Podcasts about cursings

A new MP3 sermon from Grace Audio Treasures is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: 21 The CURSINGS of God Subtitle: The Attributes of God Speaker: A. W. Pink Broadcaster: Grace Audio Treasures Event: Devotional Date: 4/27/2025 Bible: Matthew 25:41; Galatians 3:13 Length: 3 min.

A new MP3 sermon from Grace Audio Treasures is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: 21 The CURSINGS of God Subtitle: The Attributes of God Speaker: A. W. Pink Broadcaster: Grace Audio Treasures Event: Devotional Date: 4/27/2025 Bible: Matthew 25:41; Galatians 3:13 Length: 3 min.

Matthew 25:41, "Then He will say to those on His left: Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!"The curse of God is no empty threat--it is the solemn declaration of His inflexible holiness and righteousness. It proceeds not from cruelty, but from His perfect justice. As His blessings are tokens of mercy towards every redeemed saint, so His curses are expressions of His holy wrath against every unbelieving sinner.From birth, every soul stands beneath this dreadful sentence, "All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God!" Not merely gross wickedness, but every failure to love the Lord wholly and perfectly, places the sinner under condemnation. God's Word demands uninterrupted and entire obedience--and anything less invokes His curse.Yet in the midst of such terrifying truth, shines the wonder of redeeming grace: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, by becoming a curse for us!" Galatians 3:13 The weight of Divine wrath fell upon the spotless Lamb! The sword of vengeance was sheathed in His holy soul. He bore what we deserved--so that we might be pardoned, justified, and made heirs of eternal life.Believers! We were once dead in our transgressions and sins, in which we used to live when we followed our father Satan, and the evil ways of this world. Like the perishing people around us, we were by nature children of wrath, and on our way to eternal perdition! But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, saved us by His wondrous grace! Such a marvelous salvation should strip us of all pride, and fill us with reverent awe and unceasing gratitude. Since we are saved by grace alone

Episode NotesEpisode 93: Matthew 5 - Blessings, Curses, and Moving Mountains: The Architecture of Matthew's GospelMarch 4, 2025 - Host: Dr. Gregory HallIn this episode we're diving into Matthew chapter 5 and we'll notice a fascinating aspect of Matthew gospel. Matthew organizes Jesus' major addresses into five distinct sermons. The first and the last of which are delivered on mountains. and today, we'll unpack a link back to the Old Testament story of Moses and Joshua.Resources Referenced and/or Read:Thanks to Dr. Warren Gage for the bulk of the material in this episode. Gage, W. A. (2010). Essays in Biblical Theology (pp. 63–65). Warren A. Gage. - The Blessings and Cursings upon Gerizim and Ebal - The law of Moses instructed the people, when Joshua led them into the good land promised to the fathers, to assemble before the mountains of Gerizim and Ebal for a ceremony reaffirming their fidelity to the Lord and the law of the covenant (Deut 27–28). The entire nation of Israel was to be arranged in ranks by their tribes in the valley between the slopes of the two mountains. Six tribes stood upon the skirts of Ebal, and six tribes stood upon the skirts of Gerizim. Joshua spoke all the law of Moses in the hearing of the twelve tribes of Israel (Josh 8:30–35). The six tribes upon Gerizim spoke the blessings that would be poured out as long as the nation obeyed the law and the covenant (Deut 28:1–14). The six tribes upon Ebal spoke the curses that would come upon the nation if they disobeyed the law (Deut 27:15–28). All the tribes affirmed that, upon their disobedience, a nation from afar would come upon them like the eagle, besieging the fortified walls of Israel (Deut 28:49–52) and driving all the people into exile among the nations (Deut 28:64–68). As each group of six tribes spoke the blessings and the cursings of the law, the six tribes opposite answered with an antiphonal avowal of their fidelity to the covenant and their imprecatory oath of obedience to the Lord. In the New Testament, Matthew's Gospel portrays Jesus as the True Joshua presiding over a new ceremony of blessing and cursing. To recognize this portrayal, we must understand something of the structure of the first Gospel. Matthew arranges his Gospel around seven mountains. These mountains are 1) the mountain of the temptation (4:8), 2) the mountain of the beatitudes (5:1), 3) the mountain of the separation (14:23), 4) the mountain of the feeding in the wilderness (15:29), 5) the mountain of the transfiguration (17:1), 6) the mountain of the Olivet discourse (24:3), and 7) the mountain of the commissioning (28:16). The seven Matthean mountains are arranged chiastically, with corresponding pairs arrayed around the central mountain of the wilderness feeding. The mountains relevant to the Joshua typology are the second mountain and the sixth, which frame Matthew's five discourses. The second mountain is the mountain of the beatitudes in Galilee, the site of the first discourse called the “Sermon on the Mount” (5:1–8:28). The corresponding sixth mountain, the site of the last or “Olivet Discourse,” is the mountain before Jerusalem (24:3–26:1). Matthew's typology of the True Joshua is built around the relationship between the blessings pronounced upon the mount of the beatitudes in Galilee and the woes (or curses) spoken against the Pharisees in Jerusalem. By juxtaposing these mountains, Matthew anticipates the blessings to descend upon the mountain of the Gentiles, which has become Gerizim, and the destruction to come upon Jerusalem, which has become Ebal. Jesus solemnly pronounces nine beatitudes upon the mountain in Galilee (Matt 5:3–12). Eight corresponding woes or curses are enumerated against Jerusalem, framed as antiphonal responses to the beatitudes spoken in Galilee. The juxtaposition of Matthew's two mountains constitutes the restatement of the solemn ceremony at Shechem, and darkly foretells the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the people for their disobedience to the law of Moses in rejecting the Prophet of whom Moses spoke (Matt 24:2).Matthew Study Resources at the Rethinking Scripture Website: https://rethinkingscripture.com/matthew-study-resources/Here are a few resources regarding my first tour guide in Israel, Halvor Ronning.New American Standard Bible: 1995 update (Mt 4:18–22). (1995). The Lockman Foundation.Show Music:Intro/Outro - "Growth" by Armani Delos SantosTransition Music - produced by Jacob A. HallPodcast Website:The All-America Listener Challenge Updates: https://rethinkingscripture.comMy New Podcast Studio... The Upper Room: https://rethinkingscripture.com/podcast-episodes/More information about The Homes and Help Initiative: https://rethinkingscripture.com/homes-help-initiative/Sister site: RethinkingRest.comRethinking Rest... the Book is now available. The Rethinking Rest audiobook is available only on Audible: More information: https://rethinkingrest.com/the-book/Social Media:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RethinkingScripture Twitter: @RethinkingStuffInstagram: Rethinking_ScriptureYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6YCLg2UldJiA0dsg0KkvLAPowered and distributed by Simplecast.

Sunday PM 11-24-2024. Verse-by-Verse through Deuteronomy.

Pastor Nate brings the message, “Blessings and Cursings” from Deuteronomy 27-28. In one of the most graphic portions of Deuteronomy, Moses unpacks the covenantal consequences Israel will face for disobedience to God.  While it's a hard portion of Deuteronomy to read, it certainly helps us understand the rest of the Old Testament and appreciate the curse that Christ bore on the cross.  

