Deuteronômio 28

Deuteronômio 28

Vernon McGee - Israel's tenure in the land, their dwelling there, would be determined by their obedience to God. That was a conditional arrangement (MOSAIC COVENANT). But the land was given to them with no conditions attached whatsoever. God has given that land to Israel, and that is an unconditional covenant (ABRAHAMIC). God will bring Israel back into that land because it belongs to them. That is something very important for us to realize at the present time. Obey (listen, understand)(08085) shama means to hear (Adam and Eve hearing God = Ge 3:8, 10, Ge 18:10 = "overheard"), to listen (Ge 3:17, Ge 16:2 [= this was a big mistake and was the origin of Jews and Arabs!] Ex 6:9,16:20, 18:19, Webster's 1828 on "listen" = to hearken; to give ear; to attend closely with a view to hear. To obey; to yield to advice; to follow admonition) and since hearing/listening are often closely linked to obedience, shama is translated obey (1 Sa 15:22, Ge 22:18, 26:5, 39:10, Ex 19:5, disobedience = Lev 26:14, 18, 21, 27) or to understand. KJV translates shama "hearken" (196x) a word which means to give respectful attention. Shama means “to hear intelligently and attentively and respond appropriately." In other words to hear does not convey the idea of "in one ear and out the other!" The greatest significance of the use of shama is that of relation of man to God, especially where the context speaks of obedience. Obedience is the supreme test of faith and reverence for God. The Old Testament conception of obedience was vital. It was the one important relationship which must not be broken. While sometimes this relation may have been formal and cold, it nevertheless was the one strong tie which held the people close to God. The significant spiritual relation is expressed by Samuel when he asks the question, “Hath Yahweh as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying (shama) the voice of Yahweh? Behold, to obey (shama) is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Sa 15:22). It was the condition without which no right relation might be sustained to Yahweh. This is most clearly stated in the relation between Abraham and Yahweh when he is assured “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed (shama) my voice” (Ge 22:18). In prophetic utterances, future blessing and prosperity were conditioned upon obedience: “If ye be willing and obedient (shama), ye shall eat the good of the land” (Isa 1:19). After surveying the glories of the Messianic kingdom, the prophet assures the people that “this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey (shama) the voice of Yahweh your God” (Zec 6:15). On the other hand misfortune, calamity, distress and famine are due to their disobedience and distrust of Yahweh. Being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today - Being careful is shamar which means to guard, observe, watch and in the Lxx is the verb phulasso in the present tense, signifying continually watching, guarding (to prevent from escaping), protecting, observing (following the law - Lk 28:21+) The verb to do (asah) in the Lxx is poieo in the present tense, signifying continually doing. In other words this calls not for perfection (not possible until we reach glory) but for the general direction toward all His commandments. Command (tsavah; Lxx = entole) is repeatedly used in Deuteronomy 28 - Deut. 28:1; Deut. 28:8; Deut. 28:13; Deut. 28:14; Deut. 28:15; Deut. 28:45. Being careful (08104) shamar means to keep, watch, preserve, to guard, to be careful, to watch over, to watch carefully over, to be on one’s guard. Hedge about as with