The Bible in a Year – 8 March

If this is your first viewing, please see my Introduction before reading this.

8 March. Deuteronomy chapters 28-29

The difference between obeying and breaking the covenant between God and his people is set out in the starkest possible terms.  Keep it, and they could expect peace and prosperity.  Break it, and they could expect not only poverty and drought but also defeat in war, diseases and plagues of all kind, and starvation to be point of men eating their babies and women the afterbirth.   Images no doubt intended to frighten the mass of the people into obedience.

 

Is this an image of religion that people still have today?  That we believe if you don’t keep every rule in the Bible you will be punished for it in this life as well as the next?  If so, it is completely wrong. Even in the Old Testament there is much about God’s mercy and patience.  And ever since Jesus came to proclaim God’s gift of undeserved grace, the burden of keeping the law has been lifted, and we are free to “serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days” (Luke 1:74,75).  There will be much more to write about this later in the year when we get there, but for now the message is “do not be afraid” (sometimes said to be the most common phrase in the whole Bible).