Deuteronomy 28:1-14 (NRSV)
The blessings of obedience
If you will only obey the Lord your God, by diligently observing all his commandments that I am commanding you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth; all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the Lord your God:
Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.
Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your livestock, both the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock.
Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.
Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you; they shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways. The Lord will command the blessing upon you in your barns, and in all that you undertake; he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways. 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. The Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground in the land that the Lord swore to your ancestors to give you. The Lord will open for you his rich storehouse, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all your undertakings. You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow. The Lord will make you the head, and not the tail; you shall be only at the top, and not at the bottom if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today, by diligently observing them, and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I am commanding you today, either to the right or to the left, following other gods to serve them.
Reflection
If the Israelites would only obey the Lord when they entered the Promised Land, look what blessings were available to them. I'm sure many of these blessings did occur, however, there was also the temptation to fall in line with the false gods of the people of the land that the Israelites were going into.
In many ways I too am tempted by the allure of other gods even today. I'm sure many of us face this temptation. We are tempted be our own false needs and wants and fall victim to the life of following those wants.
The guidance of God shows us the blessings and love God has in store for us if we only worship and follow God. Sometimes we need to deny our wants and face the desires that God has for us in our life.
God certainly pours out the blessings on the faithful. Blessings in abundance. We tend to ignore the quantity and number of blessings we are given. So, I think for today, it would be a good exercise to pay attention to all the blessings God grants and give thanks and worship our God and King. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Lord, forgive me when I don't notice all that you have blessed me with and take it all for granted. I truly appreciate all you have done and given to me...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen
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