Deuteronomy 28:1 - Meaning and Application

The blessings are placed before the curses to show two things. First, God is slow to anger and quick to show mercy. He has said, and sworn, that he would much rather see us obey and live than sin and die. It is his joy to bless.

Second, both promises and warnings are meant to keep us in our duty, but it is better to be drawn toward good by a childlike hope of God’s favor than pushed by a fear of his wrath. The best obedience comes from delight in God’s goodness.

Here are the conditions for the promised blessing. They must listen carefully to God’s voice (Deuteronomy 28:1, Deuteronomy 28:2), meaning they must hear him through his word and do all they can to learn his will (Deuteronomy 28:13). They must also obey and do all his commandments, and for obedience there must first be careful attention. They must keep his commandments (Deuteronomy 28:9) and walk in his ways, not just once, but all their lives.

They must not turn aside to the right hand or the left, whether toward superstition or toward open sin. Above all, they must not follow other gods (Deuteronomy 28:14), since that was the sin they were most likely to commit and the one that would most offend God. If they kept up true religion in their homes and nation, both in outward practice and inward sincerity, God would surely bless them.

The blessing promised here is that God’s providence would make them prosper in all their outward concerns. These blessings are said to overtake them (Deuteronomy 28:2). Good people sometimes feel unworthy and think the blessing does not belong to them, but it will find them anyway. In the final judgment, the blessing will overtake the righteous, those who say, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you?” (Matthew 25:37).

Several specific areas are named. First, they would be safe and at ease. A blessing would rest on them whether they were in the city or in the field (Deuteronomy 28:3). Whether they lived in town or country, whether they worked in trade or farming, God would preserve them from danger and give them the comforts of their calling. This blessing would also go with them in travel, in their coming and going (Deuteronomy 28:6). Their persons would be protected, and their work would succeed.

This reminds us how much we depend on God every moment, for both the safety and comfort of this life. We need him at every turn. If he withdraws his protection, we are not safe. If he withholds his favor, we are not at ease. But if he blesses us, wherever we go, it is well with us.

Second, their families would grow and flourish. “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body” (Deuteronomy 28:4), and God would make them numerous (Deuteronomy 28:11). This fulfilled the promise made to Abraham, that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars and that God would be their God. No greater or richer blessing could be given to the fruit of their bodies. See Isaiah 61:9.

Third, they would be rich and have plenty of the good things of this life. These gifts were not given only so they could enjoy them, but so they could honor God with them and be encouraged to serve him gladly and keep on obeying him. They would be blessed in all they had outside, in their corn and cattle in the field (Deuteronomy 28:4, Deuteronomy 28:11), especially their cows and sheep, which would be blessed for their sake and become a blessing to them. For this, God promised rain in its season, called his good treasure (Deuteronomy 28:12), because by this river from God the earth is made fruitful (Psalm 65:9). We should see our daily supplies as coming from God’s good treasure and thank him for them. If he withholds his rain, both crops and livestock soon fail.

They would also be blessed in what they had inside, in the basket and the store (Deuteronomy 28:5), that is, in their stored food and barns (Deuteronomy 28:8). When goods are brought home, God will bless them and not blow on them, as he sometimes does (Haggai 1:6, Haggai 1:9). We depend on God not only for yearly crops from the field, but for daily bread from the basket and store, so we are taught to pray for it each day.

Fourth, they would succeed in all their work, which would give them steady joy. “The Lord shall command the blessing,” and only he can do that, “upon you” not only in all you have, but in all you do, in everything you set your hand to (Deuteronomy 28:8). This also shows that even when they were rich, they must not become idle. They were still to find useful work to do, and God would approve their labor and bless the work of their hands (Deuteronomy 28:12). It is the Lord’s blessing on the diligent hand that makes wealth and keeps it (Proverbs 10:4, Proverbs 10:22).

Fifth, they would be honored among their neighbors (Deuteronomy 28:1). “The Lord your God will set you high above all nations.” He had already made them this way by taking them into covenant with himself (Deuteronomy 26:19). He would make them even greater through their outward prosperity, if they did not ruin that honor by sin. Their greatness among the nations would come through two things: their wealth and their power. Their wealth is described in Deuteronomy 28:12, where they would lend to many nations, though they would not need to borrow. That would give them great influence, since the borrower is the servant of the lender. It may also point to trade, with more goods going out than coming in.

Their power is described in Deuteronomy 28:13. The Lord would make them the head, giving them authority over those around them, so that others would look to them for guidance, tribute, and judgment in disputes. Every sheaf would bow to theirs, making them so important that the peoples of the earth would fear them (Deuteronomy 28:10), meaning they would respect their true greatness and hesitate to make them enemies. The growth of religion among them, and God’s blessing on them, would make them strong and impressive to surrounding nations, like an army with banners.

Sixth, they would defeat their enemies and prosper in all their wars.

If anyone was bold enough to rise up against them and try to oppress or push into their land, it would be at his own risk. He would surely fall before them (Deuteronomy 28:7). The enemy might gather in one direction, fully prepared for battle, but they would be scattered in every direction and flee in seven ways, each man running for his life.

From this we learn, if only people would believe it, that godliness and devotion to God are the best friends of outward prosperity. In the New Testament, worldly blessings do not take up as much space in the promises as they do in the Old Testament. Yet our Lord Jesus has given us his word, and we can safely trust it, that if we seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness, all other things will be given to us as far as his perfect wisdom sees fit (Matthew 6:33). Who could ask for anything beyond that?

It is also promised that God’s grace would make them a holy people, firmly established in holiness (Deuteronomy 28:9). Since he had taken them into covenant with himself, he would keep them in that covenant. If they used the means he gave them to stay faithful, he would give them the grace to remain steady, so that they would not turn away from him. Those who are sincere in holiness, God will confirm in holiness, and he has the power to do it (Romans 16:25).

The one who is holy will remain holy. And those whom God settles in holiness he also settles as a people belonging to himself, for as long as we stay close to God, he will never leave us. This firm standing in religion would also make their reputation firm (Deuteronomy 28:10). All the peoples of the earth would see and admit that they are called by the name of the Lord. That is, they would be known as a people of special worth and glory, under the special care and favor of the great God. They would learn that a people called by the name of Jehovah are surely the happiest people on earth, even if their enemies had to admit it.

Those whom heaven favors are truly great, and in time it will be shown. If not in this world, then it will be clear on that day when those who confess Christ now will be confessed by him before men and angels, as those whom he delights to honor.