Deuteronomy 30: Choosing Life and Blessing
And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee,
And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee.
If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:
And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.
And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
And the Lord thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.
And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the Lord, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day.
And the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the Lord will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers:
If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Deuteronomy 30 stands as a pivotal chapter, offering both a glimpse into Israel's future and a timeless call to choose life through obedience. Moses, with a pastor's heart, anticipates both the nation's potential failures and God's enduring faithfulness. This chapter, steeped in prophecy and practical exhortation, resonates with readers today, urging us to consider the profound implications of our choices.
A Prophecy of Restoration (Deuteronomy 30:1-10)
Moses, having passionately pleaded for faithfulness as Israel entered the Promised Land, also foresaw their future apostasy and exile (Deuteronomy 30:1). But even amidst this somber prediction, he unveils a glorious promise of future regathering and blessing. This promise, undoubtedly pondered by generations of Israelites, requires a broad, scriptural lens for interpretation.
This section speaks powerfully of Israel’s ultimate spiritual restoration and material blessing in the kingdom age, a reality yet to be fully realized until the return of Jesus Christ and His millennial reign. It's a reminder that God's promises extend beyond immediate circumstances, reaching into the grand narrative of redemption.
At that time, God will grant the people of Israel new hearts, enabling them to obey Him (Deuteronomy 30:2, 6) and ultimately embrace Jesus as their Messiah. This transformation will usher in an era of unprecedented blessing, surpassing anything the nation has previously experienced (Deuteronomy 30:5). This future blessing is contingent upon the Israelites becoming circumcised in their hearts, loving God as He has commanded (Deuteronomy 30:6). When they return to Him wholeheartedly and obey Him, God will find great delight in blessing His people with abundant prosperity (Deuteronomy 30:9-10).
The Accessibility of God's Law (Deuteronomy 30:11-15)
Moses emphasizes that obedience is not an insurmountable task. He spent nearly the entire book of Deuteronomy explaining God's law and urging the people of Israel to obey it. The law wasn't an obscure code or a novel teaching (Deuteronomy 30:11). It wasn't a hidden treasure requiring a difficult search (Deuteronomy 30:12-13). Instead, God's law was readily accessible, graciously revealed to them (Deuteronomy 30:14). They were well aware of the consequences of both obedience and disobedience: life and prosperity versus death and adversity (Deuteronomy 30:15). This proximity underscores God's desire for His people to succeed, making His will knowable and attainable.
Choose Life (Deuteronomy 30:16-20)
Moses reiterates the requirements for life: to love God, walk in His ways, and keep His commands (Deuteronomy 30:16). He also repeats the warning of judgment for disobedience (Deuteronomy 30:17-18). Then comes the resounding call: "Choose life so that you and your descendants may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Moses argues that no other decision makes sense. God is the very source of life for His people. He alone can prolong their days in the promised land (Deuteronomy 30:20). Therefore, to experience God's favor, His people must choose obedience to divine revelation over their own autonomous human reasoning. This choice is not merely about following rules, but about aligning oneself with the very source of life and blessing.
This chapter presents a compelling invitation to embrace a life of obedience, recognizing that God's commands are not burdensome but pathways to true flourishing. By choosing to love God and walk in His ways, we position ourselves to receive His abundant blessings and experience the fullness of life He intends for us. Deuteronomy 30 is a powerful reminder that the choice is ours, and the stakes are eternally significant.
And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee,
And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee.
If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:
And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.
And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
And the Lord thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.
And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the Lord, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day.
And the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the Lord will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers:
If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Deuteronomy 30 stands as a pivotal chapter, offering both a glimpse into Israel's future and a timeless call to choose life through obedience. Moses, with a pastor's heart, anticipates both the nation's potential failures and God's enduring faithfulness. This chapter, steeped in prophecy and practical exhortation, resonates with readers today, urging us to consider the profound implications of our choices.
A Prophecy of Restoration (Deuteronomy 30:1-10)
Moses, having passionately pleaded for faithfulness as Israel entered the Promised Land, also foresaw their future apostasy and exile (Deuteronomy 30:1). But even amidst this somber prediction, he unveils a glorious promise of future regathering and blessing. This promise, undoubtedly pondered by generations of Israelites, requires a broad, scriptural lens for interpretation.
This section speaks powerfully of Israel’s ultimate spiritual restoration and material blessing in the kingdom age, a reality yet to be fully realized until the return of Jesus Christ and His millennial reign. It's a reminder that God's promises extend beyond immediate circumstances, reaching into the grand narrative of redemption.
At that time, God will grant the people of Israel new hearts, enabling them to obey Him (Deuteronomy 30:2, 6) and ultimately embrace Jesus as their Messiah. This transformation will usher in an era of unprecedented blessing, surpassing anything the nation has previously experienced (Deuteronomy 30:5). This future blessing is contingent upon the Israelites becoming circumcised in their hearts, loving God as He has commanded (Deuteronomy 30:6). When they return to Him wholeheartedly and obey Him, God will find great delight in blessing His people with abundant prosperity (Deuteronomy 30:9-10).
The Accessibility of God's Law (Deuteronomy 30:11-15)
Moses emphasizes that obedience is not an insurmountable task. He spent nearly the entire book of Deuteronomy explaining God's law and urging the people of Israel to obey it. The law wasn't an obscure code or a novel teaching (Deuteronomy 30:11). It wasn't a hidden treasure requiring a difficult search (Deuteronomy 30:12-13). Instead, God's law was readily accessible, graciously revealed to them (Deuteronomy 30:14). They were well aware of the consequences of both obedience and disobedience: life and prosperity versus death and adversity (Deuteronomy 30:15). This proximity underscores God's desire for His people to succeed, making His will knowable and attainable.
Choose Life (Deuteronomy 30:16-20)
Moses reiterates the requirements for life: to love God, walk in His ways, and keep His commands (Deuteronomy 30:16). He also repeats the warning of judgment for disobedience (Deuteronomy 30:17-18). Then comes the resounding call: "Choose life so that you and your descendants may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Moses argues that no other decision makes sense. God is the very source of life for His people. He alone can prolong their days in the promised land (Deuteronomy 30:20). Therefore, to experience God's favor, His people must choose obedience to divine revelation over their own autonomous human reasoning. This choice is not merely about following rules, but about aligning oneself with the very source of life and blessing.
This chapter presents a compelling invitation to embrace a life of obedience, recognizing that God's commands are not burdensome but pathways to true flourishing. By choosing to love God and walk in His ways, we position ourselves to receive His abundant blessings and experience the fullness of life He intends for us. Deuteronomy 30 is a powerful reminder that the choice is ours, and the stakes are eternally significant.