Blessings and Curses

Deuteronomy 28

            Woof. That’s a hard chapter. I struggle because the blessings for faithfulness occupy 14 verses, but the curses for unfaithfulness take up the remaining 54, and the curses are listed in excruciating detail. If I had presented this as a sermon in seminary, my preaching professors would have flunked me. They would have said my balance of Law and Gospel was way off. Last month, I had a chance to preach (through an interpreter) to the students at the seminary in the Dominican Republic, and I told them to concentrate on preaching the Gospel. I told them the Law was easy, but the Law can’t save. I had Paul on my side. “For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law” (Galatians 3:21). “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

            I suppose it is helpful to be reminded once again that this passage is about Israel’s obedience under the covenant of Moses, which is a covenant of the law, based on obedience, on performance, and under which Israel lived for a time until her purpose, namely, the coming of the Messiah, was fulfilled. The covenant of Abraham, which Paul says is that one that really matters in terms of God’s plans for humanity, is a covenant of grace, which leads us to Christ (Galatians 3:16). In that light, we can appreciate how this phase of Israel’s existence was ushered in by the Exodus and so we can appreciate how the Lord threatens to bring Egypt’s plagues on Israel is she proves faithless. In that light, we can appreciate that the promise of the land is only necessary until the Messiah comes and we can appreciate the glimmer of hope is that Israel will be greatly reduced and exiled, but that the possibility exists she will come home. We actually see this as Israel’s history plays out. This mighty people peaks with David, but then it’s one loss after another until finally 10 of the tribes disappear from history altogether. Then, the exile of the remaining tribes and the tiny remnant that returns so that the Lord can fulfill His promise of a Savior (Isaiah 6:13).

            We can appreciate the lessons: that God’s wrath is terrifying, that He will keep His promises, that He has kept His promise of a Savior. But for all of that, I still find this a hard chapter.