We're talking Mormon fortune-telling aka patriarchal blessings. And how, for many ex-Mormons, they were less of a blessing and more of a curse. I give a little patriarchal blessing 101, share about the significant way my blessing changed my life and then read and unpack listener submissions about the crazy things their blessings said.  Please note this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Blessings and Cursings"Joshua 8:34

A new MP3 sermon from Woolwich Evangelical Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Blessings and Cursings Subtitle: Deuteronomy Speaker: Ashley Mendes Broadcaster: Woolwich Evangelical Church Event: Sunday - AM Date: 11/19/2023 Bible: Deuteronomy 28 Length: 39 min.

The blessings and cursings as related to national Israel in the land of Canaan and the spiritual lessons for believers today.

 A Bible devotional study about exercising our freedom of choice wisely, on God's side, because His blessings and cursings are both conditional.1 Kings 9:4-5 KJVAnd if thou wilt walk before Me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep My statutes and My judgments: Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, “There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.”---If you have any questions or comments, please send them to: BibleQuestions@ASBzone.comRelated Podcasts:God's Promises to me are sureHaving the Right PerspectiveJoseph, Prince of EgyptCaring for Who God Cares For (at TrueWisdom)Support the show------During many of our podcasts, you will hear us make reference to “The Key Principles of Effective Bible Study,” a document which outlines core concepts shown in the scriptures that will help you better understand many Biblical themes and doctrines. We have done a whole podcast series on these principles which can be found here (https://BibleStudy.ASBzone.com/357512/8572886).Lastly, we recommend that you check out https://TrueWisdom.buzzsprout.com for additional Bible Study podcasts, covering many different Bible topics, and done in a slightly different format from the podcasts on this channel.We pray that all of these resources will be very helpful to you in your Bible Studies.

[Audio only available] We follow comments I received on social media for merely trying to put Jeremiah 29:11 in its context. Hey, I'm just asking questions. If you wanna claim Jeremiah 29, why not Luke 12 or Mark 16? We then apply the faulty "every verse I like is for me, to hell with the context" to the blessings and cursings in Israel's Covenant with the Lord in Deuteronomy 28. Consistency is our goal. As we've been over Jeremiah 29:11 a few times, and our look at Deuteronomy is applying the same principles of bible interpretation and right division, we have limited this to a bonus episode. Of course, it does have the super extra special bonus of me singing part of Paul McCartney's "The Pound is Sinking" from his 1982 classic LP, "Tug of War." So there's that (plus consequent lawsuit from MPL Communications, MacLen Music, Apple Corp., Denny Laine's Estate, Pattie Boyd, and Ringo).

Verse by verse study of Deuteronomy 28 in which God declares blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.

James 3

Ambassador Church is located on the east side of Cincinnati, Ohio in the Eastgate area. We are committed to Biblical teaching and preaching and the spread of the Gospel to a lost world.

Ambassador Church is located on the east side of Cincinnati, Ohio in the Eastgate area. We are committed to Biblical teaching and preaching and the spread of the Gospel to a lost world.

Understanding the Kingdom of God uncritical for believers to access the resources and authority of heaven. The Bible teaches us very early that there is a principle at play on earth. These spiritual principles are the form of what the Levitical priesthood was teaching. However, the principle of blessing and cursing is one that confers special power and authority and EVERY believer needs to understand it and how to operate it. God is moving us toward the effective work of the Kingdom, and being functional in these areas will. Help direct you interactions and strengthen your faith. || Subscribe to lovewalk.substack.com for free bible study helps, resources, courses and other downloadable material to help with your grow. Also consider sending a generous gift at PayPal.me/lelawinston --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lela-winston/support

Ask Sam: Episode 33. We are joined by Sam Rohrer (President, American Pastors Network; SIGT Host). Topics discussed include: Blessings or Cursings? Questions about Voting. Are We Getting Better or Worse? Prayer for Persecuted Christians and our Politicians.

No matter how good you try to be, or how many church services you attend… the only way any of us can truly please God is through authentic faith.  So, what separates true faith from empty religious activity? That's what Pastor John Munro discusses on this edition of The Verdict as he continues our study in the book of Matthew.

A picture is worth a thousand words, and God gave Moses a vivid image to present to His people as they prepared to enter the Promised Landa picture of the blessings that would result from their obedience and the curses that would follow their rebellion. Join Dr. James Boice on The Bible Study Hour as he sets the stage for one of the most dramatic productions in the history of Israel. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/581/29

Unfortunately, many people today are simply going through the motions in their spiritual life.  They may go to church or make a point to follow certain traditions, but there is no reality in their faith. On this episode of The Verdict Pastor John Munro discusses the differences between authentic faith and hollow religion.

A picture is worth a thousand words, and God gave Moses a vivid image to present to His people as they prepared to enter the Promised Landa picture of the blessings that would result from their obedience and the curses that would follow their rebellion. Join Dr. James Boice as he sets the stage for one of the most dramatic productions in the history of Israel. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/81/29

Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a two-part look at parsha "Ki Tavo" (Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8) which is again not only 'meaty' but downright SCARY to those who don't like what it says. Which makes it again one of the most important - especially NOW. The sequence begins with the Erev Shabbat reading, the title part about "when you come" into the land, and then the details of the most well-known set of "Blessings and Cursings" in the whole Book: https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/SSM-9-16-2022-Ki-Tavo-teaching-only-podcast-xxx.mp3 There is a segment in this parsha that consists of repeated curses of the form, "Cursed by he THAT..." which turn out to be - or at least once to have BEEN - "things done in secret." So what does it say that they often are no longer even done in secret, but openly? And taught in the Public Cesspools, even. Perhaps that is why the other curses seem more imminent, if not already undeniable. But Mark opens by asking this question... "Ki Tavo: Are These Curses Really From HIM?" https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/CooH-9-17-22-Ki-Tavo-Are-These-CURSES-From-Him-podcast-xxx.mp3 The combined two-part podcast is here:

By Mario Seiglie in Orange County, CA - August 20, 2022 - Recent archaeological findings continue to uncover artifacts that lend biblical proof wiith evidence. For example, discovered recently on Mt. Ebal in Israel was the folded lead tablet that contains God's blessings and cursings described in Gen. 15. With this discovery, let us review these blessings and cursings and their lessons for us.

