07/01/2025 – Day 345 – Deuteronomy – Chapters 26 – 28 / Chapter titles, respectively: “Giving the Firstfruits; The Law Written on Stones; and Blessings for Obedience.”
Unless otherwise noted, the commentary in this lesson is sourced from “The Apologetics Study Bible”:
“26: 1-11 This section about the presentation of first fruits illustrates the biblical pattern of worship, which incorporates the narrative of what God has done for His people. The recitation in Christian worship of the Apostle’s Creed, which is at heart the story of God’s action in Christ,, is based on this OT pattern.”
“27: 15-26. The solemn, ceremonial pronouncement of a curse upon those who would disregard the principles of God’s law is part of Israel’s covenant structure, and illustrates the power of the spoken word in the biblical world view. The curse will take effect, should the instruction be abrogated through unfaithful behavior. It does not require a special act of God to bring about its effect; the disobedient deeds themselves will incur their consequences. The New Testament also includes some instances of the pronouncement of curse (1 Corinthians 16:22; Galations 1:8-9; cp, Revelation 22:18-19).”
“28: 1. This verse appears to suggest that Israel’s place of preeminence in God’s program depends on obedience to Him, whereas other texts (cp. 4:34; 7:6; 10:15) make it unconditional. The apparent discrepancy disappears when it is recognized that, though the Lord’s choice of Israel as His covenant partner was an act of His love and grace alone (7: 7-8; cp. Hosea 11:1), but her ability to be blessed and to prosper in that relationship depended on loyal obedience.”
“28:46 An everlasting curse on Israel would appear contrary to the promise elsewhere that Israel would enjoy unending blessing (cp. Genesis 17:7, 13; Psalm 105: 9-10). The Hebrew phrase A.D. ‘olam, however need not be understood to mean ‘forever’ in the cosmic sense. It can be understood as a ‘rhetorical Hebraism,’ with the sense of a long period of time.”
“28:68 There is no historical record of Israelites going back to Egypt on a mass scale. The passage is referring to the future exiles, a reverse exodus as it were, that would place God’s people in bondage once more – this time to the Assyrians and the Babylonians.”
Soli Deo Gloria!