Tag: Deuteronomy 28:15
Consequence of Breaking God’s Law
Scripture reading for July 22: Deuteronomy 28:15,22-23 “But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all His commandments and His statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. . . . . .The Lord will strike you with wasting disease and with fever, inflammation and fiery heat, and with drought and with plight and with mildew. They shall pursue you until you perish.”
God’s people were to be blessed and kept from sickness and disease by the presence of their Lord in their midst. God required them to listen to Him and obey His commands and their lives would be blessed and they would avoid the curses that would result from living in disobedience.
Deuteronomy 28 was part of the Old Covenant of Law under Moses. God clearly stated that His people would be blessed by carefully following His instructions. The blessings would run after them and overtake them. He also clearly warned them that there would be definite consequences called curses that would also pursue them if they lived in rebellion to His commandments. God had made provision for inadvertent sins in that animal sacrifices could be offered to obtain forgiveness and mercy for the one who broke God’s command without knowledge or accidentally.
Jesus Christ came to pay our penalty for breaking God’s laws. He completely kept God’s laws and was the only man to ever live a sinless life. He took the curse of the broken law for us on the cross and paid sin’s penalty of death in our place. (Colossians 2:13-15) Peter declares “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the blessings of Your salvation which provides us with forgiveness of sins and healing for our bodies. May we by faith experience Your blessings running after us and overtaking us! Amen.
Protected by a ‘Wall of Fire’!
Scripture reading for September 26: Zechariah 1-2
Zechariah began his message with a word from the Lord to Israel. The Lord had been angry with their forefathers because they would not respond to His call for them to return to Him. For years prophets had been sent with a simple message calling for repentance from evil and idolatry and a faith response of obedience toward God. But the people of God would not respond so God’s Word, which promised consequences and curses for disobedience, overtook them! (Deuteronomy 28:15) People just can’t outrun the Word of the Lord! (Zechariah 1:6)
Zechariah then was given a night vision of a man riding a red horse. This rider was followed by riders on red, brown and white horses. As he asked the Lord for understanding, an angel answered him. These horses and riders were ones that the Lord had sent throughout the whole earth and they reported back that the world was at rest and peace. The angel then turned to the Lord and asked Him a question: “How long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem?” (Zechariah 1:12-13) (Revelation 6:1-7)
The Lord answered the angel with encouraging words about Jerusalem. He was jealous for Jerusalem and would return to Jerusalem with mercy. The temple would be rebuilt and the measuring line again stretched over the city in order to build the wall of protection around it and keep it secure. Prosperity would again flow to God’s people and God, Himself, would comfort them. (Zechariah 1:14-17) (Revelation 11:1-2)
It sounded good, but in the vision four horns appeared. Zechariah was puzzled and asked their meaning. They represented the nations that had lifted their power against Israel and scattered them. (Zechariah 1:18-21) They would be thrown down by spiritual forces of the Lord in the heavenly realm. A spiritual conflict would go on as the temple was rebuilt, but God’s people would succeed!
God’s people would succeed because their protection was not just physical walls! In fact, Jerusalem would be a city without walls! God, Himself, would be a “Wall of fire” around the city and its Glory! (Zechariah 2:4-5) What a glorious vision of encouragement to those who had by faith come to rebuild the city! God’s promises can be depended on and faith lays hold of them. God further stated that His people were the “apple of His eye” and that He would deal with anyone who would oppose them!
Are you fearful today? Do you need a word of encouragement? Read Zechariah 1-2 and let God speak vision and encouragement! He is your Wall of fire and Glory forever!