THAT YOU MAY DO IT

Joshua making a covenant with the people

WORD OF WISDOM
COVENANT ~ The word is used with reference to God's revelation of himself in the way of promise or of favour to men. Thus God's promise to Noah after the Flood is called a covenant (Genesis 9; Jeremiah 33:20, "my covenant"). We have an account of God's covernant with Abraham (Genesis 17, Comp. Leviticus 26:42), of the covenant of the priesthood (Numbers 25:12, 13; Deuteronomy 33:9; Nehemiah 13:29), and of the covenant of Sinai (Exodus 34:27, 28; Leviticus 26:15), which was afterwards renewed at different times in the history of Israel (Deuteronomy 29; Joshua 1:24; 2 Chronicles 15; 23; 29; 34; Ezra 10; Nehemiah 9). In conformity with human custom, God's covenant is said to be confirmed with an oath (Deuteronomy 4:31; Psalm 89:3), and to be accompanied by a sign (Genesis 9; 17). Hence the covenant is called God's "counsel," "oath," "promise" (Psalm 89:3, 4; 105:8-11; Hebrews 6:13-20; Luke 1:68-75). God's covenant consists wholly in the bestowal of blessing (Isaiah 59:21; Jeremiah 31:33, 34).

Source: Easton's Bible Dictionary

Deuteronomy 28 (King James Version) 1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. 3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. 6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. 8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 9 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. 10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee. 11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. 12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. 13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
Moses is talking to the people of Israel for the last time. He reviews the journey of the last 40 years and reminds them of their covenant with God. Remember once you were slaves…Remember God’s love…

It is to God that they owe their freedom and all the good things that are promised to them. Remember to do…remember to obey… the laws that were given to them.

The people of Israel were given a covenant. Was it for the people of Israel only?

The Hebrew language uses the same word for covenant as for international treaty. In fact the covenant laid down by God is very similar to the international treaties made during that same time period. A treaty had six parts: preamble, naming the author; historical prologue, showing the relations between the parties; stipulations, explaining mutual responsibilities; list of gods, witnessing the treaty; curses and blessings. Covenant omits witnesses as all believed in one God. Remember this, as it will come back up later.

Now lets look at some more scriptures.
Deuteronomy 29:14-15 (King James Version) 14 Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath; 15 But with him that standeth here with us this day before the LORD our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day:
Deuteronomy 29:29 (King James Version) 29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Deuteronomy 30:9-15 (King James Version) 9 And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers: 10 If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statuteswhich are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. 11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. 15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

In reading chapter 29 verses 14 and 15, God says to the people of Israel, this covenant is not just for you [Israel] but with everyone that stands here on this day. That means that slaves and strangers were included, people who had married into families were included, it included everyone that was standing there. It continues on to say and those who are not here today.
Reading on in the chapter we can see that is anyone that does not obey God and goes after and serves other gods will be cursed.

Who was not with them on that day that will be included? Who will not be cursed, those who belong to and serve God, the One and only True God, that includes us, you and I and all that are saved.

We move forward to chapter 30 verses 11-14. Is this a mystery for us? Is it far off? No, it is in our mouth and in our hearts that “you may do it”. Who are you? It is each one of us. Is the commandment too much? No it is in us waiting for us to speak it into existence. We can do it.

We have an international treaty with God. As Gentiles we were not entitled to the promises made to the Israelites. Christ opened that door for us. The covenant became an international treaty open to all who wished [prayed] to join God’s Holy, Anointed, Chosen Family.

All the promises that were given to the Israelites now belong to us. How do we get them by speaking the words. “But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.” Write that scripture down but read it as it is written—to you…but the word is very nigh unto me, in my mouth, and in my heart, that I mayest do it. Now find a scripture that stands on any challenge you have before you, and include it on the same paper. Read the two of those together and see what happens when you start speaking it into your life each day.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG