Deuteronomy 27 and 28
It shall be...when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land. which the Lord thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set up, great stones, and plaster them with plaster ... ye shall set up these stones...in Mount Ebal... And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.”
Mt. Ebal is near the center of Canaan and across a narrow valley is Mt. Gerizim.
Moses told the people that all should gather there, six tribes on one mountain side and six on the opposite mountain side.
Then he told them that men on Mt. Ebal should read to them very loudly the words of the law; and afterward, men on Mt. Gerizim should read how God would bless them with all good things if they kept His words: then men on Mt. Ebal should read how they would have sorrows and be sent out of their good land if they would not do the right; these are called “curses.” And the people were to answer “Amen”, which means that they agreed that all read was true.
God warned them much not to make or bow down to idols. Yet there are people with these words in their Bibles who pray before images.
All God’s laws show that He cared about their homes, food, clothes and friends; and that He wished them to be kind to one another, to the poor, and the stranger. Even the little ones were to listen to His Words.
Some rules were only for Israel, yet we too, may dishonor God in everyday things, as perhaps many have never read the verse which says a woman should not dress like a man, nor a man like a woman, yet it is a truth not changed for the Christian. Deuteronomy 22:55The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God. (Deuteronomy 22:5). “The Word is nigh unto thee in thy mouth, and in thy heart that thou mayest do it.” Deut. 30:1414But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. (Deuteronomy 30:14); Rom. 10:88But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; (Romans 10:8).
ML 01/02/1938