thorns - the word the Hebrews used for a shepherd’s keeping watch over a flock of sheep. Conveyed the idea of protection as in Ps 121:7-8 (used 3 times!) In the great Aaronic blessing Nu 6:24+. The first use of shamar in Ge 2:15 is instructive as Adam was placed in the garden (a perfect environment) and was commanded to "keep" it which in the Septuagint is translated with phulasso (which is used to translate many of the OT uses of shamar) which means to guard like a military sentinel would at his post. Clearly Adam did not do a good job at "keeping" the garden safe from intruders! And because of this failure he was cast out of the garden and angels stationed to "guard (Lxx = phulasso) the way to the tree of life" so that he would not eat of it (Ge 3:24+). After Cain murdered Abel he answered God "Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Ge 4:9) Shamar is a key verb in Deuteronomy - Deut. 2:4; Deut. 4:2; Deut. 4:6; Deut. 4:9; Deut. 4:15; Deut. 4:23; Deut. 4:40; Deut. 5:1; Deut. 5:10; Deut. 5:12; Deut. 5:29; Deut. 6:2; Deut. 6:3; Deut. 6:12; Deut. 6:17; Deut. 6:25; Deut. 7:8; Deut. 7:9; Deut. 7:11; Deut. 7:12; Deut. 8:1; Deut. 8:2; Deut. 8:6; Deut. 8:11; Deut. 10:13; Deut. 11:1; Deut. 11:8; Deut. 11:16; Deut. 11:22; Deut. 11:32; Deut. 12:1; Deut. 12:13; Deut. 12:19; Deut. 12:28; Deut. 12:30; Deut. 12:32; Deut. 13:4; Deut. 13:18; Deut. 15:9; Deut. 16:1; Deut. 16:12; Deut. 17:10; Deut. 19:9; Deut. 23:9; Deut. 23:23; Deut. 24:8; Deut. 26:16; Deut. 26:17; Deut. 26:18; Deut. 27:1; Deut. 28:1; Deut. 28:9; Deut. 28:45; Deut. 28:58; Deut. 29:9; Deut. 30:10; Deut. 30:16; Deut. 31:12; Deut. 33:9 Command (06680)(tsavah) צָוָה 1. (piel) command, order, tell, instruct, give direction, decree, i.e., state with force/authority what others must do (Ge 2:16); (pual) commanded, directed, be ordered (Ge 45:19; Ex 34:34; Lev 8:35; 10:13; Nu 3:16; 36:2; Eze 12:7; 24:18; 37:7); 2. (piel) appoint, ordain, give charge, i.e., assign one to a role or function for a task or office, with a focus on the authority of the one who appointed the leader (1Sa 25:30); 3. LN 13.104–13.163 (piel) be forbidden, i.e., pertaining to what does not happen, as it is not allowed by an authority (Dt 4:23), (Swanson) Vine - tsawah (צָוָה), “to command.” This verb occurs only in biblical Hebrew (in all periods) and imperial Aramaic (starting from around 500 B C.). Biblical occurrences number around 485. Essentially, this verb refers to verbal communication by which a superior “orders” or “commands” a subordinate. The word implies the content of what was said. Pharaoh “ordered” (“commanded”) his men concerning Abraham, and they escorted Abraham and his party out of Egypt (Gen. 12:20). This “order” defines an action relevant to a specific situation. Tsawah can also connote “command” in the sense of the establishment of a rule by which a subordinate is to act in every recurring similar situation. In the Garden of Eden (the first appearance of this word in the Bible), God “commanded” (“set down the rule”): “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: …” (Gen. 2:16). In this case, the word does not contain the content of the action but focuses on the action itself One of the recurring formulas in the Bible is “X did all that Y commanded him”—e.g., Ruth “did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her” (Ruth 3:6). This means that she carried out Naomi’s “orders.” A similar formula, “X did just as Y commanded,” is first found in Num. 32:25, where the sons of Reuben and Gad say to Moses that they “will do as my lord commandeth.” These formulas indicate the accomplishment of, or the intention to accomplish, the “orders” of a superior. The verb tsawah can be used of a commission or charge, such as the act of “commanding,” “telling,” or “sending” someone to do a particular task. In Gen. 32:4, Jacob “commissioned” his servants to deliver a particular message to his brother Esau. They acted as his emissaries. Jacob commissioned (literally, “commanded”) his sons to bury him in the cave of Machpelah (Gen. 49:30), and then he died. This “command” constituted a last will and testament—an obligation or duty. The verb again indicates, therefore, appointing someone to be one’s emissary. The most frequent subject of this verb is God. However, He is not to be questioned or “commanded” to explain the work of His hands (Isa. 45:11). He tells Israel that His “commands” are unique, requiring an inner commitment and not just external obedience, as the commands of men do (Gen. 29:13). His “ordering” is given to Moses from above the mercy seat (Exod. 25:22) and from His “commands” at Sinai (Lev. 7:38; cf. 17:1ff.). At other times when He “commands,” the thing simply occurs; His word is active and powerful (Ps. 33:9). He also issues “orders” through and to the prophets (Jer. 27:4) who explain, apply, and speak His “commands” (Jer. 1:17). (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words) Tsavah - 474 verses - appoint(1), appointed(4), appoints(1), charge(5), charged(17), charging(1), command(56), commanded(332), commander(1), commanding(18), commands(6), commission(3), commissioned(4), commit(1), gave a command(1), gave them a charge(1), gave command(2), gave commandment(2), gave orders(2), give his charge(1), give you in commandment(1), give you charge(1), give orders(3), given(1), given a command(1), given it an order(1), given command(1), given commandment(1), giving(1), instructed(1), issued a command(2), laid(1), laid down(1), ordained(4), order(4), ordered(5), put(1), sent(1), set his in order(1), set your in order(2). Gen. 2:16; Gen. 3:11; Gen. 3:17; Gen. 6:22; Gen. 7:5; Gen. 7:9; Gen. 7:16; Gen. 12:20; Gen. 18:19; Gen. 21:4; Gen. 26:11; Gen. 27:8; Gen. 28:1; Gen. 28:6; Gen. 32:4; Gen. 32:17; Gen. 32:19; Gen. 42:25; Gen. 44:1; Gen. 45:19; Gen. 47:11; Gen. 49:29; Gen. 49:33; Gen. 50:2; Gen. 50:12; Gen. 50:16; Exod. 1:22; Exod. 4:28; Exod. 5:6; Exod. 6:13; Exod. 7:2; Exod. 7:6; Exod. 7:10; Exod. 7:20; Exod. 12:28; Exod. 12:50; Exod. 16:16; Exod. 16:24; Exod. 16:32; Exod. 16:34; Exod. 18:23; Exod. 19:7; Exod. 23:15; Exod. 25:22; Exod. 27:20; Exod. 29:35; Exod. 31:6; Exod. 31:11; Exod. 32:8; Exod. 34:4; Exod. 34:11; Exod. 34:18; Exod. 34:32; Exod. 34:34; Exod. 35:1; Exod. 35:4; Exod. 35:10; Exod. 35:29; Exod. 36:1; Exod. 36:5; Exod. 36:6; Exod. 38:22; Exod. 39:1; Exod. 39:5; Exod. 39:7; Exod. 39:21; Exod. 39:26; Exod. 39:29; Exod. 39:31; Exod. 39:32; Exod. 39:42; Exod. 39:43; Exod. 40:16; Exod. 40:19; Exod. 40:21; Exod. 40:23; Exod. 40:25; Exod. 40:27; Exod. 40:29; Exod. 40:32; Lev. 6:9; Lev. 7:36; Lev. 7:38; Lev. 8:4; Lev. 8:5; Lev. 8:9; Lev. 8:13; Lev. 8:17; Lev. 8:21; Lev. 8:29; Lev. 8:31; Lev. 8:34; Lev. 8:35; Lev. 8:36; Lev. 9:5; Lev. 9:6; Lev. 9:7; Lev. 9:10; Lev. 9:21; Lev. 10:1; Lev. 10:13; Lev. 10:15; Lev. 10:18; Lev. 13:54; Lev. 14:4; Lev. 14:5; Lev. 14:36; Lev. 14:40; Lev. 16:34; Lev. 17:2; Lev. 24:2; Lev. 24:23; Lev. 25:21; Lev. 27:34; Num. 1:19; Num. 1:54; Num. 2:33; Num. 2:34; Num. 3:16; Num. 3:42; Num. 3:51; Num. 4:49; Num. 5:2; Num. 8:3; Num. 8:20; Num. 8:22; Num. 9:5; Num. 9:8; Num. 15:23; Num. 15:36; Num. 17:11; Num. 19:2; Num. 20:9; Num. 20:27; Num. 26:4; Num. 27:11; Num. 27:19; Num. 27:22; Num. 27:23; Num. 28:2; Num. 29:40; Num. 30:1; Num. 30:16; Num. 31:7; Num. 31:21; Num. 