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Deuteronomy 28 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.
Isaiah 1:18 NASB
We read in Deuteronomy 28 that our God is a reasonable God. He sets expectations and consequences. He commands obedience and respect. Unfortunately, for Israel, their history would be written based on what they could have been instead of what they became. This is a thought that should bring us to our senses. We all have regrets. Many of us struggle to even believe that God would forgive us.
However, the Spirit of God enables us to live in a way that drives us toward obedience. Understanding the grace of Jesus is the foundation for that obedience, but the Spirit enables us to carry out the will of God. The decisions we make in this life will either lead to a life of fulfillment or a life of “what could have been.” Though we will have moments of struggle, we are either moving toward Him or away from Him. We cannot achieve perfect obedience, but we can pursue God wholeheartedly.
“[The Beatitudes] present a radically different agenda than what the nation of Israel expected from the Messiah. It does not present the political or material blessings of the Messiah’s reign. Instead, it expresses the spiritual implications of Jesus’ rule in our lives. This great message tells us how will we live when Jesus is our Lord.”
David Guzik
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. [4] Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. [5] Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth. [6] Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. [7] Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
[8] Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. [9] Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. [10] Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. [11] “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. [12] Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:3-12 CSB
Though Israel may have had different expectations from the Messiah, we can see in Deuteronomy 28 that His heart was the same. His desire was, and still is, for us to love Him with everything. Ultimately, God desires to fill His people with Christ’s fullness, as seen in Ephesians 3:18-21, urging them to focus wholeheartedly on Him for enduring blessings.
The Descent to The Day of the Lord
The height of Israel’s obedience and blessing occurred during the reigns of David and Solomon. This was the peak of the law. However, most of their history is marked by unfaithfulness and curses, with temporary revivals under some kings that could not stop the eventual downfall.
God promises to bless the faithful remnant of Israel through the new covenant, where He will transform their hearts and forgive their sins, as fulfilled by Jesus (Jeremiah 32:33; Ezekiel 36:26; Hebrews 8:8-12).
Similarly, in Christianity, early blessings and growth have been followed by widespread unfaithfulness and decline. While there have been times of spiritual revival, these moments did not bring lasting change. Church history, as described in Revelation 2-3, shows a pattern of initial blessing followed by decay, ultimately ending with the judgment of “Babylon” in Revelation 17-18.