We’re approaching the climax of Deuteronomy now. The consequences of obedience and disobedience are spelled out for the Israelites.
Curses for disobedience
Deuteronomy 28:15-44
Result of disobedience
Deuteronomy 28:45-68
Moses calls God’s mercies to remembrance
Deuteronomy 29:1-9
Divine wrath
Deuteronomy 29:10-21
The result of idolatry
Deuteronomy 29:22-28
Secret things belong to God
Deuteronomy 29:29
In many and various ways, Moses tries to underline the importance of keeping the covenant with God. The list of curses is long and inventive - all sorts of calamity are promised with a gloomy relish, if Israel turns away from God. Mixed into the list are references which sound specific enough to have been added after the event - when Israel were overrun by a foreign power.
But Moses wants the people to be in no doubt - God has offered amazing blessings, but they are conditional on the people remaining faithful. And people are weak, forgetful and fickle. At one moment we mean things with all our heart, but later we forget that intensity and let it slip away. Can Moses ratchet up the intensity of their commitment high enough, so that it will last for ever? I don’t think so.
No comments:
Post a Comment