Deuteronomy 28:1

"If you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God" — the grand old motto of Deuteronomy, the keynote of the book — "being careful to do all His commandments that I command you today"… This is the only safeguard. It is the true secret of happiness, security, victory and strength.

To put it as briefly as possible: chapter 27 is moral and personal. Chapter 28 is national, and belongs to a particular period of God's dealings. Chapter 27 deals with the root question of man's moral condition — a sinner completely ruined, and unable to meet God on the ground of law. Chapter 28 takes up Israel as a nation, under the government of God.

Chapter 28 does not say that these blessings were spoken from Mount Gerizim, but chapter 27:12 shows this. The blessings, though, come after the conditions of verse 1. They would take effect only if Israel carefully obeyed the voice of the Lord and kept all His commandments.

It is merely national. It has nothing to do with the soul in the sight of God… This is not what a poor soul wants. It in no way meets a sense of guilt or a dread of judgment. The sinner needs something which will stand for ever. He wants what will be in heaven, and not merely in the field or in the city. He wants acceptance for himself with God, not just a full basket and a full store. There is nothing of that sort here.

You see, it is one nation set in contrast with all other nations, and lifted above them… Plentiful and continual prosperity in earthly things was what all nations could understand. Israel was to have shown it, had Israel been obedient. By it the nations were to have seen that Israel was called by the Lord's name.

Chapter 28 has both blessing and cursing… They are the blessing and cursing of God's government over their daily walk. We may come under discipline in our own daily walk. It is useless to mix two things: you as the one who keeps the law, and God as the One who keeps His promise. If your soul rests upon what God is in Christ and nothing else, you get the blessing. If you choose to stand on what you do yourself, how can you escape the curse?

If God's children ignore His word and live for themselves, God will often step in and deal with them in their circumstances. Think how many have set their hearts on getting on in the world. They have worked hard and long to reach their goal. Then, just as it came in sight, all the fruit of their work disappeared!

Israel has completely failed in obedience, as we know, and has therefore forfeited all those blessings. But Scripture says again and again that they are to be brought back. Grace will restore to them every blessing they lost. The righteous rule of the Lord Jesus Christ will keep them in the enjoyment of these blessings.

Some interpreters use a system that turns the covenant blessings of Israel into spiritual pictures and hands them over to the church of God. This is a most fatal mistake… God will not and cannot approve such tampering with His truth. Nor will He allow anyone to transfer away the blessings and privileges of His people Israel.