Blessings, Obedience, and the Power of Covenant Promises

Welcome to Day 55 of The Glory Team Bible Reading plan and we are continuing the book of Deuteronomy. In Chapters 26-28, outlines the covenant between God and Israel, emphasizing the importance of obedience, with Deuteronomy 26 focusing on the Israelites' acknowledgment of God's blessings and Deuteronomy 28 detailing the consequences of both obedience and disobedience, promising blessings for faithfulness and curses for turning away.

Deuteronomy Chapter 26 outlines the instructions for the Israelites to bring the first fruits of their harvest to the priests at God's chosen place of worship, acknowledging God's blessings and their covenant relationship, and includes a confession of their past and a promise of future obedience.

Deuteronomy Chapter 27 instructs the Israelites, upon entering the Promised Land, to set up large stones on Mount Ebal, plaster them with lime, and write the words of God's law on them, essentially creating a visible reminder of their covenant with God; this is followed by a ceremony where the Levites would pronounce a series of curses associated with disobeying the law, with the people responding "Amen" to each one, signifying their commitment to uphold the covenant and face the consequences of disobedience if they fail to do so.

Deuteronomy Chapter 28 outlines the consequences of Israel's obedience or disobedience to God's covenant, promising blessings for following His laws and severe curses for turning away, including disease, defeat, and exile.

"Blessings, Obedience, and the Power of Covenant Promises"

Origin & Meaning of the Name:

The name Deuteronomy comes from the Greek word Deuteronomion, which means "Second Law" or "Repetition of the Law." This name is derived from the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) and refers to the book’s purpose—reaffirming God’s laws for the new generation of Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. The Hebrew name of the book, Devarim, translates to “Words,” taken from the first phrase in the book: “These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel...” (Deuteronomy 1:1, ESV).

Purpose of the Book of Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy serves as Moses’ final speech to the Israelites before they enter Canaan. It reaffirms God’s covenant, laws, and instructions given at Mount Sinai, emphasizing obedience, faithfulness, and love for God. The book warns Israel against disobedience and idolatry, reminding them of the blessings that come from following God and the curses that result from turning away. Deuteronomy also prepares the nation for life without Moses, ensuring they understand their responsibilities as God’s chosen people.

Authorship & Sources Supporting Moses as the Author: Traditionally, Moses is credited as the primary author of Deuteronomy, as well as the other books of the Torah (Genesis–Deuteronomy). Multiple references within the book itself and other biblical passages support Mosaic authorship:

Internal Biblical Evidence:
- Deuteronomy 31:9 (ESV) – “Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.”
- Deuteronomy 31:24 – “When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book to the very end...”
- Joshua 1:7-8 refers to the "Book of the Law" given by Moses, showing that Joshua, Moses’ successor, acknowledged his writings.
- Jesus and the New Testament writers also affirm Moses as the author (Matthew 19:7-8; John 5:46-47).
External Sources & References:
- The Jewish Talmud (Baba Bathra 14b-15a) affirms Moses as the author of the Torah, including Deuteronomy.
- The first-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 4) credits Moses with writing the law and leading Israel.
- The Samaritan Pentateuch, an ancient version of the Torah, attributes the book to Moses.
- While some scholars argue that later scribes may have edited parts of Deuteronomy (such as Moses’ death in Deuteronomy 34), the bulk of the book is widely accepted as written by Moses himself.

Key People in Deuteronomy:

Moses – The central figure in Deuteronomy, he delivers the final sermons and instructions to Israel before his death.
Joshua – Moses’ successor, who is commissioned to lead Israel into the Promised Land.
The Israelites – The new generation standing at the border of Canaan, preparing to enter the land after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.
Aaron (mentioned in past references) – The first high priest of Israel, who had already passed away by the time of Deuteronomy’s events.
The Canaanite Nations – Various nations (Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites) that Israel is commanded to conquer and drive out.
King Sihon of the Amorites & King Og of Bashan – Two kings defeated by Israel before entering Canaan, demonstrating God’s power and faithfulness.

Deuteronomy serves as a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness, justice, and love, calling His people to live in obedience and trust in His promises.

What is God's Name in these Chapters?

In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.

Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.

