Deuteronomy 27:1-141And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day. 2And 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: 3And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee. 4Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaster them with plaster. 5And there shalt thou build an altar unto the Lord thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them. 6Thou shalt build the altar of the Lord thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the Lord thy God: 7And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the Lord thy God. 8And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly. 9And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God. 10Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the Lord thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day. 11And Moses charged the people the same day, saying, 12These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin: 13And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, (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. 3:10,1310For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (Galatians 3:10)
13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (Galatians 3:13).
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