Have you ever had a book that upon reading the first few pages, you put it down never to visit it again? It somehow fails to catch one’s attention or interest. It is a book that is easy to reject its value or has little interest or grab. The Book of Deuteronomy can be put into this category. Why? It is often referred to as the second book of laws”. Only a lawyer can find a book of laws to be of interest. Deuteronomy is comparable to the Book of Leviticus as value added in one’s library. However, It has value in that this book primarily addresses Israel and closely resembles End Time consequence for being Christian.

Chapter 28 is very specific to Israel. This verse in part (28:1) says … “If you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands that I am giving you, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the world…” This is how many people read it. It appears to be easy to understand. But we left out a couple of significant words in this part of 28:1… fully, carefully, and all. It reads, “If you fully obey and carefully keep.” These two simple words are powerful to God’s words of caution and promise to Israel.

Verses 28:3-6 tell us what God promises Israel.

1. Blessed in city and country
2. Their crops will be great, abundant with all the rain they need
3. Their calves and lambs will be abundant
4. Their baskets will be full
5. Will be blessed when they come in and go out
6. Their enemies will fall in battle and flee in chaos (plural)
7. Everything they touch will overwhelmingly be blessed
8. They will be seen by the world as God’s People
9. People of the earth will recognize that Israel is blessed of God
10. Rain will fall on their lands in season as needed
11. They will loan to others but will have no need to borrow
12. They will be at the head and not the tail of the world

Read 28:9-12 for a summary of God’s promise to Israel; His chosen people. It is noting short of awesome. However, and there is always “the other side of a coin”, go back to verse #1. “Now (these promises) it shall come to pass, IF YOU DILIGENTLY OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD…” “…God will set Israel high above the other nations.” Now listen to the news about Israel and the world’s attitude today. Does it even come close to Isreal being high above with the full respect of other nations?

There is but one conclusion. Israel is trying to be great by their own wisdom. God is not their guidance and Israel’s actions lack a total devotion to G-d. This same passage has application to our lives as born-again believers. In America, their coins say, “In God We Trust.” Question. Is this true? Does the USA as a nation trust in God? Do the people worship God without compromise? Does it follow the first sentence in Deuteronomy 28:1?

The answer is very simple…NO!

As we review verses 15 forward, we find the consequences of not being diligent in our worship of God Almighty. Diligence isn’t being faithful in attending church services. It means 24/7. Did I mean 24 hours a day? YES.

Verse 15 of chapter 28: Here is a long list of the consequences for not seeking God and totally obeying His commandments. There are but 14 verses in Deuteronomy 28 instructing us as to what God expects in return for His total blessing. There are 54 verses listing the consequences for Israel (in a way this includes the Christian) if there is failure in dedication to God. “If we fully obey the LORD our God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the world.”

Satan wants us to believe that God is expecting far too much of us as “frail” human beings. Well hold on. Did we create God or did God create us? This too is a strong feeling amongst mankind. We create a god (lower case g) that better fits our life. Not necessarily a god (lower case g) of wood or stone, but a god (lower case g) of wealth, position, status, etc.

Even if one could possibly live a life of total worship of God, common sense tells us THAT is hopeless. It cannot be done.

Rev. Dr. Jstark – 2025 (April)