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OceanSide church of Christ
Read devotionals for June 2024
July 1, 2024
Deuteronomy 27:19 – Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Thought: The stranger was a person from another country who was in the country temporarily or who had settled in Canaan. The fatherless were the orphans, especially children who had lost their father who was their provider. The widows were the women who had lost their spouse in death. These three groups lived more difficult lives than others. They were not financially well off, but they were to be protected honestly by the judiciary.
Malachi 3:5
July 2, 2024
Deuteronomy 27:20 – Cursed be he that lieth with his father’s wife; because he uncovereth his father’s skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Thought: When the citizens of a nation depart from God, they often take a path that leads to immorality. Sexual sins abound in many forms. It was not uncommon among the heathen for an adult child to have a sexual relationship with his stepmother, that is, his father’s wife. The skirt of this woman belonged to his father because of the marriage relationship. God pronounced a curse upon all men who committed this sin of adultery.
Amos 2:6-7
July 3, 2024
Deuteronomy 27:21 – Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Thought: When man enters into sexual perversion, there are no limits to the depths of his perversity. Men will lie with men. Women will lie with women. Children become the targets of adults. Men will even turn to the animal kingdom seeking sexual satisfaction. God pronounced a curse upon any Israelite “that lieth with any manner of beast.” To those who seek to be holy, bestiality is detestable. The degenerate will assert that is it normal.
Leviticus 18:23
July 4, 2024
Deuteronomy 27:22 – Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Thought: Incest was another sexual sin that was cursed by God. The children of Israel were forbidden to lie with both their sisters and their stepsisters. Man has a difficult time understanding, respecting, and obeying God’s prohibitions. He yearns to satisfy the lusts of the flesh and the mind by any means available. He wants no correction. He wants others to at least tolerate his sin. He really wants others to accept his wickedness. God does not!
Leviticus 20:17
July 5, 2024
Deuteronomy 27:23 – Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Thought: A mother-in-law is the mother of man’s wife. That statement is an obvious observation. However, when it is truly reflected upon one comes to understand the heinous nature of the behavior described in this verse. To lie with one’s mother-in-law would bring shame and disgrace to the man’s father. Thus, God placed a curse upon that action. The union of a man and woman in marriage is holy and should be preserved to the utmost.
Leviticus 20:14
July 6, 2024
Deuteronomy 27:24 – Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbor secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Thought: All relationships have their struggles. There are times when neighbors do not get along very well. Sometimes personalities clash. Ther are times when a person does not like the things that his neighbor does to his property. Neighbors can be disrespectful and rude at times. In Israel, none of these things was an excuse to bring harm to one’s neighbor. In fact, those who sought vengeance and harm secretively had a curse placed upon them.
1 Kings 21:9-10
July 7, 2024
Deuteronomy 27:25 – Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Thought: When a person takes a bribe, he commits numerous sins. First, he perverts justice. Second, he exhibits favoritism. Third, his heart and actions manifest greed. There are also those who will take money to murder an innocent person. This action involves a heart that is as cold as ice. Life means absolutely nothing to a murderer. God pronounces a curse upon any individual who takes money to slay one who is innocent.
Micah 7:2-3
July 8, 2024
Deuteronomy 27:26 – Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And the people shall say, Amen.
Thought: The final curse mentioned is against the individual who fails to set up the words of the law of Moses as the standard for his life and conduct. God did not reveal His will to Israel just so they could possess a book of literature. God gave them the Law to govern and direct their lives. Note that “all the words of this law” were important and were to be obeyed. The previous curses were examples of specific laws, but all disobedience was cursed.
Psalm 119:21
July 9, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:1, 2 – And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: and all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.
Thought: When individuals think about commandment-keeping, they often only think about the prohibitions. Unfortunately, they fail to contemplate the blessings that come when a person obeys the God of heaven. This God has a storehouse of blessings at His disposal. In fact, He is the fountain of every good and perfect gift. The heavenly Father exalts His obedient child to a lofty position. Then, he overwhelms him with an abundance of blessings.
Psalm 111:10
July 10, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:3 – Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
Thought: Some of the children of Israel lived in the cities. They enjoyed the life of the metropolis. On the other hand, some lived in the rural areas. These individuals found pleasure living an agricultural life. Regardless of where they chose to live their lives, God would bless them as long as they were obedient to the Lord’s commands. Many have to try to choose the best place to live in order to be blessed. For Israel, all options were on the table.
