Todays readings.. Deuteronomy 28, Song of Solomon 8, Acts 25&26
“AND ALL THE PEOPLES ON THE EARTH”
Today we read the long, but spiritually challenging, 28th chapter of Deuteronomy. In it, Moses in his final message to his people spells out the two alternatives they face. If they truly serve God – blessings! If they do not – trouble and distress. “The LORD will … bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. The LORD will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in his ways. And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you.” [v.8-10]
They were blessed – at first! Under the leadership of Joshua , and, generations later under the leadership of David and Solomon – the LORD did “make (them) abound in prosperity” [v.11] But at other times, most times, they were a dismal failure, most of all when they did not recognise God’s son – and then the fullness of the curses listed from v.15 came upon them. We note the warning, described from v. 64, ” the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other …” Wonderfully this punishment was not to be for ever and tomorrow we will start reading the marvellous prophecies God made through Isaiah which includes references to their future and the ultimate future of those who truly believe and have faith in God.
In Acts today we read the challenging testimony the Apostle Paul made before King Agrippa. He said, “To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” [ch. 26 v.22,23] Paul had this help and a great and wonderful message to spread! It gave a wonderful purpose to his life – and it gives a wonderful purpose to our lives, indeed, the only real, eternal purpose there is!
King Agrippa asked Paul, “… would you persuade me to be a Christian?” [v.28] God’s scriptures are now available to just about “all the peoples on the earth” – and ask us the same question! We see how God’s chosen nation has been re-established again in their promised land – how soon before their Saviour, God’s Son reveals himself to them!? Are you ready for that – it will totally change the present order of life on earth – make sure you are part of it – and experience the wonder of God’s eternal blessings..
