November 1, 2013
EVEN TEENAGE GIRLS SHOULD HONOR THEIR FATHER AND MOTHER
Deuteronomy 27
Hannah Lindahl
Central Truth
God gives us commandments because He loves us and wants to keep us on a healthy path in life.
Key Verse | Deuteronomy 27:10
"You shall therefore obey the LORD your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today." (Deuteronomy 27:10)
Deuteronomy 27
The Altar on Mount Ebal
1 Now Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep the whole commandment that I command you today. 2 And on the day you cross over the Jordan to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones and plaster them with plaster. 3 And you shall write on them all the words of this law, when you cross over to enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you. 4 And when you have crossed over the Jordan, you shall set up these stones, concerning which I command you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with plaster. 5 And there you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You shall wield no iron tool on them; 6 you shall build an altar to the LORD your God of uncut 1 27:6 Hebrew whole stones. And you shall offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God, 7 and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and shall eat there, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God. 8 And you shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.”
Curses from Mount Ebal
9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Keep silence and hear, O Israel: this day you have become the people of the LORD your God. 10 You shall therefore obey the voice of the LORD your God, keeping his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.”
11 That day Moses charged the people, saying, 12 “When you have crossed over the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14 And the Levites shall declare to all the men of Israel in a loud voice:
15 ‘Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the LORD, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’
16 ‘Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
17 ‘Cursed be anyone who moves his neighbor's landmark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
18 ‘Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
19 ‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
20 ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's nakedness.’ 2 27:20 Hebrew uncovered his father's skirt And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
21 ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with any kind of animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
22 ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
23 ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
24 ‘Cursed be anyone who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
25 ‘Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
26 ‘Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Dive Deeper | Deuteronomy 27
In this passage, God is teaching His people to honor His commandments and to be His people. One of the commandments He gives us is to honor our father and mother. One of the most important ways in which I can honor my mother and father is with my attitude. I know that in my life that is not always the easiest thing to do! Almost every day I am tempted to say something rude, snobby, or disrespectful to my parents, even though they do not deserve it. I will usually feel pretty horrible after doing this, and, in some sort of way, feel cursed. I know that I have disobeyed one of God's commandments, and I know I should not have.
Just as we are called to honor our parents, this can also apply to other authority figures, such as a teacher, a coach, or somebody at work. Just like any of us, they are not perfect and will not always act the way we want them to act. From experience, I know that the first thing I want to do is get angry and disrespectful, but God calls us to a higher path.
I think God wants us to honor our father and mother and other authority figures; not just because He said so or because they deserve it, but also for our own benefit. I know that when I honor my parents, things always go more smoothly, and when I choose not to . . . well, let us just say they do not! This just shows that He gives us commandments to show how much He loves us and how much He wants us to have a good life.
Discussion Questions
1. Why do you think God gives you these commandments?
2. How have you disobeyed your parents or authority figures?
3. What is a very practical way in which you can show that you are one of God's people?