them on way and scattered seven ways when Israel was following Him, they would now do the same before their enemies if they did not follow God's commandments.  We as Christians will never suffer a lasting defeat if we are faithful to God, even if we do perish off the earth.  Verse twenty-six adds, And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away.  Moses said that they wouldn't even be buried.  Verse twenty-seven continues, The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.  Moses said God would send the plagues that He had sent on Egypt on Israel as well if the did not obey His commandments.  We may call ourselves a Christian nation, but if we continue to turn more and more away from Him, we may find ourselves in a similar situation. 

Deuteronomy 28:1

Deuteronomy 28:1 says, And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:  Moses said that if the people of Israel obeyed God's commandments, then God would set them high above all other nations of the earth.  They were not to be set above others simply because of who they were, but because of their relationship with God, and so are we today.  Verse two adds, And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.  If we want God's blessings to overtake us today, we must obey His voice, just as was true with the people of Israel.  Verse three states, Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.  Moses then began to list some of the things that God would bless them in if they obeyed His commands, beginning with their cities and fields, which would include basically all their land collectively.  If we want God to bless our nation, we need to obey His commands.  Verse three adds, Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Moses said all that could bear fruit would be blessed.  Verse five continues, Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.  Moses then said that what they reaped from their crops would be blessed.  Verse six concludes, Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.  Moses said they would be blessed wherever they were, whether at home or out in the world.  We need to realize that God is with us wherever we go, whether at home or out in the community or beyond as long as we are obedient to His word.  Verse seven says, The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.  Moses said that God would cause their enemies to rise up before them to be smitten, coming against them one way, or united,  and fleeing seven different ways, or scattered out.  God does not promise us that He will eliminate all our enemies, but promises us that if we are faithful to Him, He will cause them to flee before us.  Verse eight adds, The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.  Moses added another blessing that God would bestow on them, and that was to bless their storehouses and everything that they set their hand to do, under God's guidance and in obedience to His commands.  If we want God to bless all that we do today as followers of Christ, we must do everything in obedience to His commandments.  Verse nine declares, The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. Moses said God would establish them as a holy people, or a people set aside unto Him, if they would obey His commandments.   He never said that they would be a holy people because they were born into the nation of Israel, but would only be so because of their relationship with Him.  This is still true today.  We are a holy people as Christians because of relationship with Jesus Christ.  Verse ten adds, And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.  Moses said that all the people of the earth would see that the people of Israel were called by the name of the LORD and be afraid.  Too often today, we as followers of Christ are either ignored or ridiculed, possibly because we are not following God's commandments faithfully.  Verse eleven continues, And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.  Moses said that God would bless them with plenty if they obeyed His commands, and nowhere in His commandments did He say that He was to bless them with everything they wanted to use strictly for their own betterment.  When God blesses us with an abundance of things todsy, I believe He does so in order for us to help others.  Verse twelve continues, The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.  Moses said that God would bless them with an abundance and that they were to lend to many nations, but they were not to borrow from them.  I believe that God still expects us to help people everywhere when we have the ability to, and we are to look to God, and not other nations or people to provide for our needs.  Verse thirteen says, And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:  Moses said that if the people of Israel obeyed God's commandments that they would be above all other people.  If we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we will always spiritually be above all those who do not.  Verse fourteen adds, And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.  Moses said for these promises to be fulfilled  that the people of Israel were not to turn aside from God's word even in the least.  Though we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ alone, if we expect God's blessings here in this lifetime, we must not deviate from His commandments even the least bit.

