Blessed or Cursed - Our Choice

 Deuteronomy 27-28    Psalm 11    Hebrews 2

Today the reading from the Old Testament is one of those passages we like to skip over. We like to look at the promises of God but often forget that the covenant God makes with his people require action on our part, obedience to God. Moses tells them when they get to the promised land, they are to build an altar with the commandments of God on them to remind them what is required of them. It is outlined for them and the leaders lead them in worship by telling them the curses they will suffer if they are disobedient. As they tell them each of the curses the people respond, ‘So be it!’ They are reminded once again if they follow the Lord’s ways they will be blessed. They will rule over the land of promise, with its wonderful crops and animals. They will rule over all the people if they are obedient and submit to no one.

Failure will result in not only the curses but the very land that is theirs to claim will be taken from them and they will find themselves disbursed around the world. The pain and suffering will be great, and some will go mad from the stress. The curses will come, and they will overtake them until they are destroyed and only a remnant is left. This too will be a sign that God will fulfill his Word. There will be no rest for them as long as they are in the land of others. They will doubt their very ability to live.

Today’s song reminds us the Lord is our refuge, the one in whom we can hide and feel his protection. There is conflict between the evil and the righteous and it often feels like there is nothing we can do. The Lord is on his holy throne in heaven and from there he tests the righteous, those that seek the ways of God, and the evil, those that refuse to follow the ways of God. The cost to the evil well be great and the Lord will love the righteous. In the end the upright will behold the face of God.

The reading from Hebrews tells us to pay closer attention to what we have been taught about the Lord and the expectation he has for us so that we will not drift away from it. All things in heaven and earth are subject to Jesus and nothing is not subject to his power. It was through death on the cross that we have the chance to share in the glory and honor of God by being obedient to him. We are great in God’s eyes when we submit our will to him and do what he asks of us.

The consistent message throughout the readings today is that God wants to and will bless us in ways we can’t imagine when we are obedient to his Word. We are also clearly warned that when we ignore or go against the ways God has laid out for us there will be an incredible cost including death. The good news is that there is a way to be forgiven but first we need to recognize that we are sinners and need what God offers us.