Deuteronomy 27:1 – 10 “Then Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all the commandments I am giving you today.
And on the day you cross the Jordan into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you are to set up large stones and coat them with plaster. Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you. And when you have crossed the Jordan, you are to set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I am commanding you today, and you are to coat them with plaster.
Moreover, you shall build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You must not use any iron tool on them. You shall build the altar of the LORD your God with uncut stones and offer upon it burnt offerings to the LORD your God. There you are to sacrifice your peace offerings, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your God. And you shall write distinctly upon these stones all the words of this law.”
Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel: “Be silent, O Israel, and listen! This day you have become the people of the LORD your God. You shall therefore obey the voice of the LORD your God and follow His commandments and statutes I am giving you today.”
Throughout the world, there are all kinds of altars in various places of worship, both ancient and modern. An altar serves as a focus of worship but also may be erected as a memorial to some great event. Some altars are completely plain while others are adorned with ornate carvings and images. Here God is using Moses to instruct the Israelites regarding the altar to be erected on Mount Ebal once the Israelites have crossed the Jordan River.
There are several notable things about this altar:
- The altar is to be made of uncut stones; at no time is any iron tool to be used on them. Why the absolute proscription? The Israelites have come out of Egypt where there were elaborate temples with highly ornate altars. During the forty years of traveling in the wilderness, the Israelites may also have seen other altars. God has already ordered the Israelites to make perfectly plain altars in the past and has forbidden them from making any graven images of anything in nature. The orders for the altar to be erected on Mount Ebal are a continuation of God’s previous commands.
- The Israelites are to erect large stones on the top of Mount Ebal. Some of these stones will be used for the altar while others will be coated with plaster (most likely lime) and the words of the law written on them. Why insist that the Israelites write out all the words of the Law? Studies have shown that students who take notes by hand, that is by writing them instead of using a computer or recording the notes, remember far more than those who use some other method. Later on, God commands that each time a new king comes to the throne, he should make a copy of the laws for himself and should continually study that copy so that he will do God’s perfect will. (Unfortunately, none of the kings did this!!!)
- The Israelites are to offer burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord on the Mount Ebal altar.
- Once again, God is reminding the Israelites and also warning them that they are now His people. As the people of God, the Israelites are to obey God’s voice and follow His commandments.
APPLICATION: Sometimes parts of the Book of Deuteronomy seem very repetitious. How many times is it really necessary for God to remind the Israelites that they are HIS people and need to obey? The problem is not that God has a poor memory and must keep reminding Himself; the problem is that God knows the human heart and the evil it can harbor.
When God delivered the Israelites from Egypt and wiped out Pharaoh’s army in the process, the news sent shock waves throughout the ancient world. Caravans spread the story, describing in minute detail the plagues, the escape, and the devastation of that huge military force. All the time the Israelites have been moving through the wilderness, the other tribes around them have witnessed the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. It might not be too much of a stretch to say that other tribes have come to fear the God of Israel more than the Israelites have.
What about us? If you are reading this devotional today, it means that God has spared you to this point. You are alive, you can breathe, you can see well enough to read and you have internet access. So many times, we take our lives for granted as if we deserved them; meanwhile, we are only alive by the grace of God. The same thing was true for the Israelites; they had become so accustomed to God’s miracles that they had become complacent and ungrateful.
This past year has been a year of loss for many of us. In 2021 we lost three close family members, plus several good friends in America and Africa. But praise God! We are alive and able to go forward into this new year.
God chose Israel to be His people to show to the world the blessings that would follow from loving Him and obeying His commands. In the fullness of time, God sent His only son Jesus to live as a man and to die for the sins of all those who would believe in Jesus and his blood sacrifice. Today each one of us has the opportunity to show those around us how God is blessing us.
“But,” you argue, “I am broke, despite working long hours each week. My roof is leaking again. My car is ten years old and is making weird noises. And my kids are acting up in school. None of this looks like a blessing to me!” Ouch! Yes. Things are tough for many people. But you do have a job and a place to live. You do have a vehicle, even if it’s past its expiration point. And you have children. Why not begin by thanking God for whatever small blessings you can see in your situation?
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Help us to praise You, even when things are difficult. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD
When you’re up against a struggle, that shatters all your dreams
And your hopes have been cruelly crushed by Satan’s manifested schemes
And you feel the urge within you to submit to earthly fear
Don’t let the faith you’re standing in seem to disappear
Praise the Lord, He will work through those who praise Him
Praise the Lord, for our God inhabits praise
Praise the Lord, for the chains that seem to bind you
Serve only to remind you, that they drop powerless behind you
When you praise Him
Now, Satan is a liar and he wants to make us think
That we are paupers, when he knows himself we’re children of the King
So lift up the mighty shield of faith for the battle must be won
We know that Jesus Christ has risen and the work’s already done
Praise the Lord, He will work through those who praise Him
Praise the Lord, for our God inhabits praise
Praise the Lord, for the chains that seem to bind you
Serve only to remind you, that they drop powerless behind you
When you praise Him
Praise the Lord, He will work through those who praise Him
Praise the Lord, for our God abides in our praise
Praise the Lord, for the chains that seem to bind you
Serve only to remind you, that they drop powerless behind you
When you praise Him
When you praise Him
When you praise Him
When you praise
When you praise, you praise the Lord
Praise the Lord
Songwriters: Elliott B. Bannister / Michael Vincent Hudson
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