Title Deuteronomy 28:25~35 (2011.5.25)
Contents
Title: The Pain of Disobedience
Text: (Deuteronomy 28:25~35)
Hymns: 278. stay away for many years
Date: May 25, 2011 (Wednesday) 5 am
Venue: Jeonju Yebut Church Small Worship Room
Moses mentioned the curse that Israel would receive when they entered Canaan and disobeyed God's word. But that's not the end. The mention of the curse, the price of disobedience, continues. Let's see what other curses are and how they relate to us today.
1. Defeat by the enemy (verses 25-26)
One of the blessings Israel received from obedience was victory in war. But if they disobey God, they will lose the war. Blessings and curses are so contrasting. Israel will go against them one way, but they will flee seven ways. If you lose your life in war, there will be no one to bury your body. Throughout history, Israel has suffered hardships and was taken into captivity by great powers because of its disobedience. We realize here once again that the victory or defeat of war depends on God. Without God's help, no matter how good a plan is, it will inevitably fail. What are you planning now? Please take a look and see if God is with you.
2. Suffering from disease (verses 27-28)
Disobedience will bring incurable boils, mental illness, and various diseases to the nation of Israel. God had used disease before when he struck Egypt. These diseases have no other healer than God. God is the one who gives and takes away health. Only God can heal Israel. Eventually, mental as well as physical illness will paralyze their discernment, leaving them unable to judge right from wrong. A curse is bound to come upon those who do not obey the Word of God. If you do not keep the Word even though you know this fact, then a more terrible curse will come upon you.
3. Oppression and extortion (vv. 29-33)
Those who disobey will be deprived of even the rights they deserve. He will lose his fianc e, and he will not live in the house he built, nor will he plant a vineyard and eat the fruit. They will slaughter cattle, but they will not eat them, they will not find the stolen donkeys, they will be defeated in battle, and all their livestock and children will be taken away. No one will be able to help Israel, and if you ask God for help, you will get nothing. In the end, Israel will be deprived of what it has earned by adversaries and live like slaves. Disobedience brings destruction to Israel. No matter how hard people try, if God does not keep them, they are just like chaff in the wind. What is this nation disobeying now? Also, what do believers disobey? We must remember God's curse.
Even today, God makes a distinction between those who obey His Word and those who disobey. Blessed are the obedient, but there is an unimaginable curse to the disobedient. What is God's message to us today? Please decide to obey that word.
<Prayer>
1. May the grace of the Lord overflow in the 2011 Gijang Missionary Conference!
2. Let the Wednesday worship revive and raise up the heroes of intercession!
3. Heal the weak patients and lead them to the place of grace!