31:31; Num. 31:41; Num. 31:47; Num. 32:25; Num. 32:28; Num. 34:2; Num. 34:13; Num. 34:29; Num. 35:2; Num. 36:2; Num. 36:5; Num. 36:6; Num. 36:10; Num. 36:13; Deut. 1:3; Deut. 1:16; Deut. 1:18; Deut. 1:19; Deut. 1:41; Deut. 2:4; Deut. 2:37; Deut. 3:18; Deut. 3:21; Deut. 3:28; Deut. 4:2; Deut. 4:5; Deut. 4:13; Deut. 4:14; Deut. 4:23; Deut. 4:40; Deut. 5:12; Deut. 5:15; Deut. 5:16; Deut. 5:32; Deut. 5:33; Deut. 6:1; Deut. 6:2; Deut. 6:6; Deut. 6:17; Deut. 6:20; Deut. 6:24; Deut. 6:25; Deut. 7:11; Deut. 8:1; Deut. 8:11; Deut. 9:12; Deut. 9:16; Deut. 10:5; Deut. 10:13; Deut. 11:8; Deut. 11:13; Deut. 11:22; Deut. 11:27; Deut. 11:28; Deut. 12:11; Deut. 12:14; Deut. 12:21; Deut. 12:28; Deut. 12:32; Deut. 13:5; Deut. 13:18; Deut. 15:5; Deut. 15:11; Deut. 15:15; Deut. 17:3; Deut. 18:18; Deut. 18:20; Deut. 19:7; Deut. 19:9; Deut. 20:17; Deut. 24:8; Deut. 24:18; Deut. 24:22; Deut. 26:13; Deut. 26:14; Deut. 26:16; Deut. 27:1; Deut. 27:4; Deut. 27:10; Deut. 27:11; Deut. 28:1; Deut. 28:8; Deut. 28:13; Deut. 28:14; Deut. 28:15; Deut. 28:45; Deut. 29:1; Deut. 30:2; Deut. 30:8; Deut. 30:11; Deut. 30:16; Deut. 31:5; Deut. 31:10; Deut. 31:14; Deut. 31:23; Deut. 31:25; Deut. 31:29; Deut. 32:46; Deut. 33:4; Deut. 34:9; Jos. 1:7; Jos. 1:9; Jos. 1:10; Jos. 1:11; Jos. 1:13; Jos. 1:16; Jos. 1:18; Jos. 3:3; Jos. 3:8; Jos. 4:3; Jos. 4:8; Jos. 4:10; Jos. 4:16; Jos. 4:17; Jos. 6:10; Jos. 7:11; Jos. 8:4; Jos. 8:8; Jos. 8:27; Jos. 8:29; Jos. 8:31; Jos. 8:33; Jos. 8:35; Jos. 9:24; Jos. 10:27; Jos. 10:40; Jos. 11:12; Jos. 11:15; Jos. 11:20; Jos. 13:6; Jos. 14:2; Jos. 14:5; Jos. 17:4; Jos. 18:8; Jos. 21:2; Jos. 21:8; Jos. 22:2; Jos. 22:5; Jos. 23:16; Jdg. 2:20; Jdg. 3:4; Jdg. 4:6; Jdg. 13:14; Jdg. 21:10; Jdg. 21:20; Ruth 2:9; Ruth 2:15; Ruth 3:6; 1 Sam. 2:29; 1 Sam. 13:13; 1 Sam. 13:14; 1 Sam. 17:20; 1 Sam. 18:22; 1 Sam. 20:29; 1 Sam. 21:2; 1 Sam. 25:30; 2 Sam. 4:12; 2 Sam. 5:25; 2 Sam. 6:21; 2 Sam. 7:7; 2 Sam. 7:11; 2 Sam. 9:11; 2 Sam. 11:19; 2 Sam. 13:28; 2 Sam. 13:29; 2 Sam. 14:8; 2 Sam. 14:19; 2 Sam. 17:14; 2 Sam. 17:23; 2 Sam. 18:5; 2 Sam. 18:12; 2 Sam. 21:14; 2 Sam. 24:19; 1 Ki. 1:35; 1 Ki. 2:1; 1 Ki. 2:43; 1 Ki. 2:46; 1 Ki. 5:6; 1 Ki. 5:17; 1 Ki. 8:58; 1 Ki. 9:4; 1 Ki. 11:10; 1 Ki. 11:11; 1 Ki. 11:38; 1 Ki. 13:9; 1 Ki. 13:21; 1 Ki. 15:5; 1 Ki. 17:4; 1 Ki. 17:9; 1 Ki. 22:31; 2 Ki. 11:5; 2 Ki. 11:9; 2 Ki. 11:15; 2 Ki. 14:6; 2 Ki. 16:15; 2 Ki. 16:16; 2 Ki. 17:13; 2 Ki. 17:15; 2 Ki. 17:27; 2 Ki. 17:34; 2 Ki. 17:35; 2 Ki. 18:6; 2 Ki. 18:12; 2 Ki. 20:1; 2 Ki. 21:8; 2 Ki. 22:12; 2 Ki. 23:4; 2 Ki. 23:21; 1 Chr. 6:49; 1 Chr. 14:16; 1 Chr. 15:15; 1 Chr. 16:15; 1 Chr. 16:40; 1 Chr. 17:6; 1 Chr. 17:10; 1 Chr. 22:6; 1 Chr. 22:12; 1 Chr. 22:13; 1 Chr. 22:17; 1 Chr. 24:19; 2 Chr. 7:13; 2 Chr. 7:17; 2 Chr. 18:30; 2 Chr. 19:9; 2 Chr. 23:8; 2 Chr. 25:4; 2 Chr. 33:8; 2 Chr. 34:20; Ezr. 4:3; Ezr. 9:11; Neh. 1:7; Neh. 1:8; Neh. 5:14; Neh. 7:2; Neh. 8:1; Neh. 8:14; Neh. 9:14; Est. 2:10; Est. 2:20; Est. 3:2; Est. 3:12; Est. 4:5; Est. 4:8; Est. 4:10; Est. 4:17; Est. 8:9; Job 36:32; Job 37:12; Job 38:12; Ps. 7:6; Ps. 33:9; Ps. 42:8; Ps. 44:4; Ps. 68:28; Ps. 71:3; Ps. 78:5; Ps. 78:23; Ps. 91:11; Ps. 105:8; Ps. 111:9; Ps. 119:4; Ps. 119:138; Ps. 133:3; Ps. 148:5; Isa. 5:6; Isa. 10:6; Isa. 13:3; Isa. 23:11; Isa. 34:16; Isa. 38:1; Isa. 45:11; Isa. 45:12; Isa. 48:5; Isa. 55:4; Jer. 1:7; Jer. 1:17; Jer. 7:22; Jer. 7:23; Jer. 7:31; Jer. 11:4; Jer. 11:8; Jer. 13:5; Jer. 13:6; Jer. 14:14; Jer. 17:22; Jer. 19:5; Jer. 23:32; Jer. 26:2; Jer. 26:8; Jer. 27:4; Jer. 29:23; Jer. 32:13; Jer. 32:23; Jer. 32:35; Jer. 34:22; Jer. 35:6; Jer. 35:8; Jer. 35:10; Jer. 35:14; Jer. 35:16; Jer. 35:18; Jer. 36:5; Jer. 36:8; Jer. 36:26; Jer. 37:21; Jer. 38:10; Jer. 