Journal 24-8-2009

Journal 24-8-2009

Scripture

Deuteronomy 27:11-26 (English Standard Version)

¹¹That day Moses charged the people, saying, ¹²"When you have crossed over the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. ¹³And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. ¹⁴And the Levites shall declare to all the men of Israel in a loud voice:

¹⁵"'Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the LORD, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.'^(L)And all the people shall answer and say, 'Amen.'

¹⁶⁽"'Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

¹⁷ "'Cursed be anyone who moves his neighbor’s landmark.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

¹⁸"'Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

¹⁹"'Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

²⁰ "'Cursed be anyone who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s nakedness.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

²¹ "'Cursed be anyone who lies with any kind of animal.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

²² "'Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

²³ "'Cursed be anyone who lies with his mother-in-law.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

²⁴ "'Cursed be anyone who strikes down his neighbor in secret.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

²⁵ "'Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

²⁶ "'Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

Observation

The Levites declared curses to those who sins. And the people shall say amen? That’s strange. From idolatry to sexual sins, The Israelites responded with an Amen. And as for the finale, they end by cursing those who confirm the words of the law and yet not do them. One interesting thing to note is that if you mislead the blind, you’ll be cursed. God provides for the disabled too. Previously we see continually that we must purge sins from our lives, and that motion still stands today. When we say Amen, we are sealing the prayer. That is why we must be careful to obey God’s word. If we believe and seal God’s words, they why do we ourselves not follow the words we have sealed? It’s as if we tear our pact with God and make a new pact with the evil one.

Application

I must always remember that I am cursed if I do not obey God.

I must always be kind and help a disabled person whenever possible,

I must not go against what I have sealed in God’s name.

I must purge all sin.

Response

Thank you for being so real in my life, Lord. You alone have guided me thus far and I pray that you will keep me going. Help me to always stand firm in your word. Give me compassion to help the needy, disabled and the less fortunate. You love them too. Let me not break my seal with you lord. Help me to always be Holy and contrite in you. Let me purge all sin from my life. Amen