Blessings of Obedience in Deuteronomy and the Law
The book of Deuteronomy, meaning "repetition of the law," extensively details the blessings promised for obedience to God's commands and the curses for disobedience [3]. This foundational principle is presented to the Israelites as they stand on the cusp of entering the promised land, laying out their destiny based on their adherence to God's voice [6]. Moses summarizes his exhortations to obedience by presenting these two outcomes: "a blessing and a curse" [9, 14].
The blessings for obedience are articulated prominently in Deuteronomy 28, where they are listed at length and in specific detail [6, 7]. The text states, "And all these blessings shall come on thee, and ouertake thee, if thou shalt obey the voyce of the Lord thy God" [2]. Similarly, Deuteronomy 11:27 declares, "The blessing, if ye obey the commandements of the Lord your God which I command you this day" [1]. These passages establish a direct correlation between obedience to God's law and the reception of divine favor.
Matthew Henry notes that the blessings are presented before the curses in Deuteronomy 28, suggesting God's preference for mercy and His desire for humanity to obey and live rather than sin and perish. This ordering implies that God delights in blessing His people [8]. The intention behind presenting both the promises and the threats is to encourage and maintain adherence to duty, with the hope of God's favor being a more desirable motivator than the fear of His wrath [8]. In covenant contexts, a blessing is understood as the direct outcome of obedience, while a curse results from disobedience [13].
The concept of obedience in the Old Testament, particularly in Deuteronomy, involves hearkening diligently to the voice of the Lord [6]. This is not merely a passive hearing but an active listening and adherence to God's instructions. The law itself is referred to as "his law" in some contexts [5]. The act of "obeisance" signifies homage or reverence, which can be seen as an outward expression of an obedient heart [4].
The blessings promised for obedience encompass various aspects of life. While Deuteronomy 28 lists them in detail, the general principle is that God's favor will manifest in tangible ways for those who follow His commands [6, 7]. Conversely, disobedience leads to curses, which are also enumerated in detail in Deuteronomy 28. The Israelites were called to consider this matter carefully, as it was of significant interest to them all [14].
The theological understanding of sin and obedience is further illuminated in other biblical texts. For instance, all human beings are considered born sinners, but the godly are distinguished by their struggle against their sinful nature, unlike the wicked who indulge it [10]. Committing sin is associated with the devil, as opposed to doing righteousness [12]. Augustine, as cited by Bengel, clarifies that while one can become a child of the devil by imitating him, the devil does not "beget" in the same way God does [12]. Sinful acts are also referred to as "vanity" in Proverbs [11]. This broader biblical context underscores the gravity of disobedience and the importance of the obedience called for in Deuteronomy.
The presentation of blessings and curses in Deuteronomy serves as a foundational covenant document, outlining the terms of the relationship between God and Israel. It emphasizes that their well-being in the promised land is contingent upon their faithfulness to the divine covenant, expressed through obedience to the law.
Sources
- Deuteronomy “Deuteronomy 11:27 (Geneva1599) — The blessing, if ye obey the commandements of the Lord your God which I command you this day:”
- Deuteronomy “Deuteronomy 28:2 (Geneva1599) — And all these blessings shall come on thee, and ouertake thee, if thou shalt obey the voyce of the Lord thy God.”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Deuteronomy — repetition of the law”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Obeisance — Homage or reverence to any one (Gen. 37:7; 43:28).”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jeduthun — his law; giving praise”
- Deuteronomy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Deuteronomy 28 (introduction): THE BLESSINGS FOR OBEDIENCE. (Deu. 28:1-68) if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God--In this chapter the blessings and curses are enumerated at length, and in various minute details, so that on the first entrance of the Israelites into the land of promise, their whole destiny was laid before them, as it was to result from their obedience or the contrary.”
- Deuteronomy (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 28 (introduction): This chapter is a very large exposition of two words in the foregoing chapter, the blessing and the curse. Those were pronounced blessed in general that were obedient, and those cursed that were disobedient; but, because generals are not so affecting, Moses here descends to particulars, and describes the blessing and the curse, not in their fountains (these are out of sight, and therefore the most considerable, yet least considered, the favour of God the spring of all the blessings, and the wrath of God the spring of all the curses), but in their”
- Deuteronomy (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 28:1: The blessings are here put before the curses, to intimate, 1. That God is slow to anger, but swift to show mercy: he has said it, and sworn, that he would much rather we would obey and live than sin and die. It is his delight to bless. 2. That though both the promises and the threatenings are designed to bring and hold us to our duty, yet it is better that we be allured to that which is good by a filial hope of God's favour than that we be frightened to it by a servile fear of his wrath. That obedience pleases best which comes from a principle of delight in G”
- Deuteronomy (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 11:26: Here Moses concludes his general exhortations to obedience; and his management is very affecting, and such as, one would think, should have engaged them for ever to God, and should have left impressions upon them never to be worn out. I. He sums up all his arguments for obedience in two words, the blessing and the curse (Deu 11:26), that is, the rewards and the punishments, as they stand in the promises and the threatenings, which are the great sanctions of the law, taking hold of hope and fear, those two handles of the soul, by which it is caught, held, and”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
- Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 11:26: 11:26 In covenant contexts, a blessing is the outcome of obedience, while a curse is the result of disobedience (see chs 27–28).”
- Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 11:23: Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse,.... Meaning the law of God, and the statutes, judgments, and commandments of it; which, if obeyed, blessings would be bestowed upon them; but if disobeyed, they would be liable to the curses of it, as the following words explain it; see Deu 30:15 everyone of the Israelites were called upon to see and consider this matter, it being an interesting one to them all. everyone of the Israelites were called upon to see and consider this matter, it being an interesting one to them all. Deuteronomy 11:27 deu 11”