"Jehovah" is considered a Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" (represented by the consonants YHWH) where the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "my Lord") were added to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) when pronounced by Jewish readers who avoided saying the sacred name directly; essentially, Christian scholars combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai to create the pronunciation "Jehovah" in the Latin alphabet.

Looking for the Names of God from the previous chapters? Due to the overwhelming amount of names we had to dedicate a special place for them for the sake of space. Click the link to see them:

REVIEW GOD'S NAMES FROM PREVIOUS CHAPTERS

In Deuteronomy Chapter 26, God is referred to as YHWH Elohim, meaning "The LORD your God," emphasizing His covenant relationship with Israel as their sovereign and faithful protector. This name reveals God's character as a covenant-keeping God who is both mighty (Elohim) and intimately involved with His people (YHWH). He is also seen as El Elyon (God Most High), affirming His supreme authority over all nations. Through this chapter, God teaches the importance of gratitude, obedience, and wholehearted devotion. He calls His people to remember His faithfulness, bring their firstfruits as an act of worship, and live in obedience to His commands. The lesson is clear: when we acknowledge God as our provider and follow His ways, we walk in the blessings of His covenant and experience His continual guidance and favor.

In Deuteronomy Chapter 27, God is again referred to as YHWH Elohim, meaning “The LORD your God,” reinforcing His authority, holiness, and covenant relationship with Israel. This name highlights God’s righteous nature and His expectation of obedience from His people. As the chapter describes the setting up of stones with the Law written on them and the proclamation of blessings and curses, God’s character is revealed as just, sovereign, and unchanging. He is a God who establishes His law as the foundation of life and holds His people accountable for their actions. The key lesson in this chapter is that obedience to God brings blessings, while disobedience results in consequences. God is teaching His people to take His commandments seriously, live righteously, and remember that their choices have spiritual and practical repercussions.

In Deuteronomy Chapter 28, God is referred to as YHWH Elohim, meaning "The LORD your God," emphasizing His sovereign authority, faithfulness, and covenant relationship with Israel. This chapter also reflects God's nature as El Shaddai (God Almighty), the all-sufficient provider who blesses abundantly, and YHWH Yireh (The LORD Will Provide), showing His ability to supply every need for those who obey Him. God's character is revealed as both gracious and just—He rewards obedience with prosperity, protection, and favor, yet He also enforces divine justice when His people turn away from Him. The lesson in this chapter is clear: obedience to God brings blessings, while disobedience leads to hardship. God teaches that His laws are not burdensome but are meant to lead His people into a life of prosperity, peace, and divine favor. Choosing to follow Him wholeheartedly results in experiencing the fullness of His promises.

Christ in Every Book of the Bible

Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.

Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.

The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!

Questions: Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.

Questions About God's Character:

What do the names of God in Deuteronomy 26-28 reveal about His nature and relationship with His people?
How does God’s role as YHWH Elohim (The LORD your God) shape our understanding of His faithfulness and authority?
In what ways does Deuteronomy 28 show God as both merciful and just?
How does God demonstrate His provision and sovereignty in these chapters?
What aspects of God’s character are highlighted through the blessings and curses in Deuteronomy 28?

Questions About Themes:

How does Deuteronomy 26 emphasize gratitude and remembrance of God's faithfulness?
What is the significance of obedience in receiving God's blessings, as outlined in Deuteronomy 28?
How does the theme of covenant obedience play a role in these chapters?
Why does God establish such clear consequences for both obedience and disobedience?
How do these chapters reflect the principle of sowing and reaping in our spiritual lives?

Reflective Application Questions:

How can we apply the principle of bringing our "firstfruits" to God in our daily lives?
What are some ways we can remain obedient to God even when it is difficult?
How does reflecting on God’s past faithfulness encourage you to trust Him more today?
In what areas of your life do you see God’s blessings as a result of obedience?
What steps can you take to ensure that your choices align with God's will rather than leading to consequences?
How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude like the Israelites were commanded to do in Deuteronomy 26?
If blessings follow obedience and curses follow disobedience, how does this truth shape your daily decisions?
How can you encourage others to walk in obedience to God based on the lessons from these chapters?
What specific commands or principles from these chapters challenge you to live differently?
How does this passage shape your understanding of God’s expectations for His people today?

These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.

Reference Guides:

Life Application Study Guide

A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler

The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans