Deuteronomy 27:1-14
IN THE book of Numbers Moses I was teaching God’s people how to behave in the wilderness, but in Deuteronomy he was teaching them how to behave in the land of their inheritance.
Moses earnestly desired that their hearts should be true to God, not only that they should obey the Ten Commandments which told them what they must not do, but that they might think of the good ways of God, so He could delight in them as obedient children. The law, instead of being hidden in the ark was to be in their hearts and in their mouths, for in this Book God called His people His children, which He had never done before. He wished them to be like children to Him.
“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 plaster them with plaster: and thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law... in mount Ebal.”
They were also to build an altar of unhewn stones, and offer burnt offerings and peace offerings on it, and eat and rejoice before God. Mount Ebal was the mountain upon which the curses of the law were to be announced, while on mount Gerizim the blessings were to be proclaimed. These two mountains stood in the middle of the land of Canaan and faced each other Ebal on the north, Gerizim on the south. We are told that Ebal is 200 feet higher than Gerizim and is steeper and more barren. It is always identified with the curse and not with the blessing.
Moses said they should divide the people — six tribes should stand on Gerizim to bless the people, and the other six were to curse. However, the blessings never were uttered. Israel had put themselves under law at the beginning and the law could never bless. So it was under this shadow that Israel entered the land. And so it was they lost that good land. They are scattered today, save for a few who have returned and claim the land as theirs in the face of the threats of their enemies. But it will really not be theirs to possess again until He comes, their rejected but long-promised Messiah, who will appear on behalf of the little remnant of His people who will trust in Him. He will give it back to them and then they shall possess it forever, not because of anything they have done to merit it, but according to His own grace, who has never ceased to love them in spite of all they did to Him long ago.
The altar built on mount Ebal, upon which they were to offer sacrifices and rejoice before the Lord is a shadow of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the death of Christ grace has triumphed over the claims of the law and now reigns through righteousness. “As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse,” but “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.” Gal. 3:10,13.
O what a Saviour is Jesus the Lord!
Well may His name by His saints be adored!
Memory Verse: “YE TURNED TO GOD FROM IDOLS TO SERVE THE LIVING AND TRUE GOD; AND TO WAIT FOR HIS SON FROM HEAVEN.” — I Thess. 1:9, 10.
ML-01/11/1976