Deuteronomy 27:11

Deuteronomy 27:11 says, And Moses charged the people the same day, saying,  Verse twelve adds, These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin:  The people of the tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin were to stand on Mount Gerazim to bless the people when they crossed over the Jordan.  Verse thirteen continues, And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.  The people of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali were to stand on Mount Mount Ebal to pronounce the curse, but not the people of God.  We are blessed when we obey God's commandments today and our actions are cursed when we don't.  Verse fourteen states, And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice,  When they were where God commanded them to be, the Levites were to speak to them.  As Christians, I believe wherever we are that God will always speak to us, but at times we may refuse to hear Him.  Verse fifteen adds, Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.  The Levites began by telling the people the things that they would be cursed for, beginning with making graven or molten images to worship, since these were an abomination to God, and the people were to say Amen, or agree with God's word to them.  They still are today.  Verse sixteen continues, Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.  The people of Israel were not to disrespect their parents, and it was a sin to do so, by which their Amen said they agreed.  It still is today.  Verse seventeen says, Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour’s landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.  The Levites were to pronounce it a sin to move a neighbour’s landmark, which was to attempt to cheat them, and was a curse on those who did.  It still is today.  By their Amen the people agreed. Verse eighteen adds, Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.  The Levites said those who abused the helpless, in this case the blind, were cursed, and by their Amen the people agreed.  It still is today.  Verse nineteen continues, Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.  The Levites said that those who perverted justice against the less powerful, the stranger, fatherless, and widow were to be cursed.  The people agreed by saying Amen.  It is still a sin today.  Verse twenty states, Cursed be he that lieth with his father’s wife; because he uncovereth his father’s skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.  The Levites said it was a sin for a man to have a sexual relationship with his father’s wife, who may or may not have been the man's mother.  Whether she was or not, this still showed a great disrespect for his father.  The people agreed by their Amen.  This is still very wrong today.  Verse twenty-one adds, Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.  The Levites then said it was wrong for a man to have sex with any beast, or animal, and no matter what some people may say today, it still is.  By their Amen the people agreed.  Verse twenty-two continues, Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.  The Levites said that a man would be cursed for having a sexual relationship with his sister or half-sister.  Though some of their ancestors may have done this, it didn't justify it.  This is still a sin today.   Again, the people agreed with this by their Amen.  Verse twenty-three says, Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen.  The Levites next said anyone having a sexual relationship with his mother-in-law was cursed.  The people agreed by their Amen.  This is still a sin today.  Verse twenty-four adds, Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen.  The Levites said those who secretly killed their neighbor were cursed, even if no one ever found out about it.  Killing someone is still a sin and a crime today, even if no one ever finds out.  The people said Amen to agree.  Verse twenty-five continues, Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.  The Levites then said a person who killed someone by murder was cursed, and this still applies today.  The people agreed by their Amen.  Verse twenty-six concludes, Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.  The Levites concluded by saying that anyone who did not affirm these words of the law by doing them was cursed.  Once more, the people were to affirm this by saying Amen, but without actually following the laws, this was not enough.  We today can say Amen to everything said about God's laws, but the truth of our agreement is that we actually do our best to live by God's word.

Deuteronomy 27:1

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.  

Deuteronomy 26:12

Deuteronomy 26:12 says, When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;  Moses said that after they had given all their tithes of their increase to the Levite the third year, which was the year of tithing was, it was to be used differently.  The first two years it was to be used in celebration, but every third year this tithe was to be used to help the poor.  Verse thirteen adds, Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them:  Moses said they were then to appear before God and swear to Him that they had given all their tithes to the Levites.  I believe this was because there might have been a tendency to give less if it was going to the needy instead of to a celebration.  As followers of Christ, we need to make sure that we don't feel inclined to give more to celebrations we can participate in than to the poor which does not benefit us personally.  Verse fourteen continues, I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.  Moses continued, saying that they were to swear to God that they had not used any of the tithe for their own purposes, but had given it all to God in accordance with His law.  We must give all of our tithes to God and never attempt to keep part of it for our own use.  Verse fifteen concludes, Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.  Moses said that after they had given their tithes, they were to ask God to look down on them from His holy habitation in heaven and bless them as He had sworn to do with their fathers.  Though we are forever saved as Christians, we should never think God will bless us materially if we do not obey His commandments concerning our tithes and offerings and helping the needy.  Verse sixteen states, This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.  Moses reminded them that they were God's commandments, and that they were to keep them with all their heart and soul.  As followers of Christ, we need to know God's commandments today, and keep them with all our heart and all our soul.  Verse seventeen adds, Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:  Moses said they had vowed that day that the LORD would be their God and that they would follow His commandments.  This was a personal relationship between God and them.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we enter into a personal relationship with Him, and are then to follow His commandments.  Following God's commandments can not save us, because we will never keep them all, but we are to keep His commandments because He by His mercy has saved us and called us to obey Him.  Verse eighteen continues, And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;  Moses said God had called them that day to be His peculiar people, or people who were different from the rest of the world.  The day that we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we become a part of His peculiar people, who no longer live only by the laws of man, but also by the laws of God.  If these conflict, we are to follow God's laws.  Verse nineteen concludes,  And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken.  Moses said when they obeyed God's laws that they would be above all the nations that God had made.  When we become a follower of Christ, we are set high above all other people.  This does not mean that we are to lord it over them, but that we are to be a holy people to God, those who are set aside by doing His will.