Deuteronomy 28:1-69

"If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, blessed shalt thou be in the city." Deuteronomy 28:2-3

The city is full of care, and he who has to go there from day to day finds it to be a place of great wear and tear. It is full of noise, and stir, and bustle, and sore travail; many are its temptations, losses, and worries. But to go there with the divine blessing takes off the edge of its difficulty; to remain there...

"Blessed shalt thou be in the field." Deuteronomy 28:3

So was Isaac blessed when he walked therein at eventide to meditate. How often has the LORD met us when we have been alone! The hedges and the trees can bear witness to our joy. We look for such blessedness again.

So was Boaz blessed when he reaped his harvest, and his workmen met him with benedictions. May the LORD prosper all who drive the plow! Every farmer may urge...

"Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store." Deuteronomy 28:5

Obedience brings a blessing on all the provisions which our industry earns for us. That which comes in and goes out at once, like fruit in the basket which is for immediate use, shall be blest; and that which is laid by with us for a longer season shall equally receive a blessing. Perhaps ours is a hand-basket portion. We have a little for breakfast and a scanty bite...

"The LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail." Deuteronomy 28:13

If we obey the LORD, He will compel our adversaries to see that His blessing rests upon us. Though this be a promise of the law, yet it stands good to the people of God; for Jesus has removed the curse, but He has established the blessing.

It is for saints to lead the way among men by holy influence: they are not to be the tail, to be dragged hither...

"And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the Name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee." Deuteronomy 28:10

Then we can have no reason to be afraid of them. This would show a mean spirit and be a token of unbelief rather than of faith. God can make us so like Himself that men shall be forced to see that we rightly bear His name and truly belong to the holy Jehovah. Oh, that we may obtain this grace...

"The LORD shall open unto thee His good treasure." Deuteronomy 28:12

This refers first to the rain. The LORD will give this in its season. Rain is the emblem of all those celestial refreshings which the LORD is ready to bestow upon His people. Oh, for a copious shower to refresh the LORD's heritage!

We seem to think that God's treasury can only be opened by a great prophet like Elijah, but it is not so, for this promise is...

"Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out." Deuteronomy 28:6

The blessings of the law are not canceled. Jesus confirmed the promise when He bore the penalty. If I keep the commands of my LORD, I may appropriate this promise without question.

This day I will come in to my house without fear of evil tidings, and I will come in to my closet expecting to hear good news from my...

"The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto." Deuteronomy 28:8

If we obey the LORD our God He will bless that which He gives us. Riches are no curse when blessed of the LORD. When men have more than they require for their immediate need and begin to lay up in storehouses, the dry rot of covetousness or the blight of hard-heartedness is apt to follow the...

O Lord our God, masters besides You have had dominion over us; but by You only we make mention of Your name. § We have become like those of old, over whom You never ruled, those who were never called by Your name.All 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 not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people.O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O...