"Dominionists base their economics on Deuteronomy 28, the “Blessings and Cursings” chapter of the Pentateuch. They believe that wealth is a sign of God's favor, and poverty and illness are visitations of His displeasure and wrath. The poor and sick deserve their lot. It is God's way to prick their conscience and provoke introspection. Therefore, governments who seek to alleviate their plight are contravening God's will. Poverty is not seen as a problem to be solved. This is why Dominionists view Social Security and Medicare as evil programs that take money from others to give to those being punished. They for the abolition of Medicare and social security." --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/antonio-myers4/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/antonio-myers4/support

Deuteronomy 28:15-46 - The Lord's Cursings      Having already presented God's blessings for obedience (Deut 28:1-14), Moses turned to the cursing section of the covenant, saying, “But it shall come about, if you do not obey the LORD your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you” (Deut 28:15). The responsibility fell upon Israel to abide by the terms of the covenant. They were to abide by “all His commandments and His statutes”, and failure to do so would bring God's curses. Earl Radmacher states: "A curse is the opposite of a blessing. It wishes or prays for ill or injury on a person or an object. God cursed the serpent and the ground after the sin of Adam and Eve (Gen 3:14, 17). Jeremiah, in despair, cursed the man who brought news of his birth (Jer 20:14, 15). The seriousness of God's covenant with His people is illustrated by the threat of a curse on any who violate it (Deut 28:60, 61)."[1]      The curses would reverse all God's blessings and would overtake His people wherever they were. Moses wrote: "Cursed shall you be in the city and cursed shall you be in the country. 17 Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 18 Cursed shall be the offspring of your body and the produce of your ground, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock. 19 Cursed shall you be when you come in and cursed shall you be when you go out" (Deut 28:16-19).      What follows in Deuteronomy 28:20-68 spelled out God's curses in specific detail and were intended to produce a healthy fear in the Israelite who might be tempted to turn away from the Lord and His clear directives. Moses informed his people that the curses would pursue them in stages until they were destroyed (Deut 28:20-22, 24, 45, 48, 51, 61). Daniel Block states, “By means of a seemingly endless catalogue of secondary agents of doom, Moses warns that Yahweh will marshal every conceivable agent of destruction against His people.”[2] God is offering a theological understanding of Israel's circumstances and experiences should they break their covenant with Yahweh and not abide by His directives.      Moses gave an overarching summary statement of all God would do to Israel if they pursued evil and forsook Him. Moses said, “The LORD will send upon you curses, confusion, and rebuke, in all you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken Me” (Deut 28:20). The word send translates the Hebrew verb שָׁלַח shalach which in this passage means to “send out, forth, send on a mission.”[3] The form of the verb is intensive (Piel), which means the curse will be relentless in its pursuit. God's judgment would come because of Israel's choice to forsake the Lord and to pursue a life of evil deeds. According to Craigie, “The root cause of the disaster would be forgetfulness; the people would forget God, and in forgetting God they would forget his commandments. Having forgotten the commandments of God, the people would inevitably commit evil deeds and bring upon their own heads disaster. God sends the curse (v. 20a), but man invites it by his deeds (v. 20b).”[4]      At the beginning of the judgments, Moses said, “The LORD will make the pestilence cling to you until He has consumed you from the land where you are entering to possess it” (Deut 28:21). The pestilence (דֶּבֶר deber) could be something like bubonic plague, which afflicted both people and animals with fever and delirium. This might explain Moses' next statement, saying, “The LORD will smite you with consumption and with fever and with inflammation and with fiery heat and with the sword and with blight and with mildew, and they will pursue you until you perish” (Deut 28:22). Blight and mildew refer to attacks on crops, which God brought upon His people during times of judgment (see Amos 4:9; Hag 2:17). Daniel Block states: "In verse 22 Moses becomes more specific, listing seven afflictions with which Yahweh will strike his people. The catalogue of seven afflictions expresses Yahweh's sovereignty over all agents of death and destruction. The first four entries elaborate on deber in verse 21 and specify diseases at Yahweh's disposal: wasting disease, fever, inflammation, and scorching heat. The fifth refers to the sword (ḥereb), which functions as shorthand for Israel's defeat by enemy armies (cf. vv. 25–26), and the last two refer to crop diseases."[5]      The judgments would include a severe drought upon the Land. Moses said, “The heaven which is over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you, iron. 24 The LORD will make the rain of your land powder and dust; from heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed” (Deut 28:23-24). A bronze sky and iron earth is a picture of impenetrable material which would frustrate the farmer. And the Lord, rather than sending rain that would soften the earth, would only send “powder and dust” upon the land. Eugene Merrill states, “As impervious as these metals are to water and tools, so both the heavens and the earth would be in the day of calamity. The rains would not leak through the skies, nor would the earth be able to be broken up to receive the farmer's seed. Instead, the heavens would rain down dust, which would only exacerbate an already hopeless situation on the earth.”[6]      Moving to a picture of military defeat, Moses said, “The LORD shall cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you will go out one way against them, but you will flee seven ways before them, and you will be an example of terror to all the kingdoms of the earth. 26 Your carcasses will be food to all birds of the sky and to the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to frighten them away” (Deut 28:25-26). Israel would always have enemies, but rather than know victory, God would cause them to know only defeat. Israel, going out against their enemy “one way” speaks of a planned attack. Fleeing seven ways meant their efforts would fail, as they would scramble to “flee seven ways” from the battle. Israel's choice to separate themselves from God meant they forfeited the Lord's protection against hostile forces. According to Craigie, “Disobedience to the law of God separated the people from him, and in this state of separation they could not expect to experience the presence of God in the midst of their army; without God in the midst of Israel's army, defeat was inevitable.”[7] Not only would Israel be an example of terror to surrounding kingdoms, but their dead bodies would be food for wild animals. Merrill states, “Israel would, in fact, become a field of corpses, a banquet for winged and four-footed scavengers that would be free to eat their fill (v. 26). The irony of the contrast between Israel's feeding off the land (vv. 4–5, 8, 11) and being itself a food supply for carnivorous beasts is inescapable.”[8]The wise Israelite understood, “the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge” (Psa 73:28).      Moving from military defeat, Moses then describes various skin diseases that would inflict the nation. Moses said, “The LORD will smite you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors and with the scab and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed” (Deut 28:27). Concerning the boils, Earl Kalland states, “The ‘boils of Egypt' are doubtless the boils of the sixth plague, which so discomfited the Egyptian magicians, as well as all other Egyptians, that they could no longer stand before Moses (Ex 9:9–11). This may have been a form of leprosy known in Egypt.”[9] The reference to tumors (עֹפֶל ophel) could mean hemorrhoids, much like what afflicted the Philistines when they took possession of the Ark (1 Sam 5:6). The scab (גָּרָב garab) was something that irritated the skin, perhaps a rash of some sort. Interestingly, such a skin disease would disqualify a priest from service (Lev 21:18-21), as well as an animal from being sacrificed (Lev 22:20-22). The itch (חֶרֶס cheres) referred to some eruptive disease.      All of this would have great psychological and social impact on the Israelites, as Moses continued, saying, “The LORD will smite you with madness and with blindness and with bewilderment of heart; 29 and you will grope at noon, as the blind man gropes in darkness, and you will not prosper in your ways; but you shall only be oppressed and robbed continually, with none to save you” (Deut 28:28-29). Their mental, emotional, and social condition would make it impossible to function on a daily basis. They would become like a “blind man” who cannot see his way clearly to do anything, and the result will be that they “will not prosper” in any of their activities. Furthermore, there would be none to help, as those around them would only oppress and rob them, and there would be “none to save” them from their troubles. Eugene Merrill writes: "The inclusion of blindness between two states of emotional or psychological disorder suggests that this loss of vision was not physical but metaphorical (cf. Psa 146:8; Isa 29:18; 35:5; 42:7, 16; 43:8; 56:10). The groping about in midday like a blind man (v. 29a) is a simile qualified in the next line, “You will be unsuccessful in everything you do.” The blindness, then, was the incapacity to think clearly or form intelligent judgments. It would lay the ones under the curse open to all kinds of exploitation including oppression…and robbery (v. 29b). Having broken fellowship with the Lord, they would have no one to deliver them from their insanity and its consequences."