Keeping the Covenant Current

Word to Live By: The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27a).

Session Truth: Spiritual renewal comes through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon those willing to reaffirm their consecration to God.

Session Goals:
*To understand that the covenant is a living relationship which demands the constant renewal of the vows.
*To acknowledge that we each need to hear daily the call of God and renew our commitment to be His.
*To recognize that the events of the past reveal the God of grace who acts in behalf of His people.
*To learn that the reaffirmation of the covenant was the act of embracing the grace of God by acknowledging that Israel was committed to keeping God’s commandments.

In the last session, Moses set before the people a choice: blessing for obeying God and a curse for disobeying.  These blessings and curses were to be proclaimed from Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal (11:29).  The Scripture Focus for this session, gives detailed instructions for those rituals at the time of their possession of the Promised Land.
Joshua later carried out these instructions (Joshua 8:30-35) and conducted a renewal ceremony at Shechem (Joshua 24:1-28) between the two mountains.
Today’s session focuses on God’s plan for Israel’s spiritual renewal on entering the Promised Land.

PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE (DEUTERONOMY 27:1-2)
This is the first time in Deuteronomy that the elders have stood with Moses as he addressed the people.  Moses would not be present when they renewed the covenant in Canaan.  That responsibility would fall on the elders.
The inscribed stones they would set up in the Promised Land would serve both as a record of the law and a reminder to follow it.
*These stones would be a witness to the past.  They would serve as a reminder of God’s mighty acts in the past:  their deliverance from Egypt, His leadership, the covenant, etc.)
*The stones would also be a witness to the future.  They represented the commitment Israel made with God as to how they would conduct their lives individually and corporately.

*How is a celebration of the past an affirmation of the future?  (God’s faithfulness in the past gives reason to believe that He will be as faithful in the future.)
*The future becomes the potential for grace.  We have experienced grace and mercy in the past from God, so we can look forward to His continuing grace and mercy in the future.

SIGNS OF REMEMBERANCE (DEUTERONOMY 27:3-4)
*All the words of the law were to be written on the stones.
*What was the purpose for setting up the stones and writing the laws on them?  (The inscribed stones were set up to establish a written public record among the people, stating the obligations of the covenant.  The stones would stand as a silent witness of God’s demands.)
*It is significant that the stones were to be set up at Mount Ebal.  The city of Shechem was located at the foot of Mount Ebal.  The Lord first appeared to Abraham at Shechem, and there, Abraham built his first altar to the Lord (Genesis 12:6-7).  It is significant that the Children of Israel were instructed to go to Shechem on entering the Promised Land.  It shows the faithfulness of God to keep His word.  That is why the Scripture Focus reads, “God is giving you a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your fathers, promised you” (v. 3).

ACT OF RENEWAL (DEUTERONOMY 27:5-8)
“Upon Israel’s entrance into the land of promise, they were to do two things.  First, they were to prepare stones and write the Law upon them…The second thing Israel was to do upon entering Canaan was to build an altar and offer sacrifices to the Lord (vv. 5-7)”.
*The stipulations for building the altar were: [1] It was to be an altar of stones [v. 5].  [2]  It was to be built on Mount Ebal [vv. 4-5].  [3]  They were not to use any iron tool on the stones [v. 5].  [4]  The stones were to be “fieldstones” [v. 6].
*We don’t know with certainty the symbolism of building the altar with uncut fieldstones.  Perhaps for wholesomeness.  Uncut stones would be those made by God without human adornment or alteration.  It is possible that since the Israelites did not possess iron, He did not want them trying to acquire it from pagans and risk being influenced by them.
*What did altars symbolize in the Old Testament?  (The presence of God.)
*What is the significance of “eating” and “rejoicing” after the sacrificial offering?  (By eating together in festival before God, they acknowledged membership in the covenant people.)

COVENANT RENEWAL (DEUTERONOMY 27:9-10)
*Does the statement, “You have now become the people of the Lord your God” (v. 9) suggest that Israel was not the people of God previously?  (No.  This was an affirmation of covenant renewal.  The Israelites were renewing their commitment to the Lord.)
*Moses repeated the concept in verse 10 many times throughout Deuteronomy.  Why was the repetition necessary?  Do you think it was effective? Explain.
*The renewal ceremony was the act of embracing the grace of God.  The renewal ceremony was a reminder that the Israelites existed as a nation only because of the grace of God.

SPIRITUAL RENEWAL
*When should we renew or reaffirm our relationship with God?  (Daily in prayer; in worship, when we experience change, etc.)
*How will remembrance of the past give new strength for the future? (It will show God’s presence and faithfulness.  It will inspire hope.)
*How can we benefit by remembering the hard times God has brought us through?  (By remembering how we were drawn closer to God.)
*What “markers,” symbols, or witnesses do we have as reminders of our relationship with God?  (The Cross, the Bible, grace before meals, accountability partners, etc.)
*How do we pass on the blessings of our Christian heritage?  (Praying together, sharing devotions, church attendance, Christian music, etc.)
*Why must each generation develop its own faith?  (Faith is ultimately a personal experience.  It is important to share your faith, to pass on your heritage.  But finally, it is a choice.)
*Where is your altar?