38:27; Jer. 39:11; Jer. 47:7; Jer. 50:21; Jer. 51:59; Lam. 1:10; Lam. 1:17; Lam. 2:17; Lam. 3:37; Ezek. 9:11; Ezek. 10:6; Ezek. 12:7; Ezek. 24:18; Ezek. 37:7; Ezek. 37:10; Amos 2:12; Amos 6:11; Amos 9:3; Amos 9:4; Amos 9:9; Nah. 1:14; Zech. 1:6; Mal. 4:4 ISRAEL THE HEAD OF ALL THE EARTH'S NATIONS The LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth - Note there is no "Amen" for in these blessings as there was for the previous 12 curses. This begins a series of blessings which prophesy what God promises to accomplish for an obedient people. The blessing is preeminence as the foremost nation in the world. Earlier Moses had declared that Yahweh would set Israel "high above all nations which He has made, for praise, fame, and honor; and that you shall be a consecrated people to the LORD your God, as He has spoken.” (Dt 26:19+) The purpose of the elevation is revelation The purpose of Israel high above all the nations of the earth was not for their glory but for the glory of the LORD, for in this position they would be “a light to the Gentiles” (Isa 49:6KJV, see Dt 28:10+). Paul quoted Isa 49:6KJV in Acts 13:47+ on his first missionary journey among the Gentiles, his quote showing that he clearly understood God's intention for the Jewish nation was to be a light to the Gentiles, a mission in which they failed but was ultimately fulfilled by Israel's Messiah, the Light of the world (Jn 1:9+, Jn 8:12) Instead of quoting his own commission to the Gentiles given to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:15-16+), he chose to quote God's commission for all Israel as found in the Old Testament. Israel's mission had always been to bring the Gentile nations to God (cf Isa 42:6KJV). THOUGHT - And beloved to be lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation (Php 2:15+, cf Mt 5:14-16+) is also our mission, but it is even broader for us because we are to take the Gospel "to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Ro 1:16+) How are you doing with your mission (cf 2 Cor 5:18-20+) ? Is it an omission? Do not miss your mission for it is the opportunity of a lifetime (Eph 5:16+, see Redeem the Time for a little musical motivation watch the clock on this video "Redeem the Time"). Utley on “God will set you high above all the nations of the earth” - The purpose of the elevation is revelation (cf. Dt 26:19; Dt 28:13)! God wants to draw the world to Himself through Israel (cf. Ge 12:3; Dt 22:18; Ex 19:5–6). Believer's Study Bible - Typical of ancient Near Eastern covenant documents, Deuteronomy contains in this chapter blessings (vv. 1-14) and curses (vv. 15-68) promised on the basis of Israel's response of obedience. This is one of the most important chapters in the O.T., furnishing the basis on which the prophets preached repentance to later generations of Israel (e.g., Amos 4:6-13). As testified by the arguments of Job's friends, however (cf. Job 8:3-7, 20-22; 11:13-20; 15:20-35), the corporate and national focus of these promises was often missed, even in biblical times. The blessings and curses came to be removed from their covenant context and were applied contractually to individuals, so that wealth was regarded as symptomatic of righteousness, and suffering as consequential of sin. Jesus flatly declared this to be false (John 9:3; cf. Matt. 19:23-25). Although immeasurable blessings of every kind were (and are) promised to men and women of faith, receipt of material blessings was not necessarily assured in this life (unless they were specifically promised to an individual, as they were to Abraham). Material as well as spiritual blessings in this life