Though famous for the severity of the blessings and
curses, this passage of Scripture deserves to be seen both for its dramatic
flair and its take on fundamental moral realities. As Moses sets the stage for the events
described in this chapter, he fills two facing hillsides with the tribes of
Israel, places the Arc of the Covenant and the priests in the valley below, and
proclaims the terms of their covenant with God.
At each declaration of consequence, the people reply in unison, “Amen,”
declaring that they agree to the terms, to include the blessings and the
curses. Imagine the volume of the scene –
thousands of people crying, “Amen!” Imagine the liability of the people of God
publicly proclaiming that because they belong to God they are subject to the
terms of that covenant.
Before the details of the blessings and the curses are
understood, the place to begin is with a fundamental understanding of what it
entails to be the people of God. Though
God called Abram from Ur generations ago, and though God rescued them from
Egypt one generation ago, Moses makes a point of saying, “this day you have
become the people of God” (vs. 9). This
is not the literal day in which God makes them his people. This is the day the terms of the covenant are
brought to bear in a unique way. This is
the day of reckoning. This is the day of
consequence. This is the day of blessing
and curses.
Being the people of God, both then and now, comes with a
set of terms regarding reality. Though
God’s laws stand as immutable no matter who believes them, this is a unique
conversation God has with his people about their lives as humans who both
belong to him and represent him on this earth.
God’s people cannot live in relationship with him and act
however they please. Relationship with a
loving and holy God is not a moral free-for-all. God is not loving in a way that allows us to
follow our own hearts and create our own paths in life. God is our Creator; he created us to flourish
as humans who live according to his will and his ways. And God is so loving that he reveals those
ways as clearly and as often as possible.
And as people who say, “Amen,” we are responsible to those ways.
God’s people cannot break the terms of the covenant and
expect God’s blessing to continue to flow.
It is utterly human to expect good things to come if we act as though we
mean well, no matter what we actually do.
It is utterly divine to act in accordance with the Word of God, knowing
that it means our peace, salvation, and well-being.
God’s people need to grow comfortable with a moral
standard other than their own wishes to which they are responsible. If I had my way, I would set the standards by
which I will be judged. But reality
doesn’t work that way. Even the people
who love me the most don’t let me get away with that kind of narcissism. The Lord of heaven and earth has already set
the moral terms of human behavior and when I say, “Amen,” I explicitly agree to
his terms.
God’s people need to understand there really are
consequences for behavior, both good and bad.
The blessings and curses are both natural and divine consequences. Our actions have inevitable, natural
consequences, and God is involved in enforcing the terms of the covenant. We do not live in moral and spiritual
silly-putty.
Am I ready to say, “Amen”? Have I already said it and yet continue to
live as if I haven’t? The final call and
response of chapter 27 is the call to live what we affirm. “Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the
words of this law by doing them” (vs. 26).
And shall all the people say, “Amen”?
