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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
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. 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, generally speaking, we are either moving toward Him or away from Him.
The Beatitudes (Matthew 5) mirror the verses here in Deuteronomy.
“[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
“The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 4 Those who mourn are blessed, for they will be comforted. 5 The gentle are blessed, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled. 7 The merciful are blessed, for they will be shown mercy. 8 The pure in heart are blessed, for they will see God.
9 The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God. 10 Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 11 “You are blessed when they insult 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 HCSB
Though Israel had different expectations from the Messiah, we can see in Deuteronomy that His heart was the same. His desire was, and still is, for us to love and obey Him.