Deuteronomy Chapter 26
The theme of obedience to God resonates throughout the book of Deuteronomy.
To obey is better than sacrifice
As Christians, even if we come to believe in God and are baptized in adulthood, we are born again. As a young child is fully reliant and obedient to his parents, we obey our God who has given us a new life.
When the people during the Old Testament times sinned, they offered sacrifices to atone for the sins they have committed. However, prophet Samuel tells us that to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams (1 Sam 15:22). Such offerings, along with various rites and rituals, no longer has the efficacy of sin atonement, because our LORD is the Lamb who died and offered Himself once for all so that we are cleansed (Heb 7:27, 9:12, 10:10)!
Giving our Master the best, and social responsibilities
As individuals, we have our own life stories. We know where we come from, what we have experienced, where we stand today and what we need to do as God’s people (Deut 26:4-11). On a similar note, Deuteronomy 26 records what the Israelites had been instructed to do when they first stepped into the land which God had promised they shall own.
The instructions included being thankful (and hence offering the best to God) for everything up to the point when the Israelites received the promise of God.
As Christians in this society, we have our social responsibilities too. The instructions to heed here included being kind and compassionate to the less well-off in society and tithing to contribute toward the livelihood of God’s full-time workers (Levite), the stranger, the fatherless and the widow.
Lastly, there are two verses in this chapter which I found meaningful when read together:
- The LORD heard our voice ‘Then we cried out to the LORD God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice…’ (Deut 26:7)
- I have obeyed the voice of the LORD my God ‘… I have obeyed the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that You have commanded me.’ (Deut 26:14)
As the LORD is always attuned to His children’s voices, let us place more efforts to reciprocate His care and love with our obedience to His instructions, advice and hope for us.
