February 24

Deuteronomy 27

Curses from Mount Ebal dramatize disobedience.

INSIGHT

What a drama! Mount Gerazim and Mount Ebal are two masses of limestone rock rising over 2,000 feet above sea level. Between them lies a beautiful valley, about 300 yards wide. Half the children of Israel are on one mountain, and half are on the other, with the Levites in the valley between the two mountains. Curses are called from Mount Ebal and blessings are called from Mount Gerazim. All of this is to dramatize the importance of obedience and the consequences of disobedience, even down to not letting a blind man wander out of his way. Nothing is insignificant to a holy God. Nor should it be to us. We must care about right and wrong.

PRAYER

Offer praise to our holy God in the words of this psalm:
Oh give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord.
Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
Remember His marvelous works…
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth (Psalm 105:1-5).

Now pray this confession to the Lord:
If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world (1 John 2:1-2).

As you confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, voice your affirmation of God’s Word:
“Whoever drinks of the water that You shall give him will never thirst.
But the water that You shall give him will become in him a fountain of water
springing up into everlasting life” (based on John 4:14).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

• A stronger desire to be like Christ
• The churches across the nation
• Your prayer list

Now offer this prayer of worship to the Lord:
Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom. Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen (Revelation 7:12).