were being promised in Deut. 28 only to the righteous nation of Israel. Paul speaks of believers raised in a different even better way in Ephesians 2:5-7 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. QUESTION - What are the blessings God promised Israel for obedience? ANSWER - God promised many blessings to Israel in the book of Deuteronomy if they would obey His commands. Many important blessings are listed together in Deuteronomy 28:1–14. They include the following: 1. Prominence above other nations: “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth” (Deuteronomy 28:1). 2. Successful cities and farming: “You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country” (Deuteronomy 28:3). 3. Blessings of children, food, and livestock: “The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks” (Deuteronomy 28:4). 4. Protection and power against enemies: “The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven” (Deuteronomy 28:7). 5. Bountiful harvest of food: “The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you” (Deuteronomy 28:8). 6. Set apart as God’s holy people: “The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him” (Deuteronomy 28:9). 7. Feared by other nations: “Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you” (Deuteronomy 28:10). 8. Prosperity regarding family, food, and farm livestock: “The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you” (Deuteronomy 28:11). 9. Appropriate rain and favorable blessing upon their work, including freedom from debt: “The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none” (Deuteronomy 28:12). 10. Leadership among other people and nations: “The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom” (Deuteronomy 28:13). In the original Hebrew of this passage, the blessings are arranged in a chiastic pattern with many of the themes repeating. The concepts of prosperity, success, and God’s favor predominate as themes of God’s people living in the Promised Land. These blessings were conditional, as are the curses in the next set of verses. | GotQuestions.org Deuteronomy 28:2 "All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the LORD your God: come De 28:15,45 Zec 1:6 1Ti 4:8 Deuteronomy 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries BLESSINGS WILL OVERTAKE ISRAEL What a description of such great potential promised to the nation of Israel -- come upon and overtake -- not just that Israel would receive these prophetic blessings but the blessings would in a sense be pursuing Israel and would overtake her if she proved obedient to Jehovah's laws and commands. Israel was "overtaken" but sadly it predominantly by the curses than by the blessings for she repeatedly proved herself to be an unfaithful wife of Jehovah, continually "a-whoring" (playing the harlot) after other "lovers," (idols, including the Baal's, which is fascinating as "Baal" means husband, owner, master!) All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey (shama) the LORD your God - IF (If in Dt 28:1, 2, 9, 13, 15, 58) you obey is the condition to be met in order to receive the divine blessings. Blessings in the Septuagint is eulogia. Note the word overtake is used again in this chapter for the good (blessings Dt 28:15+) and the bad (curses would overtake them! - Dt 28:45+) This is the same verb used in Dt 19:6+ "otherwise the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in the heat of his anger, and overtake him, because the way is long." This gives you a sense of the "force" with which the divine blessings will overtake those who are obedient. The Greek for overtake is heurisko which means to