Psalm 107:33-39
July 11, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:4 – Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
Thought: The fruit is that which is produced by something. The body of a human produces children. The ground produces crops. Herds produce offspring that can be eaten or sold for a profit. If Israel obeyed God’s covenant, He promised to bless all of their fruits. The increased production of all of these things involve honor, sustenance, and wealth for the Israel. God’s promise enabled Israel to work as normal and produce in abundance.
Proverbs 10:22
July 12, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:5 – Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
Thought: Baskets were used by the Israelites to gather fruits and vegetables. Once they were gathered, they were put into a place for storage. If a person’s basket was blessed, it would overflow with the harvest. If a person’s store was blessed, he had ample supply for both today and the future. A bountiful supply was the desire for all who planted crops. When plenty was on hand, the individual felt peace and security for himself and his family.
Psalm 37:22
July 13, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:6 – Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
Thought: Every day the Israelites would go out and come into their homes. They would leave early to make a living. They would return late after a long day of labor. The Lord pronounced a blessing upon the going out and coming in of the obedient Jew. He would leave and be productive and prosperous in his labors. He would return to a home that was quiet and filled with joy. He would be blessed with a wife and children who dearly loved him.
Psalm 121:8
July 14, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:7 – The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
Thought: God’s people would have enemies who would threaten their safety and well-being. If the children of Israel were obedient to God, they had the promise of victory given unto them. “The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before they face.” The armies of Israel would put the invaders into complete chaos. They would march in as one invading force. However, Israel would cause them to scatter seven ways.
Leviticus 26:7-8
July 15, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:8 – The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Thought: In this verse, we learn that God can command His blessings upon His people. This reminds us that He is the sovereign God. All rule and all power dwell in Him. The entire Universe is as His command. If Israel would fulfill their portion of their covenant with God, He would fill their storehouses. Too, God would bless all they set their hands to do. It is difficult for human beings to image just how much God can bless His faithful servants.
Ephesians 3:20
July 16, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:9 – The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God and walk in his ways.
Thought: The word “holy” involves at least three elements. First, when one is made holy, he is purified from sin. The stains of transgressions are removed from one’s soul. Second, those who are holy are set apart. They are no longer classed with that which is worldly, carnal, and devilish. They are now spiritual and heavenly. Third, holy individuals are used for God’s eternal purposes. Holiness was simple to obtain, obey God and walk in His ways.
Isaiah 62:11-12
July 17, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:10 – And all the people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee.
Thought: When God manifests His blessings upon a certain nation, that nation is thrown into the spotlight and seen by others. They see that this nation is “called by the name of the Lord.” In essence, this one factor is what causes the nation to be elevated above all others. The Lord’s presence causes them to be powerful and prosperous. Thus, the other nations are afraid of them. The nation is respected by others. Others know God will fight for them.
Malachi 3:12
July 18, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:11 – And the Lord shall make the plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
Thought: The key word in this verse is “plenteous.” Strong defines the word as “to cause to abound.” Brown, Driver, and Briggs, provides this definition of plenteous: “to show excess, have more than enough, have an excess.” Wouldn’t most individuals want more than enough rather than too little? If Israel obeyed the commands of God, they would be plenteous in goods, in the fruit of their body, in the fruit of their cattle, and in the fruit of their ground.
Proverbs 10:22
July 19, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:12 – The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
Thought: In order to produce, man must labor and toil. However, there are other factors that are out of man’s control that can impact his rewards. These things are often in the hand of God. If Israel fulfilled their responsibilities to the Law of Moses, God would open to them “his good treasure.” He would bless them with rain that would allow an abundant harvest. They would have enough for themselves. Too, they could lend to others for profit.
Psalm 65:9-13
July 20, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:13 – And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them.
Thought: Israel’s obedience to God would cause the nation to be exalted above other nations on the earth. This exaltation is described in two ways in this verse. Israel would be “the head, and not the tail.” Too, she would be “above only, and…shalt not be beneath.” With blessings like this promised, it would seem as though all of Israel would “hearken unto the commandments of the Lord,” but the flesh was strong. It often prevailed within the nation.
Deuteronomy 4:6-9
July 21, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:14 – And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
Thought: God wanted Israel to follow His words precisely. Israel was not to turn aside “the right hand, or to the left.” Israel was not to add to the word of God or take from it. When man takes liberties with God’s Word, he implies he’s more knowledgeable than the all-wise God. He boasts that he knows what is better for his life than his Creator does. The verse concludes with a prohibition against serving other gods. One of those gods could be self.
