Deuteronomy chapter 5 all the way to chapter 26, were instructions given to the children of Israel on how the Ten Commandments ought to be applied. Undoubtedly, to God, obedience to the instructions was paramount. Obeying what they were instructed would mark them out as God’s distinct people. This was especially important when they had crossed into the promised land with all the pagan inhabitants. When we come to Deuteronomy 27, we see that the people were all poised to cross into the promised land. As an added measure to remind them of the importance of obeying God’s instructions, the people of Israel were further instructed to build a stone monument to help them recall the instructions.
In
verse 2, Moses, together with the elders of Israel, gave the people the first
assignment they need to do when they crossed the Jordan into the promised land,
the land flowing with milk and honey. They were explicitly ordered to build
large stone monuments well plastered with lime. Then on them, they were told to
inscribe the law, most likely the Ten Commandments. These were to be constant
reminders to them on the need to be obedient to God. These stone monuments were
to be set up on Mount Ebal. We surmise that God knew that in the abundance of
His provision, the people might tend to take things for granted and live life
flippantly.
In
verse 5, they were also instructed to build an altar to the LORD their covenant
God. It was to be an altar made with uncut or chiseled stones. He did not want
an altar made with stones that they had hewn. He desired to have an altar of
natural and unhewn stones and not a fancifully designed one. This instruction
implies that what God desires is pure and unprofane worship. On this altar, the
people were told to offer a burnt offering to atone for their sin. Then they
were also to offer a fellowship sacrifice or peace offering. This was to be a
meal where they would partake, celebrate, and rejoice in the presence of God.
There
is a need for us to view the laws and commandments that God has given in the
right light. The Ten Commandments are God’s moral standards. Living and
adhering to them would help us to nurture a life that will delight the heart of
God. They are guides to help us know and thus live a God-pleasing life. The
intention is not to curtail our liberty. They are certainly not given to enable
us to earn God’s favor and approval. For there is nothing that we can do to
make God loves us more. They are a set of standards to guide us to stay
connected with God. And to keep them requires a response of faith. It must be
an expression of the outflow of our love to a faithful God. With the help of
the Holy Spirit, let us demonstrate our gratitude to God for the grace He has
freely bestowed on us by living out His righteous standards. They are guideposts
to a blessed and fulfilled life!
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