Praise, Renown, and Glory

Synopsis     Deuteronomy 26:14-27:2     3/15/2018

Moses led the people to accept of the covenant. He reminded them to observe all its precepts with whole hearts and whole beings. He also informed them that God had accepted their agreement. As a result, they could expect the blessings already mentioned in addition to praise, renown and glory from the nations.

Praise, Renown, and Glory

“…you will keep all of his commandments, and he will set you high in praise and renown and glory above all the nations he has made.”

It’s a promise that anticipates the praise of the nations. Moses anticipated that other nations would one day say of Israel, “For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and ordinances that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?”

If it was embraced wholly, the lived covenant would surely draw attention. It was always supposed to. Being the “Chosen People” meant that they were chosen to mediate between the people of the world and the God of Creation. This kind of mediation first happens through the giving of an example. It wasn’t esteem for the words of the law that Moses anticipated.

Only lives lived have the power to evoke the recognition of glory.

Lives Lived

For Christ followers, the spiritual journey is a quest. It is a way of givenness. We receive and respond to a wisdom – not of our own making. It’s a pure and authentic following.

When Moses encouraged the Israelites to live out the law with their “whole heart and whole being”, he was challenging them to willingly embrace this new way of life. Anything less, he anticipated, would be perceived as a worthless pretense.

“I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.” Rom 12:1