Many modern preachers promise their congregations that obedience will lead to health and wealth. Today, we will read one of the passages of Scripture that appear to make that promise. However, the promises in the passage we will read today were given to Old Testament Israel. They were not given to Christians in the church age. Thus, we should not use today’s passage to proclaim a prosperity gospel.
The events recorded in Deuteronomy took place while Israel was camped on the east side of the Jordan River, just across the river from Jericho. This was at the end of their forty years of wandering in the wilderness.
In the passage we read yesterday, Moses told Israel that after they crossed the Jordan River, six of the tribes were to stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people of Israel while the other six were to stand on Mount Ebal to curse the people. Those mountains were only about 35 miles / 60 km away as the crow flies. Then Moses began listing the curses that were to be spoken. The curses give us insight into what Yahweh hates.
Deut. 27:19 ¶ ‘Cursed is he who perverts the justice due a sojourner, orphan, and widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Deut. 27:20 ¶ ‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife because he has uncovered his father’s skirt.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Deut. 27:21 ¶ ‘Cursed is he who lies with any animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Deut. 27:22 ¶ ‘Cursed is he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Deut. 27:23 ¶ ‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Deut. 27:24 ¶ ‘Cursed is he who strikes his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Deut. 27:25 ¶ ‘Cursed is he who takes a bribe to strike down innocent blood.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
All of the actions listed in verses 19-25 were prohibited under the Mosaic Law. We see similar priorities in the New Testament. James declared that visiting widows and orphans is pure and undefiled religion (see James 1:27). Sexual purity is demanded by multiple verses (see 1 Corinthians 6:18, Galatians 5:19, and Ephesians 5:3). James also wrote against favoritism (see James 2).
Deut. 27:26 ¶ ‘Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Look at the words “confirm” and “doing”. Actions speak louder than words. It was not enough to simply say they followed Yahweh. Their actions had to prove it.
Deut. 28:1 ¶ “Now it will be, if you diligently listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I am commanding you today, Yahweh your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.
Notice the word “if”. This was a conditional promise.
Take note of the words “high above all nations”. The conditional promise was that if Israel obeyed Yahweh, then they would be above all nations. In other words, they would flourish and prosper.
That promise was given to Israel. It does not apply to Christians in the church age.
There are many modern preachers who preach a prosperity gospel. They insist that if Christians do the right thing, then they will be wealthy and healthy. Sometimes the “right thing” involves donating a lot of money to the church so that the preacher of the prosperity gospel can become wealthy. As I said, this promise was given to Israel. It does not apply to Christians. This verse should not be used to preach a health and wealth prosperity gospel.
In fact, the New Testament promises us that obeying Christ will lead to persecution. Paul stated that very bluntly in 2 Timothy 3:12. Peter wrote about persevering while suffering unjustly (see 1 Peter 2:19-21). Jesus warned us that the world will hate us (see John 15:18-20).
Deut. 28:2 And all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you listen to the voice of Yahweh your God:
Once again we see the word “if”. If Israel had listened to Yahweh and obeyed Him, then their existence would have been wonderful.
Deut. 28:3 ¶ “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.
Deut. 28:4 ¶ “Blessed shall be the offspring of your body and the produce of your ground and the offspring of your beasts, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock.
Deut. 28:5 ¶ “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.
Verses 3-5 promised Israel that obedience would give them financial prosperity.
Deut. 28:6 ¶ “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
Deut. 28:7 ¶ “Yahweh shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they will come out against you one way and will flee before you seven ways.
Verses 6-7 guaranteed Israel victory over their enemies if they obeyed Yahweh.
Deut. 28:8 Yahweh will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you send forth your hand to do, and He will bless you in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
Deut. 28:9 Yahweh will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of Yahweh your God and walk in His ways.
Once again we see the word “if”. The blessings would only come if Israel obeyed Yahweh.
Deut. 28:10 So all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of Yahweh, and they will be afraid of you.
Deut. 28:11 And Yahweh will make you abound in prosperity, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your beast and in the produce of your ground, in the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers to give you.
Deut. 28:12 Yahweh will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.
Deut. 28:13 And Yahweh will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of Yahweh your God, which I am commanding you today, to keep and to do,
Deut. 28:14 and do not turn aside from any of the words which I am commanding you today, to the right or to the left, to walk after other gods to serve them.
Unfortunately, Israel did not follow Yahweh and enjoy this prosperity. The books of Joshua and Judges list many times when Israel failed to do what Yahweh told them to do. Thus, there were times they were oppressed by neighboring countries. During the days of David and Solomon, Israel was the head. It was the dominant country. However, many of the kings who followed Solomon were not loyal to Yahweh. Thus, Israel and Judah declined until they were captured and exiled by Assyria and Babylon.
Yahweh has always demanded obedience. Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden because they disobeyed Yahweh, not because their theology was wrong. Israel had the opportunity to have unlimited prosperity. All they had to do was obey. Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God, and He defined love of God as obeying God. First and foremost, Yahweh wants obedience. Obedience is more important than singing, attending church, reading the Bible, or praying.
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”