come upon or find. The fascinating picture presented by use of the verbs come upon (pursue) and overtake is that Israel would not be able to escape the blessings of Yahweh. The point is that when they obey, they are absolutely guaranteed of being blessed. THOUGHT - As an aside, the principle that was true of Israel is also true in our life today as believers. While we may not always be experientially aware of God's blessing, we can be sure that His blessing will overtake us when we obey Him! May our Father grant each of us to be (aorist imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) holy in ALL our behavior, for it is written "You shall be holy for I am holy." In Jesus' Name. Amen. (1 Peter 1:15-16+) Scofield on IF - What under law was conditional is, under grace, freely given to every believer. The "if " is the essence of law as a method of divine dealing, and the fundamental reason why "the law made nothing perfect" (Heb 7:18-19; cp. Ro 8:3). To Abraham the promise preceded the requirement; at Sinai the requirement preceded the promise. In the New Covenant the Abrahamic order is followed (see Heb 8:8-12). Blessings (01293)(berakah from barak) is a feminine noun referring to something that brings prosperity and life. It is either the verbal enduement with good things or a collective expression for the good things themselves. It designates the good favor bestowed on someone as by giving a gift (Ge 33:11, 1 Sa 25:27) or by giving words of blessing (Ge 27:36, 49:28), which were a verbal picture of tangible blessing. Berakah most often describes divine favor bestowed on the righteous (Ge 12:2, Mal 3:10). It denotes words of blessing from a parent (Gen. 27:12, 41), from Moses (Deut. 33:1), from God (Deut. 11:26, 27, 29; Josh. 8:34; 2 Sam. 7:29), from the people (Prov. 11:26; 24:25), and from a poor person (Job 29:13). The 1828 Webster's Dictionary says BLESSING is "Any means of happiness; a gift, benefit or advantage; that which promotes temporal prosperity and welfare, or secures immortal felicity." Overtake (05381)(nasaq) means to overtake (Ge 14:9 Egyptians "overtook them camping by the sea.", cf Ge 15:9), to reach (Ge 31:24 "Laban caught up with Jacob"), to get. It often means to overtake, to catch up to someone (Ge 31:25; 44:4, 6; Ex. 14:9; 15:9; Nu 6:21). It is used figuratively of age, of years attaining a certain level (Gen. 47:9); or of joy and rejoicing arriving, becoming a reality (Isa. 35:10). It means to afford, to have at one’s hand, the ability, to have sufficient (Lev. 5:11; 14:21); or to obtain, come into possession of property (Lev. 25:47). Vine - nasag (נָשַׂג, 5381), “to reach, overtake, attain.” First use is Ge 31:25: “Then Laban overtook Jacob.” Often it is used in connection with the verb, “to pursue, follow,” as in Ge 44:4: “follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them.…” Nasag is sometimes used in the figurative sense to describe “being overtaken” by something undesirable or unwanted, such as war (Hos. 10:9), the sword (Jer. 42:16), or curses (Deut. 28:15, 45). Fortunately, blessings may “overtake” those who are obedient (Deut. 28:2). Nasag may mean “to attain to” something, “to come into contact” with it: “The sword of him that layeth at him [Leviathan] …” (Job 41:26). Used figuratively, “The ransomed of the Lord … shall obtain joy and gladness …” (Isa. 35:10). Jacob complained: “… the days of the years of my pilgrimage … have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers …” (Gen. 47:9). Currid on overtake - This verb is often used of someone pursuing his object: its use here involves a personification of the blessings. They