Verses 1-32

Israel’s Responsibility, the Blessing and the Curse

CHAPTER 11

1. Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God (Deuteronomy 11:1-9)

2. If ye hearken unto my commandments (Deuteronomy 11:10-21)

3. The blessing and the curse (Deuteronomy 11:22-32)

The great characteristic teaching of this book, obedience springing from love to Jehovah, is still further developed in this chapter. It begins with a “therefore.” The last verse of the previous chapter shows that Jehovah had kept the promise made to the fathers of the nation. Then once more the mighty acts of Jehovah are reviewed. His miracles and acts done in Egypt; what He did at the Red Sea and what He did unto them in the wilderness--therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God. They were also to love Him and keep His words in view of the land they were about to possess. What He had done and what He was going to do for them, called for the love and obedience of His people. May we heed the same call. The result of obedience in loving and serving the Lord would be the first and the latter rain, fruitful fields and abundant harvests. Jehovah would also drive out the enemies and give them the land. Blessing and curse are solemnly set before the people by their leader. Of the mount of blessing, Gerizim, and the mount of curse, Ebal, we shall hear more fully later (chapter 17).

(The foolish theory that “latter rain” means a spiritual revival and is a special “outpouring of the Holy Spirit” has no foundation at all in the Word of God. Such “spiritualizing” leads and has led into confusion.)