[10] Peter Craigie adds: "In broad daylight, the cursed blind man gropes around. He cannot see and does not know how to make himself prosperous, but he can be seen by others; his fumbling ineptitude makes him an easy prey for robbers. Having brought about his sad state through disobedience to the law of God, he is now at the mercy of those who live outside the law, and there is no one to offer help. His fellows are equally cursed, and he has gone too far from God to call for his deliverance."[11]      Having turned away from the Lord, Israel would no longer enjoy His protections, and this meant what was precious to them would be vulnerable to attack and harm. These included attacks on one's spouse, home, business, children, and safety from one's enemies. Moses said: "You shall betroth a wife, but another man will violate her; you shall build a house, but you will not live in it; you shall plant a vineyard, but you will not use its fruit. 31 Your ox shall be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will not eat of it; your donkey shall be torn away from you, and will not be restored to you; your sheep shall be given to your enemies, and you will have none to save you. 32 Your sons and your daughters shall be given to another people, while your eyes look on and yearn for them continually; but there will be nothing you can do. 33 A people whom you do not know shall eat up the produce of your ground and all your labors, and you will never be anything but oppressed and crushed continually. 34 You shall be driven mad by the sight of what you see." (Deut 28:30-34)      Here is a picture of harm by one's enemies, frustration by helplessness, and eventual despair of soul and madness of mind by the sight of what they will see. They would have no control over their lives but would be perpetual victims of their enemies who take possession of their wives and mistreat them. The fruit of their ground and livestock would be eaten by another, and their children would be forcibly taken and sold into slavery while they looked on in helplessness, and there would be nothing they could do to stop it. The end result was mental madness by what they saw happening to them. All of this was the result of their walking away from the Lord's protections.      Revisiting the motif of boils previously mentioned (Deut 28:27), Moses said, “The LORD will strike you on the knees and legs with sore boils, from which you cannot be healed, from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head” (Deut 28:35). This disease would cover the whole body, but emphasis seems to be given to the knees, legs, and soles of one's feet, which would make normal activities very difficult, thus exacerbating one's efforts to work.      The judgments also anticipated a time in the future when Israel would have a king over them. Moses said, “The LORD will bring you and your king, whom you set over you, to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods, wood and stone. 37 You shall become a horror, a proverb, and a taunt among all the people where the LORD drives you” (Deut 28:36-37). If Israel turned away from God and refused to serve Him, they would fall victim to slavery in godless nations who served dumb idols of wood and stone. Eugene Merrill states, “Deportation does, however, imply submission, a condition contrary to the exaltation of Israel described in the list of blessings. Rather than being a nation set “high above all the nations” (v. 1), God's people would lose their children to another nation (v. 32) and would themselves go off into ignominious captivity (v. 36).”[12] Israel's fallen condition would serve as a horror and proverb to other nations.      Deuteronomy 28:36 describes how God will bring His people and their king into captivity in a foreign land. Because Israel did not have a king until nearly four centuries after Moses gave the law, it is argued by liberal scholars that Deuteronomy is actually a late book, written around the seventh or fifth centuries B.C. These liberal scholars—who operate on antisupernaturalistic presuppositions—reject the Bible as divinely inspired and treat it as a humanistic book and the events described therein as history rather than prophecy (Lat. vaticinium ex eventu = after the event). However, because the Bible is supernaturally inspired by God, these prophetic statements are not a problem, as God had promised Israel would have a king (Gen 17:6, 16; 35:11; Deut 17:14-20).      Returning to the judgments, Moses stated that all their efforts at labor and production would be met with futility. Moses said: "You shall bring out much seed to the field but you will gather in little, for the locust will consume it. 39 You shall plant and cultivate vineyards, but you will neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes, for the worm will devour them. 40 You shall have olive trees throughout your territory but you will not anoint yourself with the oil, for your olives will drop off. 41 You shall have sons and daughters but they will not be yours, for they will go into captivity. 42 The cricket shall possess all your trees and the produce of your ground." (Deut 28:38-42)      Again, we have a picture of fruitless labor by the Israelite farmer. Frustration would come as locusts and worms would be used by the Lord to destroy their crops. Even their sons and daughters—who often helped with farming—would be taken away into captivity, further exacerbating their ability to farm. Daniel Block states: "The catalogue of futility curses involves the entire range of ancient Palestinian agricultural activity: fields of grain (v. 38), vineyards (v. 39), olive groves (v. 40), and fruit trees (v. 41). The crop failures are caused by little creatures that Yahweh will send to devour and despoil the crops before they can be harvested. “Locusts” (v. 38) are grass-eating insects that fly in vast swarms and devour everything in sight. “Worms” (v. 39) refers to fruit grubs that attack the grapes. The meaning of “swarms of locusts” (v. 42) is uncertain, but it probably refers to a species of beetle that kills vegetation by attacking leaves or stems."[13]      Israel would also experience social and economic decline, as Moses said, “The alien who is among you shall rise above you higher and higher, but you will go down lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, but you will not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you will be the tail” (Deut 28:43-44). The alien (גֵּר ger) was the one who originally came to Israel to be elevated and blessed, but his low position would become the new standard, not because he was lifted up, but because Israel was brought down to a lower position. Israel would experience economic slavery by being the borrower rather than the lender.      Moses continued, “So all these curses shall come on you and pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you would not obey the LORD your God by keeping His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. 46 They shall become a sign and a wonder on you and your descendants forever” (Deut 28:45-46). The curses would pursue (רָדָף radaph – to pursue, chase, persecute) and overtake (נָשַׂג nasag) Israel like a relentless hunter who is tireless in his pursuit to catch and destroy the hunted animal. All of this would happen because Israel refused to walk with the Lord and to keep His commandments. Peter Craigie states, “Disobedience to the word of God would result inevitably in disaster…For a sign and for a wonder—the disasters that would befall the Israelites, if they were disobedient to God, would serve to illustrate the ways of God to other nations, who would be prompted to ask questions when they saw the plight of the Israelites.”[14]   [1] Earl D. Radmacher, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary, 263. [2] Daniel I. Block, The NIV Application Commentary: Deuteronomy, ed. Terry Muck (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012), 652. [3] Francis Brown, Samuel Rolles Driver, and Charles Augustus Briggs, Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1977), 1019. [4] Peter C. Craigie, The Book of Deuteronomy, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1976), 342. [5] Daniel I. Block, The NIV Application Commentary: Deuteronomy, 653. [6] Eugene H. Merrill, Deuteronomy, vol. 4, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 359. [7] Peter C. Craigie, The Book of Deuteronomy, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, 343. [8] Eugene H. Merrill, Deuteronomy, vol. 4, The New American Commentary, 360. [9] Earl S. Kalland, “Deuteronomy,” in The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992), 172. [10] Eugene H. Merrill, Deuteronomy, vol. 4, The New American Commentary, 361. [11] Peter C. Craigie, The Book of Deuteronomy, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, 345. [12] Eugene H. Merrill, Deuteronomy, vol. 4, The New American Commentary, 362. [13] Daniel I. Block, The NIV Application Commentary: Deuteronomy, 657. [14] Peter C. Craigie, The Book of Deuteronomy, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, 347.

