Deuteronomy 28 Blessings and Curses, but mostly Curses

Following after Chapter 27's curses list (v11-26), we get 12 verses of God's blessings at the beginning of Chapter 28.

But then this long chapter returns to the curses, finishing with 54 verses of warnings.

Between the two chapters that is about a 6 to 1 ratio!

I can say I was glad the chapter finally ended.

Deu 28:1    And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

Deu 28:9    The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.

Deu 28:14    And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, tothe right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Deu 28:45    Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:

Deu 28:58    If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD;

Perhaps it is worth commenting on the great commission again, since that has become a recurring theme the past couple of weeks.

Mat 28:18    And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Mat 28:19    Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Jesus both clarified and fulfilled the law. Just read the Gospels over and over.

Mat 5:21    Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

Mat 5:22    But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Mat 5:17    Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Mat 5:18    For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Even the passage I read earlier today speaks of the importance of obeying the commands.

Mat 21:28    But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

Mat 21:29    He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

Mat 21:30    And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

Mat 21:31    Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

Mat 21:32    For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

It's never too late in this life to hear the effectual call of God and to respond from faith to faith, to believe and repent.

Rom 1:15    So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

Rom 1:16    For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Rom 1:17    For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Joh 6:28    Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

Joh 6:29    Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Joh 6:36    But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

Joh 6:37    All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Joh 6:38    For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Joh 6:39    And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

Joh 6:40    And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Joh 6:65    And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

Joh 6:66    From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

One final thought less we assume we can actually ourselves fulfill the law....

Rom 9:30    What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

Rom 9:31    But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

Rom 9:32    Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

Rom 9:33    As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.