January 28, 2014 - Tuesday

Start Time: 5:18 A.M.

End Time: 6”12 A.M.

Title: The Altar on Mount Ebal

Scripture: Deuteronomy 27:1 – 26

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all these commands that I give you today. When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster. Build there an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on them. Build the altar of the Lord your God with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God; Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the Lord your God. And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones you have set up.”

NOTES:

Ø God is a God who wants us rejoicing in His presence and keeping His words with us at all times!  The people of Israel were commanded to keep the commandments and write them so they won’t forget.  We are to do the same.  That’s why having a journal is important as it will help us remember the Lord’s words for us.  God wants His people rejoicing in His presence so when we meet with God, there should always be rejoicing.  When your mood is not good, come to God for in His presence there’s rejoicing.  When you are not feeling great, just come to God, because in His presence there is rejoicing!  Hallelujah!  Thank You Lord for Your presence!

→Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God. Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.”  On the same day Moses commanded the people: When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.

NOTES:

Ø God’s people obey Him!  God’s people follow Him.  It is a fact or the truth not a condition.  You are who you follow and if we are God’s people, we need to follow Him.  But people today are twisting it by thinking that to be part of God’s people, there’s a condition, we need to first obey.  But the truth is, when we become God’s people, it will be a natural behavior for us to follow Him.  And not the other way around.  We don’t obey so we become God’s people, we are God’s people that’s why we obey!

Ø God gives His people the power to bless and curse others!  Before they crossed the river Jordan, each tribe was tasked to bless the people on Mount Gerizim while the other tribes were to curse others on Mount Ebal.  Note that the law or God’s words were written and set up on stones on Mount Ebal and this is where the curses must be pronounced.  Because the law strengthens sins and judgment.  Mount Gerizim on the other hand is sacred to the Samaritans; the Samaritans regard it as the chosen place of the Lord for them.  This is a Holy place for the gentile (Samaritans – those who are not bound of the law)!  So to be bless, we need to be on Mount Gerizim where the blessings are pronounced – meaning we are not to bound ourselves in the law but live under grace!

→The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice: “Cursed is anyone who makes an idol—a thing detestable to the Lord, the work of skilled hands—and sets it up in secret.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” “Cursed is anyone who dishonors their father or mother.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” “Cursed is anyone who moves their neighbor’s boundary stone.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” “Cursed is anyone who leads the blind astray on the road.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” “Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he dishonors his father’s bed.”Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” “Cursed is anyone who has sexual relations with any animal.”Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.”Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his mother-in-law.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” “Cursed is anyone who kills their neighbor secretly.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” “Cursed is anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” “Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

NOTES:

Ø God is a God whose curses are for those who do not love Him and His people!  All curses in the passage above pertain to lack of love to others and to God.  Every curse has something to do with God and men, mostly men – how we deal with others and how we violate them.  But number one in all these is to set God as our number 1 and only God, the rest is how we deal with our fellow brothers and sisters – which sums up to the 2 greatest commandments that Jesus said in the New Testament!  Love God with all your heart, soul, body, strength, and mind and Love your neighbors as yourself.

Application / Realization:

Ø God wants us to keep His laws but He wants us more in His presence because in Him there’s rejoicing!  He wants to set the law on one mountain where curses are pronounced, while on the other mountain is where His chosen Holy Temple is located - where He dwells and blessings overflows.  So the question now lies in us!  Where do we want to reside?  On Mount Ebal, where the law is set and curses are released?  Or do we want to be on Mount Gerizim, where God’s Holy Place is set and His presence stays and rejoicing happens?  The choice is ours. 

Ø As God’his people, our natural behavior is to obey but obedience is never a conditioni to become God’s people.  Because everything runs thru His Grace without it, we are cursed, we are judged, we are dead!

Ø God extends the power to curse and bless to us.  We must use it wisely and release the curses and blessings on the right mountain.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus thank You for You are a God who wants to stay with us and in Your presence there is rejoicing!  There is joy that lasts forever!  Thank You God, Thank You Father, Thank You Jesus!  Lord thank You for letting me understand that obedience is not a condition but a natural behavior after being chosen by You and being part of Your family.  Lord help me to realize that I must dwell in Your presence to be blessed and to remember that clinging on to the law, releases curses.  Help me to choose the right mountain to stand on every day!  Let me see that in Your presence, in Your Holy temple, this is where I want to be.  And there may be times that I may be confused and is walking towards Mount Ebal in my life, and becoming judgmental or law-bounded, awaken me Lord in the reality and release me from the holds of the law and let me live in the abundance of Your Grace and presence on Mount Gerizim.  Thank You Holy Spirit!  Thank You Jesus!  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!