Questions from the Scripture text: What might they not do (Deuteronomy 28:15)? What, then, will the curses do to them? Where (Deuteronomy 28:16)? In what work (Deuteronomy 28:17)? And what fruit (Deuteronomy 28:18)? When (Deuteronomy 28:19)? Who will do this (Deuteronomy 28:20)? In what ways? To what extent? At what pace? Why? What will YHWH make the plague do (Deuteronomy 28:21)? Until what? With why seven things will YHWH strike them (Deuteronomy 28:22)? Until what? How much of creation will be cursed for them (Deuteronomy 28:23)? What will happen to what was supposed to give them life (Deuteronomy 28:24)? What will YHWH do between them and their enemies (Deuteronomy 28:25-26)? With what sort of plague will YHWH strike them (Deuteronomy 28:27)? And with what else (Deuteronomy 28:28)? So that they end up in what condition (Deuteronomy 28:29)? What efforts will He frustrate (Deuteronomy 28:30)? What possessions (Deuteronomy 28:31)? And whom, most grievously (Deuteronomy 28:32)? So that who benefits from what was theirs (Deuteronomy 28:33)? Unto what end (Deuteronomy 28:34)? What will He do to them themselves (Deuteronomy 28:35, cf. Job 2:4–7)? What will YHWH do to them politically and religiously (Deuteronomy 28:36)? Wit what result (Deuteronomy 28:37)? How will their produce be cursed (Deuteronomy 28:38-40, Deuteronomy 28:42)? Including especially what (Deuteronomy 28:41)? How will they relate to the foreigner (Deuteronomy 28:43-44)? What will these curses do to them (Deuteronomy 28:45)? On account of what? For what purpose (Deuteronomy 28:46)? From what failure does their disobedience proceed (Deuteronomy 28:47)? So whom will YHWH make them serve instead (Deuteronomy 28:48)? And whom will YHWH bring against them (Deuteronomy 28:49-50)? To do what (Deuteronomy 28:51)? Until what? What will they do to them (Deuteronomy 28:52)? Until Israel does what to whom (Deuteronomy 28:53-57)? So, what must they observe (Deuteronomy 28:58)? And fear? Or else what will YHWH bring upon them (Deuteronomy 28:59-61)? Leaving them in what condition (Deuteronomy 28:62)? Why? What will YHWH then rejoice to do (Deuteronomy 28:63)? What will YHWH do to them politically (Deuteronomy 28:64)? Religiously? What will YHWH give them in exile (Deuteronomy 28:65)? What will their mindset be (Deuteronomy 28:66-67)? Where will YHWH take them (Deuteronomy 28:68)? How? For what? How does Deuteronomy 29:1 summarize all the blessings and curses?
What does every sin deserve? Deuteronomy 28:15–29:1 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fifty-five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that every sin deserves the wrath and curse of God.
There are five times as many curses in chapter 28 as there are blessings. This is because, in the administration of the law, under sinful prophets, priests, and kings, they will indeed break the covenant and bring themselves under the curses. The way that this happens is found at the heart of the passage in Deuteronomy 28:47: “you did not serve YHWH your God with joy and gladness of heart.” It is this thankful, glad zeal that produces the obedience that the Lord seeks. When they fail to obey, YHWH will make their curses to come upon them, pursue them, cling to them, and overtake them (Deuteronomy 28:15, Deuteronomy 28:21-22, Deuteronomy 28:45). This is what we deserve, but Christ has taken the full curse that we deserve, for all who will believe in Him.
What do you deserve? What is the only way for you not to suffer it?
Sample prayer: Lord, we have often failed to serve You with joy and gladness of heart. We have not done according to all Your law, and we deserve Your wrath and curse. Forgive us and cleanse us, w ask through Christ, AMEN
Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH51C “God, Be Merciful to Me”
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