     Deuteronomy 28:1-68 presents the blessings and cursings of the bilateral Mosaic Covenant (בְּרִית berith) which God promised to bring upon Israel depending on their obedience or disobedience to His commands. God's written directives assume the integrity of language in which His meaning was infused in the words and phrases He selected, and that language itself served as a reliable vehicle concerning His expectations. The Israelites were responsible to know what was communicated and would be blessed or cursed based on whether they responded to it positively or negatively. God's directives meant there were fixed categories of blessing and cursing, which allowed the Israelites to know with certainty what to expect from Him depending on how they treated their relationship with Him. This did not mean the Israelites could manipulate God to do their bidding; rather, it simply meant He was predictable and would do what He promised. A healthy relationship relies on clear and honest communication as well as predictable behavior      For the sake of emphasis, Moses repeated the conditional aspects of God's blessings (Deut 28:1-2, 9, 13-14), and cursings (Deut 28:15, 20, 45-47, 58, 62; cf., Deut 29:24-28; 30:17-20). The word blessing translates the Hebrew noun בְּרָכָה berakah, which appears twelve times in Deuteronomy and sixty-seven times in the OT (TWOT). In Deuteronomy 28, the word refers to the tangible goodness that makes life enjoyable and rich, which God promised to His covenant people, Israel, if they would simply obey His commands. Areas of blessing would include: 1) healthy offspring, crops, and livestock (Deut 28:4-5, 8, 11), 2) military success (Deut 28:7), 3) fruitful labor (Deut 28:8, 12a), 4) international recognition and respect (Deut 28:9-10), 5) financial prosperity (Deut 28:12b), and 6) serving as an international leader to other nations (Deut. 28:13). God also promised to bring curses, which would undo all the blessings and bring Israel down, if they disobeyed (Deut 28:15-68). In Deuteronomy 28:16-19, Moses used the Hebrew verb אָרָר arar six times, which means, “to bind with a curse.”[1] The form of the verb is passive, which means a curse is received by the nation of Israel if they turn away from God. These blessings and cursings were predictable, depending on Israel's knowledge of God's directives and their adherence or insubordination to them (Deut 11:26-28; 29:29; 30:15-20).      When considering the Mosaic Covenant, it is important to realize God's blessings and cursings for Israel were tied to their moral behavior (see Lev 26:3-4; Deut 11:13-17; Jer 5:23-25; Amos 4:7; Mal 3:10).[2] When Israel abided by God's Word, advancing on the moral high ground of His ethical standards, the Lord would bless His people in the everyday affairs of their lives. God's blessings came directly in the form of rain, crop production, national health, etc. However, His blessings also came indirectly through His people who learned and lived His Word as it spoke to their marriages, families, education, labor, economic decisions, social activities, and welfare for the less fortunate in society. For example, God's blessings of protection and provision for Ruth and Naomi came through Boaz, who modeled godliness and compassion in his words and actions (Ruth 2:1-23). Boaz' choice to be a godly man meant he would serve as a conduit of God's grace to others.      Additionally, God's blessings should not be thought of as producing equal outcomes to all, as social and economic stratification would continue within Israelite society. It also did not mean everyone would have perfect health, as the general effects of sin in humanity continued. It did mean, however, that even those at the lowest place in society would have their basic needs met; needs such as food, shelter, and clothing. The poor in Israel would be wealthier and better off than those of other nations.[3]      But if God's people turned from the Lord and His Word and adopted an alternate ethical standard, then they would forfeit His blessings and bring judgment upon themselves (Deut 11:16-17; 2 Ch 6:24-27). However, God's judgments on Israel did not always happen in an instantaneous manner, as the Lord is patient, longsuffering, and slow to anger (Ex 34:6; Psa 86:15; 103:8; 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jon 4:2). And God often sent warnings to His people (Jer 7:25-26; 25:3-7; 29:18-19), which at times went on for centuries, and discipline came in stages. And even when God's judgment fell, it sometimes took the form of lesser punishment (Psa 103:10-12; Ezra 9:13). And if His people humbled themselves, He would offer forgiveness and restore their blessings (2 Ch 7:13-14). God is always quick to forgive, and He prefers to bless rather than punish. Any loving parent understands this.   [1] Ludwig Koehler et al., The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1994–2000), 91. [2] In the larger picture, God gives common grace to everyone (Matt 5:44-45; Acts 14:16-17), and this in order to win their hearts to Him, as He “is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9). However, God's common grace does not last forever, and if people turn away from Him and pursue wickedness (Rom 1:18-23), He will let them go their sinful way (Rom 1:24-32; cf., Psa 81:12-13), and they will eventually perish in their sin. For the rebel-believer, it means being least in the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:19; cf. 1 Cor 3:15), but for the unbeliever, it means suffering eternally in the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:11-15). [3] Blessing is a relative term even in our own societies. According to The World Bank, as of 2018, half the world's population lives on less than $5.50 a day (https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2018/10/17/nearly-half-the-world-lives-on-less-than-550-a-day). According to Pew research data in 2015, the poor in the US are much better off than the poor in other countries (https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/07/09/how-americans-compare-with-the-global-middle-class/).

Listen to today's Laugh Again with Phil Callaway “Blessings and Cursings” Enjoy!

Map of Israel - Ebal and Gerizim - Joshua's Altar      In this address by Moses, he directs the twelve tribes of Israel to renew their commitment to God in a covenant ceremony. This was to happen at Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim after they'd entered the land of Canaan. This chapter is divided into three parts. First, the people were to gather at Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim under the leadership of the elders and priests and prepare themselves for recommitment to the Lord (Deut 27:1-8). Second, Moses directed the people to listen to God and obey His commands (Deut 27:9-10). Third, Moses directed the twelve tribes of Israel to stand on Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, with the priests between them, and pronounce cursing on those who violated certain ordinances (Deut 27:11-26). Part I - Deuteronomy 27:1-8 "Then Moses and the elders of Israel charged the people, saying, “Keep all the commandments which I command you today. 2 So it shall be on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with lime 3 and write on them all the words of this law, when you cross over, so that you may enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.” (Deut 27:1-3)      After presenting the statutes and judgments, Moses gathered together with the elders of Israel to charge the whole nation (Deut 27:1a). The specific charge given to them was, “Keep all the commandments which I command you today” (Deut 27:1b). All the commandments refer to the whole corpus of the Law as given in Deuteronomy. Twice Moses mentions the day “when you cross” the Jordan, and twice describes it as “the land which the LORD your God gives you” (Deut 27:2-3). God was giving Israel the land of Canaan as a possession, but it was their responsibility to enter into it and to follow His directives once there. Canaan is described as a prosperous land, “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Deut 27:3a). The land which God was giving to His people had been promised to the patriarchs and their descendants (Gen 17:7-8; 26:3-4; 28:13-14). What follows in the remainder of this chapter refers to a one-time event that Israel was to perform after they'd entered the land of Canaan. Eugene Merrill states: "The nature of Deuteronomy as a covenant renewal document designed especially for life in the promised land is evident from this set of instructions given by Moses to the people. They had received the covenant in the here and now of the plains of Moab, but they had to wait until they arrived in Canaan to formalize its implementation by a mass ceremony of commitment. This would include the erection of a monument containing the fundamental principles of the Lord-Israel relationship, a covenant meal signifying the harmony of that relationship, and a catalog of curses and blessings appropriate to the maintenance and/or disruption of that relationship."[1] Moses continued his address, saying: "So it shall be when you cross the Jordan, you shall set up on Mount Ebal, these stones, as I am commanding you today, and you shall coat them with lime. 5 Moreover, you shall build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones; you shall not wield an iron tool on them. 6 You shall build the altar of the LORD your God of uncut stones, and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to the LORD your God; 7 and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and eat there, and rejoice before the LORD your God. 8 You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very distinctly." (Deut 27:4-8)      The recommitment Moses was prescribing was to happen after they'd crossed the Jordan River and entered the land of Canaan. Once there, they were to gather at Mount Ebal and select large stones and coat them with lime. In addition, they were to build an altar made of uncut stones, and there offer burnt offerings to the Lord. The uncut stones were likely to remove any human adornment, thus removing any human pride that might be involved. Daniel Block states, “Apparently, just as animals to be sacrificed were to be ‘without defect' (Lev 1:3) and without ‘any serious flaw' (Deut 15:21), so the stones of this altar were to be whole and complete. To improve on them with human effort and man-made tools was to defile them.”[2]And burnt offerings were completely consumed and pictured total dependence on the Lord. The purpose of whitewashing the stones at Mount Ebal was to write on them all the words of the law, which likely referred to what was given in the book of Deuteronomy. According to Victor Matthews, “Some archaeologists believe that the remains of this altar have been found. It is a structure on one of the peaks of Mount Ebal about twenty-five by thirty feet with walls about five feet thick and nine feet high made of fieldstones.”[3] Additionally, there are ashes and animal bones at the site. Part II - Deuteronomy 27:9-10      What follows is a directive by Moses and the Levitical priests for the nation as a whole to recommit themselves to the Lord as His obedient-to-the-Word people. The text reads, “Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, ‘Be silent and listen, O Israel! This day you have become a people for the LORD your God. 10 You shall therefore obey the LORD your God and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today'” (Deut 27:9-10). Israel was already God's people; however, this one-time ceremony was to mark a renewed commitment to abide by all His statutes. According to Jack Deere, “The words you have now become the people of the Lord your God do not imply that Israel was not the people of God before that time. They meant that there on the plains of Moab, at that significant turning point in her history, Israel had freshly committed herself again to the Lord. Again, she was told to obey Him and to follow His commands and decrees.”[4] Part III - Deuteronomy 27:11-26      Moses now offers instructions about what was to follow after the people had gathered at Mount Ebal, erected and whitewashed stones, written God's laws on them, and offered a burnt offering to the Lord. The instructions are as follows, “Moses also charged the people on that day, saying, 12 ‘When you cross the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 For the curse, these shall stand on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali'” (Deut 27:11-13). In addition to this, the book of Joshua reveals that the ark of the covenant, along with those Levites who carried it, would stand in the valley between the two mountains (Josh 8:33). The picture was that God and His law would be in plain site as the ceremony of recommitment was enacted. The text continues, “The Levites shall then answer and say to all the men of Israel with a loud voice” (Deut 27:14). The Levites mentioned here were likely those in the valley, who would shout out the following curses for those who violated certain commands.        The curses were statements of self-imprecation, in which the Israelites agreed with what was said by the Levites. Deuteronomy 27:15-26 consists of twelve curses, perhaps corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel present at the ceremony. Why twelve curses were stated is not known. What is clear is that God is the author of the laws, the people were His people and under His authority, and their response of amen meant they agreed to adhere to His divine directives, with a deserved curse-punishment if they disobeyed. According to Peter Craigie, “To each curse all the people respond ‘Amen.' This word, which refers back to what has immediately preceded, indicates assent and agreement to what has been proclaimed. Thus, by saying ‘Amen,' the people indicate understanding and agreement and thereby remove any possible excuse for their conduct, if at some subsequent time they were to disobey the law of the covenant.”[5] Additionally, the twelve curses seem to share a pattern of sins that could be committed by Israelites in secret. Though these violations might not be observable to others, God sees, and He will render judgment as He decides. The twelve curses are as follows. ‘“Cursed is the man who makes an idol or a molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.' And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen'” (Deut 27:15). This first curse comes to those who violate the command, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Deut 5:7). God's authority was necessary if His directives were to be followed. Setting up an idol in secret meant setting it in one's home so that no one else could see. Such household idols were worshipped later in Israel (Judg 17:3-4). “‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.' And all the people shall say, ‘Amen'” (Deut 27:16). This violates God's command, “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you” (Deut 5:16). Here, the authority of the parent in the home is of concern. Victor Matthews states, “The home is seen as an important and necessary link for the covenant instruction of each successive generation. Honor is given to parents as representatives of God's authority and is for the sake of covenant preservation. If parents are not heeded or their authority is repudiated, the covenant is in jeopardy.”[6] ‘“Cursed is he who moves his neighbor's boundary mark.' And all the people shall say, ‘Amen'” (Deut 27:17). This command was mentioned before and refers to the theft of a neighbor's land (Deut 19:14). Such an act was not only a crime against one's neighbor, but also against the Lord Himself, as He was the ultimate owner of the land (Lev 25:23). Like the other violations, this could be done in secret, when no one was watching. ‘“Cursed is he who misleads a blind person on the road.' And all the people shall say, ‘Amen'” (Deut 27:18). This verse addresses the exploitation of the vulnerable, namely the blind. However, this could easily extend to others who suffered a handicap and could be abused (Lev 19:14). Earl Radmacher comments, “The underlying assumption is that only a person of great cruelty and no love for God would take advantage of a disabled person.”[7] ‘“Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow.' And all the people shall say, ‘Amen'” (Deut 27:19). In addition to the blind, there were others within the community who were marginalized and vulnerable to mistreatment. God's people were to protect and defend the vulnerable (Ex 22:21-22; 23:9; Deut 24:17), as He Himself does (Deut 10:17-19). ‘“Cursed is he who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's skirt.' And all the people shall say, ‘Amen'” (Deut 27:20). This curse fell on the one who had sexual intercourse with his stepmother (Lev 18:8), which would have been an attack on his father as well. ‘“Cursed is he who lies with any animal.' And all the people shall say, ‘Amen” (Deut 27:21). Bestiality was practiced in the ancient world and represented a sexual perversion that warranted the death penalty (Lev 20:15-16). Daniel Block writes, “Apparently bestiality was deemed such a heinous offense because it blurs the boundaries between the creaturely world and humankind created as image-bearers of God (Gen 1:26–28). The roots of this disposition go back to Eden, where God created woman because none of the animals was an appropriate counterpart for the man (Gen 2:18–25).”[8] ‘“Cursed is he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or of his mother.' And all the people shall say, ‘Amen'” (Deut 27:22). This curse fell on the one who engaged in sexual intercourse with a sister or half-sister. Such practices were permissible in ancient Egypt as well as Phoenicia. ‘“Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.' And all the people shall say, ‘Amen'” (Deut 27:23). This act had been declared wicked in Leviticus and warranted the death penalty (Lev 20:14). Jacob's son, Reuben, forfeited his rights as the firstborn son because of this act (Gen 35:22; 49:3-4). ‘“Cursed is he who strikes his neighbor in secret.' And all the people shall say, ‘Amen'” (Deut 27:24). Violence against a neighbor was bad enough, but to injure him/her in secret meant no other person knew about it, and it could not be tried in a court of law, which required two or three witnesses (Deut 19:15). ‘“Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to strike down an innocent person.' And all the people shall say, ‘Amen'” (Deut 27:25). A bribe to kill an innocent person could be done in private. The one who accepted such payment and carried it out would be guilty of murder, which was punishable by death (Lev 24:17). “Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.' And all the people shall say, ‘Amen'” (Deut 27:26). Rather than recite all the laws he'd previously presented, Moses concludes this section by pronouncing a curse on the one who “does not confirm the words of this law by doing them” (Deut 27:26a). God expected total submission to all His laws and would curse anyone who did not abide by them. Paul cited this verse in Galatians 3:10 to make the point that the Law demanded absolute perfection, and failure to keep any part of it brought a curse from God. The law does not save.      These curses were given as a warning not to disobey the Lord. It was intended for Israel's good, to help them avoid the dangers and consequences of sin. According to Jack Deere, “This last curse demonstrates that the preceding list was representative. Perhaps the 11 examples were chosen, as stated earlier, because most of them could be done in secret and therefore the offender might not be as easily detected as he would when violating other laws. The summary nature of the 12th curse, however, indicates that God desired a wholehearted obedience to the Law both in public and in private.”[9] After crossing the Jordan River into the land of Canaan (Josh 3:1-17), Joshua led the people to carry out this command (Josh 8:30-35). Present Application God gives directives to His people, and this for good, never harm (Deut 6:24; 10:12-13). But God's law, though holy, just, and good, reveals humanity's sinful flaws, both in the unsaved and saved. The biblical record of human sinfulness is as follows: Moses wrote, “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen 6:5), and “the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth” (Gen 8:21). A psalmist wrote, “If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” (Psa 130:3), and “do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no man living is righteous” (Psa 143:2). Solomon asked, “Who can say, ‘I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?'” (Prov 20:9). He later said, “Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins” (Eccl 7:20). Isaiah wrote, “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away” (Isa 64:6). Jeremiah said, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jer 17:9). The apostle Paul said, “as it is written, ‘there is none righteous, not even one…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:10, 23). Elsewhere he said, “I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not” (Rom 7:18), and “I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good” (Rom 7:21). The apostle John said, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us” and “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8, 10).      Everyone deserves God's judgment. No one deserves His mercy or grace. But it is exactly God's mercy and grace that keep us from being judged quickly or harshly by Him. It is written, “You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth” (Psa 86:15), and “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness” (Psa 103:8; cf., Ex 34:6; Psa 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jon 4:2). God has not judged us as our sin deserves, nor treated us according to our failures. David knew this very well and said of God, “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psa 103:10-12). Ezra wrote something similar, saying, “What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins deserved and have allowed us to survive” (Ezra 9:13).      As Christians, we are God's people because we have trusted in Christ as our Savior (John 3:16). We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Eph 2:8-9). As a result, we are forgiven our sins (Eph 1:7), given eternal life (John 10:28), God's gift of righteousness (Rom 5:17; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9), and will never be condemned along with unbelievers (John 3:18; Rom 8:1). But as God's people, He expects us to live holy lives (1 Pet 1:14-16), to walk with Him daily (Eph 4:1), live by faith (Heb 10:38; 11:6), and advance to spiritual maturity (Eph 4:11-16; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 Pet 2:2). And this we do when we humble ourselves daily, study His Word, seek His will, and prioritize His glory above our own ambitions and interests.      As God's children, our Father will judge and discipline us if we live sinfully (Heb 12:5-11; Rev 3:19), and His judgment can even result in our death (Acts 5:1-10; 1 Cor 11:27-30; 1 John 5:16-17). Though it's impossible for us to lose our salvation (John 10:27-29), a sinful lifestyle can cause us to suffer unnecessarily in this life (1 Pet 4:15) and forfeit future rewards in heaven (1 Cor 3:15; 2 John 1:8). But our God who judges is also gracious and quick to forgive when we humble ourselves and confess our sins to Him (1 John 1:9; cf. Luke 18:9-14).[10] And God's judgments, whether harsh or mild, are often determined by the attitude of the offender, for “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Pet 5:5). Therefore, let us always be humble before our God, appealing to His mercy and grace when we fail. For we serve “the God of all grace” (1 Pet 5:10), who sits upon a “throne of grace” (Heb 4:16), who is “rich in mercy” (Eph 2:4) and ready to forgive when we call out to Him.   [1] Eugene H. Merrill, Deuteronomy, vol. 4, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 341. [2] Daniel I. Block, The NIV Application Commentary: Deuteronomy, ed. Terry Muck (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012), 627. [3] Victor Harold Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas, and John H. Walton, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, electronic ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), Dt 27:4. [4] Jack S. Deere, “Deuteronomy,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 310. [5] Peter C. Craigie, The Book of Deuteronomy, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1976), 331. [6] Victor Harold Matthews, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament Deut 27:16. [7] Earl D. Radmacher, Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999), 262. [8] Daniel I. Block, The NIV Application Commentary: Deuteronomy, 635. [9] Jack S. Deere, “Deuteronomy,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 311. [10] Our salvation comes to us “by grace” through faith in Jesus (Eph 2:8-9; cf. Acts 15:11; Rom 3:24). Jesus is said to be “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14), and the Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of grace” (Heb 10:29).

