Scripture:
Deuteronomy 27:1-8 ESV
[1] Now Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep the whole commandment that I command you today. [2] And on the day you cross over the Jordan to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones and plaster them with plaster. [3] And you shall write on them all the words of this law, when you cross over to enter the land that the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you. [4] And when you have crossed over the Jordan, you shall set up these stones, concerning which I command you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with plaster. [5] And there you shall build an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. You shall wield no iron tool on them; [6] you shall build an altar to the Lord your God of uncut stones. And you shall offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God, [7] and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and shall eat there, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God. [8] And you shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.”
Observation:
I started reading the Bible years ago. It was tough to understand. Reading the Old Testament without knowing that the book had a continuous thread from the beginning to the end made me think that if I stepped out of line, even just a little bit. GOD would strike me down. But once the Holy Spirit pointed out to me that from the beginning to the end Jesus was all through the book it changed the way I looked at it. I have been blessed to have read the Bible from front to back many times now, and every time I do I just see more and more of Jesus. A great example of this is right here in Deuteronomy chapter 27. I know it doesn’t just outright say that it’s talking about Jesus, but I’m telling you it is, and that’s why we are called to study HIS word to show ourselves approved unto HIM. A worker with no need to be ashamed. So let’s look at what is being said here in the deeper scope of things. Moses and the elders of Israel had commanded that the people do what had been said. Now that’s easy enough to understand. But then they start talking about carrying heavy rocks across a river that is pushing its banks back due to flooding that had been taking place. That sounds like a real heavy burden. If I were to tell the truth, and I believe that’s my job. It honestly sounds impossible. But when they get across this impossible river with these heavy stones the work had only begun. However, if they never get access, then the land that had been promised was all just words. As they do as they were told, a very specific set of instructions was given to them once they are on the other side. You are to build an altar with these heavy stones. Don’t shape them just write the words of the law on them and mortar them together. Creating a place for sacrifice. An altar, a place to remember what the LORD had done. Now, are you following me here? GOD is bringing HIS people into a land flowing with milk and honey, but first and foremost they are told to build an altar with the law written on it out of unshaped stones, and sacrifice a peace offering on it. So let me unfold this for us. The heavy burden of the law was made into an altar and a sacrifice was placed on it. Does that not sound like a picture of Jesus Christ? This altar was to be plastered together, made out of stones that were not worked by human hands. The only thing that made did was mount up a heavy burden, That sacrifice took care of. The law was to be written plainly. It was to be seen. The heavy burden was to stay there. The book of Deuteronomy. Is the last book that was written by Moses. The last book written about his leadership of Israel. Crossing over the Jordan was left to Joshua, so in a sense even in this, there was a statement made. Moses was the one GOD had given the law to, and he stayed on one side of the Jordan while Joshua took the Israelites to the other side, to build an altar with the law written on it clearly and place a sacrifice on it. I’m hoping to open our eyes. I’m hoping that what is truly being said in the Bible is being brought to light, and honestly its all wrapped up in one verse that will tie all this together. A verse that holds the entire gospel in just a few words. A verse that is known by millions of people around the world. John chapter 3 and verse 16. You could probably repeat it without thinking. I want to tell you it’s the picture that is being painted here in Deuteronomy chapter 27. I’m going to say it in a way that we can see how it all ties together, if you will allow me that liberty. GOD loved us so much that HE sacrificed HIS only son on the altar of a burden that we were never meant to carry. So that we could enter into the promised land and leave that burden behind.
Application:
We no longer have to carry the burden of being good enough. The truth is we never will be. GOD’S standards are so much higher then we could ever achieve that it just mounted up a burden that we could honestly never really carry to begin with. Once we realize that sacrifice that was made for us it changes our perspective, or at least it did mine. Once I entered into a relationship with GOD through HIS SON Jesus Christ. It gave me a new outlook. HE accepted me just as I was. Broken and beaten down. Seemingly without hope. Trying to do all these things that would never make me good enough anyway. We can never earn our way to GOD. But once I knew that sacrifice that was made. I didn’t want to live the way I used to anymore. A life of failed attempts. Sacrificing on altars that were never meant to be built. The one and only sacrifice had already taken place. The law’s requirements were fulfilled, and the sanctification process could begin. The law was never meant to be a means of salvation. It was an impossible burden meant to show us how sinful we really are. The only answer is Jesus. Starting a relationship with HIM changed my life. I want to live a life that pleases my LORD. Once the burden was removed it opened a door for us to be reconciled to GOD. We don’t have to today. That’s the difference. I hope you find that refreshing, but I also hope the price that was paid impacts your life in a way that your desire for sin changes, and you allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you. I want to hear 7 words its my goal in life, honestly its what I live for. The words are simple, but the impact of them determines so much. I know Jesus Christ as my LORD and SAVIOR and I hope that you do as well. If so your goal should be to hear the same words. “Well done my goddess and faithful servant.” After asking Jesus to be the LORD of my life. I became a bondservant. A willing vessel. My desire for sin has changed. Today I want to live a life that makes my SAVIOR smile. Telling others about the freedom that comes along with the victory HE died for. Today for me HE is not only the sacrifice that satisfied the righteous requirements of the law but HE is also my LORD. I want to do what HE says. HE is my LORD. Luke chapter 6 verse 46 through 49 is the cornerstone of my belief. Knowing that Jesus fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law has built a desire in me to do what HE says. As HE continues to sanctify me I want to continue to show the world who HE is through the life that I live.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for all that you have done. You never meant for us to carry a burden. But you had to show us who we were without Jesus so that we could see our desperate need for HIM. Your plan is perfect in every way. The sacrifice you made so that we could… even in our sinful condition be able to have a relationship with you. Thank you for drawing us out of that old life. Without the cross as a bridge we would be stuck on the wrong side of the Jordan. Allowing the flood to intimidate us. But you said leave the burden of the law behind and build a relationship with you, and that is our desire. We want to know you and make you known. As you continue to build in us the character you have always intended for us to be. We pray that our desire to be obedient only increases. Its in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.