Joshua 23:6
July 22, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:15 – But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.
Thought: A long list of blessings was presented to Israel by God. Receiving these blessings hinged upon their obedience to God’s commands. God realized that blessing alone did not always motivate people to do His will. Thus, he reminds them that there are curses that will be suffered if they failed “to do all his commandments and his statutes.” These curses would not just come upon them. Moses warned Israel that they would “overtake thee.”
Daniel 9:11-13
July 23, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:16, 17 – Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. Cursed shall be thy basket and they store.
Thought: Interestingly, the things God said He would bless if Israel was obedient would be the things He would curse if they disobeyed Him. Their cities, their farms, their gathering baskets, and their storehouses would be cursed if they refused to submit to God’s will. We must remember that they were living under a covenant. A covenant involves the responsibilities of two parties. If Israel failed to obey, God was not obligated to bless them.
Deuteronomy 28:3-5
July 24, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:18, 19 – Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of they sheep. Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
Thought: Before Israel entered Canaan, Moses exhorted the children of Israel to be obedient to God. He did this by noting the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience. The things that God cursed for disobedience were the same things blessed for obedience. Setting both the rewards and punishments before Israel was good parenting by God. Israel was put in the “driver’s seat.” They could be blessed or cursed. The choice was theirs.
Lamentations 2:11-12
July 25, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:20 – The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.
Thought: God promised to send three things upon the Israelites if they engaged in wickedness and forsook God. First, He would send cursing. A curse was a pronouncement of damnation upon one. Second, the Lord promised that He would send vexation upon the nation. This involves confusion, uproar, tumult, disturbance, and discomfort. Third, God would send a rebuke. A rebuke is a reproof, a reprimand for bad behavior.
Leviticus 26:27-28
July 26, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:21 – The Lord shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it.
Thought: A pestilence is defined as “a plague or a disease.” The word includes “the sense of destroying” (Strong, e-sword). Pestilence can impact people. It can also infect flocks and herds. The word is translated “murrain.” This reminds us of the plague brought on the cattle of the Egyptians in the days of Moses. If Israel disobeyed God, disease would “cleave” unto them. Ultimately, they would be consumed from off the land. The thought is horrifying.
Amos 4:10
July 27, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:22 – The Lord shall smite thee with consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.
Thought: In previous verses, God listed one or two things that would afflict Israel if she violated the covenant she had made with God. In this verse, seven horrors are listed: consumption, fever, inflammation, extreme burning, the sword, blasting, and mildew. One of these punishments would have been enough. Listing all seven together should have sent a clear message to Israel that God would not tolerate disobedience. The end was Israel’s call.
Amos 4:9
July 28, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:23, 24 – And thy heaven that is over thee shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron. The Lord shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
Thought: In order to produce crops, two essentials are needed. First, the earth must be cultivated properly. Second, the heavens must yield rain. If Israel failed to heed her duties under the Law of Moses, God would curse both the heaven and the earth. The heaven would be brass. It would yield no rain. The earth would be iron. It would be parched and hard. Again, Israel was in charge of her fate. Her decisions were vital to her well-being.
Leviticus 26:19, 20
July 29, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:25 – The Lord shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.
Thought: If Israel obeyed God, she would be victorious over her enemies. She could easily put them to flight. However, if Israel disobeyed God, she would be defeated by her enemies. She would march against them in a single form, but the enemy would scatter them, causing them to flee seven ways. Ultimately, she would be “removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.” Thus, the nation would fail. Her national identity would come to an end.
Jeremiah 15:2-4
July 30, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:26 – And thy carcase shall be meat unto fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away.
Thought: When a person dies, he is honored by the living by properly disposing of the body. In Bible times, the dead were usually placed in caves or tombs. In this verse, the Lord warned Israel that those who were disobedient to Him, would be humiliated in death. Their carcases would become “meat unto fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth.” No one would be there who would drive the animals away. There is no honor in disobedience.
Jeremiah 7:33
July 31, 2024
Deuteronomy 28:27 – The Lord shall smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emrods and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.
Thought: Four horrible bodily afflictions are mentioned in this verse. These would be brought upon the Jews if they chose to disobey God. Inflammation, itching, swelling, redness, oozing fluids from the skin, and burning. The body ached and was filled with pain. Sleeping was difficult, if not impossible. There might have been some applications that would help with symptoms, but there was no cure. Disobedience came with a heavy price.
Exodus 15:26
Read devotionals for August 2024