Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• The last 6 verses
• An unusal passage to speak on
• Much that God has to teach us
• A fulfillment of Moses' words
• "What comes after victory?"
• Last week: a victory over Ai
• Often scenes of celebration after victory
• Israel was still in a time of military campaign
• They knew they needed to come near to God
• Burnt offerings for sin
• Peace offerings for fellowship
• The reading (and hearing) of God's word
• They set up a monument - white lime stones
• Deut 27:4-7
• Their success depended on obedience to God
• Deut 28:1 - God would bless them for their obedience
• Deut 28:7-10 - Conditional promises
• Deut 28:15-ff - Curses on disobedience
• After victory: A time of consecration and hearing the word of God
• As a church or individuals: after any victory or advance, we must give God the glory
• Overview:
1. An Altar
2. A Monument
3. An Ark
4. A Reading

An Altar (v31)

• Built of whole stones:
• Not ornate or carved
• Nothing of man in the altar (that they could worship)
• It was God's altar
• Abraham set up altars throughout this journey through the promised land
• God's people were commanded to build altars
• Because they were sinners and sacrifices had to be made
• A burnt offering and peace offerings (v31)
• A burnt offering - to represent atonement for sin
• God's people were to realised they were sinners and that sin was very serious
• A peace offering - a thanksgiving/fellowship offering
• The ceremonial law ended with Christ's death
• No more need for sacrifice
• As Christians we are to be cross-centered
• We need to continually come to the cross of Christ
• When things are going well we might forget Jesus' sacrifice

A Monument (v32)

• They had already set up monument stones
• Two further stones to be set up in Ebal
• Gleaming in the sun with carefully written commands upon them
• 'Do not forget the Ten Commandments'
• Remembers God's law
• There is no need for us to set up monuments today
• Our British Laws (in the past) were based on the Ten Commandments and Christian teaching
• Western Society has gone a long way from God
• Our laws are far from the Ten Commandments
• The Church of Jesus Christ should uphold the law of God
• Prov 3:1-3 - "Do not forget my law"
• The law of God should be written on our heart
• Treasure the word of God
• Remember - the law cannot save!
• But God's law is good and Holy
• God's law restrains sin
• God's law draws people to Christ

An Ark (v33)

• An ark in the midst of proceedings - in between the two tribes on each mountains
• The ark:
• Represented the presence of God (1 Sam 3)
• Contained the Ten Commandments
• Had a mercy seat
• Contained manna
• Contained Aaron's rod
• We can apply this in an abstract way
• But it is a real event
• The ark meant everything

A Reading (v34)

• We live in such a distracted society
• God's word is powerful
• Very powerful words of curses and blessing
• Deut 27:16-19
• Strong teaching
• Goading their hearts to do right
• They were sinful people who couldn't keep God's law
• Gal 3:13 - Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law
• 2 Cor 5:21 - We are righteous [in Christ]
• God sent His only begotten Son that we might be redeemed

Closing Remarks