will pursue and track down the obedient! (EPSC-Deuteronomy) Nasaq - 47v - able*(1), afford*(2), attained(1), becomes sufficient(1), caught(1), find(1), insufficient(2), last until(2), limited(1), means*(1), obtain(1), overtake(17), overtaken(2), overtakes(1), overtook(6), prospers(1), put(1), reach(1), reaches(1), recovers(1), remove(1), surely overtake(1), within(2). Gen. 31:25; Gen. 44:4; Gen. 44:6; Gen. 47:9; Exod. 14:9; Exod. 15:9; Lev. 5:11; Lev. 14:21; Lev. 14:22; Lev. 14:30; Lev. 14:31; Lev. 14:32; Lev. 25:26; Lev. 25:47; Lev. 25:49; Lev. 26:5; Lev. 27:8; Num. 6:21; Deut. 19:6; Deut. 28:2; Deut. 28:15; Deut. 28:45; Jos. 2:5; 1 Sam. 14:26; 1 Sam. 30:8; 2 Sam. 15:14; 2 Ki. 25:5; 1 Chr. 21:12; Job 24:2; Job 27:20; Job 41:26; Ps. 7:5; Ps. 18:37; Ps. 40:12; Ps. 69:24; Prov. 2:19; Isa. 35:10; Isa. 51:11; Isa. 59:9; Jer. 39:5; Jer. 42:16; Jer. 52:8; Lam. 1:3; Ezek. 46:7; Hos. 2:7; Hos. 10:9; Zech. 1:6 Raymond Brown has some interesting, pithy introductory comments on this section - The initial list of blessings and curses is deliberately presented as ten stark alternatives. The couplets aid the memory process but they also heighten the importance of choice: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country … You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country (28:3, 16). Do the people want the abundant blessing of God upon their life, urban and rural, physical and material, herds and flocks, basket and kneading trough, returning home and going away—or do they deliberately wish to choose the reverse? The Lord knew that, however attractive the ‘blessings’ might be, his people would, like ourselves, learn more through adversity than in prosperity. Dietrich Bonhoeffer proved that in a Nazi prison. In a letter to a friend he confesses to something which finds an echo in the experience of most of us: ‘When all’s said and done, it is true that it needs trouble to drive us to prayer, though every time I feel it is something to be ashamed of.’ Affliction is a persuasive teacher and its lessons are not easily forgotten. Instead of drawing us close to God, life’s prosperous circumstances can lead to spiritual apathy and indifference. This book has already issued that warning: ‘… when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD’ (Dt 6:11–12). For this reason, it is the curses which dominate the list. It is not that God is vindictive; the curses are merciful warnings. ‘If you persist in doing that, then these consequences will inevitably follow.’ The long list reads like a prolonged agonizing dirge but it is not simply a catalogue of grim catastrophe. As a good warning device it serves a distinctive educational purpose—‘Don’t let this happen to you’. The solemn theme of divine judgment is presented with four facets. (See The Message of Deuteronomy) Deuteronomy 28:3 "Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. in the city: Ps 107:36-37 128:1-5 144:12-15 Isa 65:21-23 Zec 8:3-5 in the country: Ge 26:12 39:5 Am 9:13,14 Hag 2:19 Mal 3:10,11 Deuteronomy 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries "OMNIPRESENT" BLESSING Omnipresent means everywhere and simultaneously. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country - The locations city and country are used as metaphors signifying EVERYWHERE Israel would live! It could also refer to God's blessing on their homes and their farms."Both the merchant in the city and the farmer in the country would be blessed." (Deere Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament - Page 311) Blessed is barak (Lxx = eulogeo) used in Dt 28:3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12.