And The People All Said AMEN

Deuteronomy 27:11

"And Moses charged the people the same day, saying, These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin: And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice,Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen. Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour’s landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed behe that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.Cursed be he that lieth with his father’s wife; because he uncovereth his father’s skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed behe that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen.Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.

In this passage of Scripture the amazing thing to read is the phrase “And all the people shall say, AMEN!”  Let me lay the scene out for you.  There are two mountains and between these mountains is a valley, the Valley of Schechem.

One the one side of the valley half of the tribes of Israel (don't think Indian tribes it won't help) and on the other, stood the rest.  Very likely the priest stood in the valley with the Ark of the Covenant.  What followed reminds me of the the time I went to Foxboro and Gillette Stadium for opening day on Monday Night Football.  There the tribe of Levi would shout "Cursed be he..." Now imagine that you know what over twenty thousand men shouting must sound like.  I can tell you that 70,000 people are loud.  That is important to understand the impact of the the following.  20,000 yell "cursed be!" and following the pronouncement of consequences of disobedience to these commandments, the Bible tells us that the people said AMEN.  This actually happened and is recounted in Joshua 8:33.  The half on one side and the half on the other, estimated to be over one million people in number responded to the WORD of God with a resounding AMEN!!!  When I was in Foxboro, the very platform we were on was shaking with sound of the crow, imagine what this must have been like...

What is poignant about this story is that so many (I know I often do) want to avoid the consequences of our actions.  We want God to turn the other way and we want to just live as if we don't believe that HE is there.  We want to believe and we do believe that HE cares when you do right, or when you are in trouble, or when your heart is breaking, He is there in these fiery times to be sure... but He also beholds the evil and we should say AMEN.  We should want the Lord to correct us, the Psalmist cries out for the Spirit of God to search him and to reveal to him his sin so that he can make things right.  We should be so honest!
AMEN!

Remember When

Deuteronomy 24:17-22

Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow’s raiment to pledge: But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing. When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands. When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

This passage is facinating, when we read the Old Testament, we are to read it in the Light of the New Testament. In reading this passage we hear the Lord remind Israel time and time again that they are to remember their time in Egypt. When dealing with others it leads me to find mercy for those with whom I disagree, or that have wronged me, or even sinned against me.

We should also be reminded that the Lord is a fair and merciful God and judge.

Matthew 18:21-35 Explains this, read on

"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.  Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.  So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

The Life Principle in these passages to the Believer in Christ is to remember YOUR time in Egypt, remember YOUR time in bondage when you are dealing with others and have mercy.  Remember too that God does notice our actions and attitudes while we sojourn here on earth.

Thank you Lord Jesus!