READ Deuteronomy 27
Curses from Mount Ebal dramatize disobedience.
 
INSIGHT
What a drama! Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal are two masses of limestone rock rising over 2,000 feet above sea level. Between them lies a beautiful valley, about 300 yards wide. Half the children of Israel are on one mountain, and half are on the other, with the Levites in the valley between the two mountains. Curses are called from Mount Ebal and blessings are called from Mount Gerizim. All of this is to dramatize the importance of obedience and the consequences of disobedience, even down to not letting a blind man wander out of his way. Nothing is insignificant to our holy God. Nor should it be to us. We must care about right and wrong.
 
PRAYER
Offer praise to our holy God in the words of this psalm:
Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;
Proclaim his deeds among the peoples.  
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
Tell about all his wondrous works!  
Boast in his holy name;
Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.  
Seek the Lord and his strength;
Seek his face always.  
Remember the wondrous works he has done,
His wonders, and the judgments he has pronounced
(Psalm 105:1-5).
 
Now pray this confession to the Lord:
My little children, I am writing you these things
So that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin,
We have an advocate with the Father—
Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He himself is the atoning sacrifice, for our sins,
And not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world
(1 John 2:1-2).
 
As you confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, voice your affirmation of God's Word:
"Whoever drinks of the water
That You shall give him will never thirst.
But the water that You shall give him
Will become in him a fountain of water
Springing up into everlasting life" (Based on John 4:14).
 
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

• A stronger desire to be like Christ
• The churches across the nation
• Your prayer list

 
Now offer this prayer of worship to the Lord:
Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
And thanksgiving and honor
And power and strength
Be to our God forever and ever. Amen
 (Revelation 7:12).