Deu 27 | MHCC | e4.org | 1-10 As soon as they were come into Canaan, they must set up a monument, on which they must write the words of this law. They must set up an altar. The word and prayer must go together. Though they might not, of their own heads, set up any altar besides that at the tabernacle; yet, by the appointment of God, they might, upon special occasion. This altar must be made of unhewn stones, such as they found upon the field. Christ, our Altar, is a stone cut out of the mountain without hands, refused by the builders, as having no form or comeliness, but accepted of God the Father, and made the Head of the corner. In the Old Testament the words of the law are written, with the curse annexed; which would overcome us with horror, if we had not, in the New Testament, an altar erected close by, which gives consolation. Blessed be God, the printed copies of the Scriptures among us, do away the necessity of such methods as were presented to Israel. The end of the gospel ministry is, and the end of preachers ought to be, to make the word of God as plain as possible. Yet, unless the Spirit of God prosper such labours with Divine power, we shall not, even by these means, be made wise unto salvation: for this blessing we should therefore daily and earnestly pray.

‏ Deuteronomy 27

* The law to be written on stones in the promised land. (1-10)

The curses to be pronounced on mount Ebal. (11-26)

1-10 As soon as they were come into Canaan, they must set up a

monument, on which they must write the words of this law. They

must set up an altar. The word and prayer must go together.

Though they might not, of their own heads, set up any altar

besides that at the tabernacle; yet, by the appointment of God,

they might, upon special occasion. This altar must be made of

unhewn stones, such as they found upon the field. Christ, our

Altar, is a stone cut out of the mountain without hands, refused

by the builders, as having no form or comeliness, but accepted

of God the Father, and made the Head of the corner. In the Old

Testament the words of the law are written, with the curse

annexed; which would overcome us with horror, if we had not, in

the New Testament, an altar erected close by, which gives

consolation. Blessed be God, the printed copies of the

Scriptures among us, do away the necessity of such methods as

were presented to Israel. The end of the gospel ministry is, and

the end of preachers ought to be, to make the word of God as

plain as possible. Yet, unless the Spirit of God prosper such

labours with Divine power, we shall not, even by these means, be

made wise unto salvation: for this blessing we should therefore

daily and earnestly pray. 11-26 The six tribes appointed for blessing, were all children

of the free women, for to such the promise belongs, #Ga 4:31|.

Levi is here among the rest. Ministers should apply to

themselves the blessing and curse they preach to others, and by

faith set their own Amen to it. And they must not only allure

people to their duty with the promises of a blessing, but awe

them with the threatenings of a curse, by declaring that a curse

would be upon those who do such things. To each of the curses

the people were to say, Amen. It professed their faith, that

these, and the like curses, were real declarations of the wrath

of God against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, not

one jot of which shall fall to the ground. It was acknowledging

the equity of these curses. Those who do such things deserve to

fall, and lie under the curse. Lest those who were guilty of

other sins, not here mentioned, should think themselves safe

from the curse, the last reaches all. Not only those who do the

evil which the law forbids, but those also who omit the good

which the law requires. Without the atoning blood of Christ,

sinners can neither have communion with a holy God, nor do any

thing acceptable to him; his righteous law condemns every one

who, at any time, or in any thing, transgresses it. Under its

awful curse we remain as transgressors, until the redemption of

Christ is applied to our hearts. Wherever the grace of God

brings salvation, it teaches the believer to deny ungodliness

and wordly lusts, to live soberly, righteously, and godly in

this present world, consenting to, and delighting in the words

of God's law, after the inward man. In this holy walk, true

peace and solid joy are to be found.