"All Nations and Babel" — Review of Lesson #5 of the 2nd Quarter of 2022 -The Sabbath School Lesson study guide can be found here:https://ssnet.org/lessons/22b/less05m.htmlThe title of this quarter's theme is: Genesis: The Book of the BeginningGenesis provides us with the only authentic account of how life came to be on planet earth, how sin originated here, and what God plans to do about it.  Creation, the Fall, and the Redemption are all covered here. This is a foundational book, and sets in place many principles for understanding the rest of God's Word.During many of our podcasts, you will hear us make reference to “The Key Principles of Effective Bible Study,”  a document which outlines core concepts shown in the scriptures that will help you better understand many Biblical themes and doctrines.  We have done a whole podcast series on these principles which  can be found here.Lastly, we recommend that you check out https://TrueWisdom.buzzsprout.com for additional Bible Study podcasts, covering many different Bible topics, and done in a slightly different format from the podcasts on this channel.We pray that all of these resources will be very helpful to you in your Bible Studies.If you have any questions or comments, please send them to: BibleQuestions@ASBzone.comRelated Documents:Age of the PatriarchsRelated Podcasts:God's Regret - Part 1 (at TrueWisdom)God's Regret - Part 2 (at TrueWisdom)It Repenteth the LORDInvestigate FirstSupport the show (https://cash.app/$ASBzone)

www.riverbendchurch.com sermon from: 04/13/22

Summary by Peyton Smith (MONOLOGUE)What if we are not in fact going into tyranny? Could it be that the entire world is instead heading towards a state of bondage and slavery?Through actions of their own, have the multitudes been begging for the same nightmare that Australia is currently facing?As unpopular as it might be for many to even contemplate, that is the focus of today's program.---------------------------Hour 1, segment 1: Mike discusses the sermon he delivered yesterday at his house, and the continued blessings that God has bestowed not only on his family, but all the brothers and sisters who attend church at his house.The blessings of our savior, Jesus Christ, truly know no bounds.-------------------------------------Both the Blessings and Cursings of the Bible are clearly unfolding here, in 2021.With that in mind, Mike turns attention towards Australia and the situation there that looms for many nations.(AUDIO) Dr. Kerry Chant says that life in Oz will never return to normal. A literal state of psychosis seems to be brought forth by the authorities. https://americanuckradio.com/current-events/australias-chief-health-officer-completely-dashes-any-hope-the-country-will-return-to-normal-one-day/Mike looks beyond the media presentation of the madness, and how it indeed reflects what is written in God's word. The prophet Isaiah warned that if people put off God, women and children will rule over them.Is that what is happening in Australia? It seems to appear that way.Why are so many otherwise nice Australian's feeling the brunt of such evil? How have they been living while in lockdown?Our Lord knows how they've been living.Aside from hard core Christians, Satanists have a very keen understanding of God's covenants. They laugh at all who, out of ignorance, take their bait of sinful bile. Whether that be through a steady diet of disgusting TV shows, music, etc...the ignorant are there in droves to lap it all up and be beguiled by Satan.Is it any wonder the world is now facing such turmoil?Satan's first appearance in the bible speaks volumes.Adam and Eve had literally everything. They had no need nor did they have want for anything. But they took Satan's bait, as did the writer of this summary.There is grace from God though, praise his name!------------------------------------Hour 1, segment 2: Are the majority of people in the U.S. and Canada simply getting the evil mediocrity they deserve in Justin Trudeau and Joe Biden?------------------------------------A woman of the church that Mike attended as a young man with his parents prophesied that he would become an Elijah of his generation.What does that say about a generation?It says that many who are a part of it are in desperate trouble.Over and over we read and hear about people who may not have been molesters or rapists. Good old boy's who make dirty jokes, or perhaps watch some porn here and there.It is these folks for whom judgement comes.-------------------------------Israel is enduring one of the harshest lockdown's the world has seen. Horrible measures which are bringing people to tears, and making them plead for help.Tel Aviv, the red light district of the middle east, has been home to much debauchery for many years.------------------------------What about businesses that have proudly displayed the LGBT flag over the last number of years? So many that have brazenly flouted immortality like this have been shuttered under lockdown's.What could've happened?For all who are being plagued by such sinfulness, there is grace, mercy, and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.Mike points to a chapter of Deuteronomy, that basically consists of blessings and cursings.A person gets to choose their own outcome.Mike goes through both the blessings and the cursings in this chapter.The blessings that happen with God working in one's life are phenomenal, as Mike points out. Harken unto the voice of the savior, then blessed shall one be in the city or in the field.Your enemies will tuck their tales and flee.It's a pretty darn good deal.Keep the commandments of our Lord, and see what happens.----------------------------Enjoy and be blessed by an hour 1 of almighty power from Mike, anointed by Jesus Christ. LISTEN IN FULL!Hour 2, segment 1: Why are things getting so bad for so many people?Why are they getting better for many?It's all about how we live and who we live for.The Lord shall command his blessing upon you in the storehouse, and ALL THAT YOU PUT YOUR HAND TO.That means everything.Why are so many otherwise nice Australian's feeling the brunt of such evil? How have they been living, while in lockdown.A holy people in word, as well as deed, is where we need to be. If we are full of God's truth, we shall be set free.The alternative is forsaking the Lord, and perishing. Pestilence will be upon all who take the wrong path. The health of America and so many nations is at it's poorest. Why could that be? Why are disease rates so off the charts?Captivity, bondage, and loss is also in the offing for all who walk with blinded eyes.A very bad deal, but one which can be avoided.All these curses, and more, will come upon ALL who don't harken to the voice of the Lord and keep his commandments.---------------------------------Hour 2, segment 2: Choose this day whom you shall serve.Are we hearing about food shortages?Yes we are. Why could that be?God's word indeed explains so much about what is happening in the world today.He didn't come into the world to condemn it, for the world was already condemned.Think of entire nations who were once all powerful and prosperous, but fell to mass starvation and oppression.Why was that brought about?Could it be that these nations, en masse, turned away from God?Certainly. We live in the sickest generation ever. In western society, we have every empty thrill and lustful desire at our fingertips,yet depression is off the charts. Shouldn't we be happier than ever? We think we have everything, but at the same time walk in fear of everything....because we have lost our way so horribly. Living in fear or in doubt of one's life is yet another curse.People who think they are wealthy and above it all will not be exempt. Keep the commandments of our Lord and savior, seek repentance, forgiveness, and the grace which he wants for all of us. Look inside yourself.-----------------------------------Be blessed and filled with the holy spirit.

Following The Lord Our God Commandments

Here is the conclusion on Blessings and Cursings. The Bible outlines the importance of God's blessings in our lives and how we should bless the Lord and bless those that curse us. It is all about obedience. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dr-driver/support

The Bible outlines the importance of God's blessings in our lives and how we should bless the Lord and bless those that curse us. It is all about obedience. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dr-driver/support

Deuteronomy 28:68

Victor Tey preaches on the difference between blessings and cursings as opposed to rewards and chastisement.

Here is an overview of  “The Key Principles of Effective Bible Study,”  which outlines core concepts of the scriptures that will help you better understand many Biblical themes.  Each episode below covers a separate chapter in the document:The Purpose of the Holy ScripturesThe Scriptures are Inspired by GodSpiritual Things are Spiritually DiscernedThe Bible is a Complete CollectionStudy Topics from the BeginningThe Bible is its own Interpreter The Bible of the New Testament Believers is Still Valid Today The Bible is both Literal and SpiritualSymbols are Used Consistently in the BibleIsrael is Not Just About Jacob’s Physical DescendantsIn the Mouth of Two or Three Witnesses Repetition is Related to ImportanceThe Messages of the Bible are Broadly ApplicableThe Bible Balances Many TensionsUnderstanding Context is HelpfulInstruction By Way of Principles and CommandmentsPrecepts and Instructions are Built Upon, Not ReplacedBiblical Transitions are Consistently ImplementedThe Future Is Manifest in the PastWhy isn’t everything repeated in the New Testament?Prophetic Time Has a Special Time SignatureThe Blessings and Cursings of God are Alike ConditionalThere’s an Appropriate Way to Respond to ChallengesChoosing a Bible Translation for Study PurposesThe following condensed series is based on the same info:God's Precious Word -- #1 of 9God's Precious Word -- #2 of 9God's Precious Word -- #3 of 9God's Precious Word -- #4 of 9God's Precious Word -- #5 of 9God's Precious Word -- #6 of 9God's Precious Word -- #7 of 9God's Precious Word -- #8 of 9God's Precious Word -- #9 of 9---We pray that all of these resources will be very helpful to you in your Bible Studies, and we recommend that you also check out the True Wisdom podcasts at  https://TrueWisdom.buzzsprout.com .If you have any questions or comments, please send them to: BibleQuestions@ASBzone.comSupport the show (https://BibleStudy.ASBzone.com)