Blessings of the Covenant

Rev. Jeffrey Ries, pastor at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tacoma, WA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Deuteronomy 28:1-14.

Moses begins to lay out the blessings that Israel will experience if they keep the LORD’s commandments. The LORD’s blessing will touch absolutely every aspect of Israel’s life in the Promised Land. No matter where they are or what they are doing, Israel will receive the LORD’s blessing if they keep His Word. The history of Israel shows the ways that the LORD blessed His people in these ways, though their eventual unfaithfulness led the LORD to bring about His curses against them as well. Christ is the One who has kept God’s Law perfectly so that by faith in Him, we receive the blessing of God, not simply temporally, but especially eternally in the resurrection when Jesus returns.

“The Law of God is Good and Wise” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Deuteronomy. Though Moses’ lengthy sermons in Deuteronomy may be tempting to skip, this influential book is essential reading for Christians. As Moses strengthened Israel on the plains of Moab before the people entered the Promised Land, so the book of Deuteronomy still strengthens the Church as we prepare to enter the Resurrection with Christ, the Prophet greater than Moses.