Walking By Faith | The Law, Cross, and Life (Series) | The Weight of the Law | Part 1 of 3

"Christ has redeemed His people from the curse of the law and not from the command of it; He has saved them from the wrath of God, but not from His government." - A. W. Pink, English Bible teacher (1886-1952)

Scripture Focus: Deuteronomy 27 NIV

Opening Prayer: "Heavenly Father, we acknowledge Your holy law but confess our inability to keep it. As we study Your Word, remove our pride and show us our need for a Savior. Help us to stop striving in our own strength and depend on You. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Before We Begin: Ever tried and failed to be perfect? Deuteronomy 27 reveals God’s holy standards, acting as a mirror that exposes our inability to keep His law and our desperate need for a Savior.

The Context: Poised on the plains of Moab in 1406 BC, the second generation of Israel prepared to cross the Jordan. Deuteronomy 27 instructed them on ratifying God's covenant as they transition from the wilderness to the Promised Land. 

Israel was commanded to build a stone altar on Mount Ebal inscribed with the Law and formally ratify the covenant through a ceremony of blessings on Mount Gerizim and curses on Mount Ebal. 

However, Deuteronomy 27 sets an impossible standard: 100% perfection. Breaking one law makes you a lawbreaker. But the law isn't a path to life; it's a mirror reflecting our inability to meet God’s standard (Deuteronomy 27:26).

Because of our fallen nature, the "mind set on the flesh" is hostile to God and cannot physically submit to His Law (Romans 8:6, NASB).

Pause and Reflect: How often do we think we are "good enough" for God? Deuteronomy 27 forces us to stop relying on our own efforts.

What Matters Today:

• The Critical Nature of Obedience: This chapter highlights the command to write the law on stones, emphasizing the importance of keeping God's word central to our lives and following it diligently.
• Facing the Consequences of Sin: The list of curses demonstrates that intentional sin results in consequences, mirroring the reality of our need for a Savior.
• Mercy Amidst Judgment: The placement of an altar on Mount Ebal shows that God offers grace in the midst of curses. It teaches us to run to Him for redemption, rather than despairing over our failures.
• Nothing is Hidden from God: The curses emphasize that private acts of injustice or idolatry are just as significant to God as public sins.
• Saying "Amen" to God’s Justice: The "Amen" in verses 15-26 serves as a formal seal of approval, confirming that God’s justice is deserved.

In essence, Deuteronomy 27 highlights that all have failed to perfectly keep the law (v. 26), driving believers to rely on Christ, who became a curse for us, as mentioned in Galatians 3:13, rather than relying on our own efforts to receive blessings.

What Do You Think?

• Perfect Obedience or Best Effort?: Why does God hold his people to a standard of absolute obedience, as shown in Deuteronomy 27, rather than accepting a "best effort" standard?
• The Diagnostic Law: Since the law’s job is to show us where we fall short, which specific parts of Deuteronomy 27 mirror the modern exhaustion of trying to earn your own righteousness?
• Affirming the Curse: The "Amen" of Agreement: How does vocally agreeing that disobedience warrants a curse change our view of God’s holiness?

Closing Statement: The law sets a standard of perfection that none of us can meet. Let us be honest about our failures and stop trying to earn God’s favor, acknowledging that the law reveals our need for a Savior.

Prayer: "Father, we admit we fall short of Your righteous standards. Thank You for the Savior we found in Your Word. Teach us to walk in humility and lean entirely on Your mercy today. Amen."   

Sincerely with the Grace of God,

Sloane