What other scriptures emphasize the importance of obedience to God's commands? \A Glimpse from Deuteronomy 28:40\ “You will have olive trees throughout your territory, but you will never anoint yourself with oil, because the olives will drop off.” Israel’s olives would bloom, yet the fruit would fall—an unmistakable picture: prosperity without obedience ends in emptiness. The verse invites us to trace how the rest of Scripture keeps sounding the same call. \Obedience Rooted in the Law\ • Exodus 19:5 “Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations…” • Deuteronomy 5:32-33 “So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper…” • Deuteronomy 6:17-18 “You must diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God… and do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, so that it may go well with you.” • Deuteronomy 28:1-2 “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God… all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you…” \Historical Lessons from Israel’s Story\ • Joshua 1:7-8 “Only be strong and very courageous… Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth… then you will prosper and succeed.” • 1 Samuel 15:22 “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings…? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness than the fat of rams.” • 1 Kings 2:3 “Keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in His ways… so that you may succeed in all you do and wherever you turn.” \Wisdom’s Chorus\ • Psalm 119:9 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.” • Psalm 119:57, 60 “I have promised to obey Your words… I hurried without hesitating to keep Your commandments.” • Proverbs 3:1-2 “My son, do not forget my teaching… for they will add length of days and years of life and peace to you.” • Ecclesiastes 12:13 “When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.” \Prophets Calling Hearts Back\ • Isaiah 1:19-20 “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land. But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword…” • Jeremiah 7:23 “Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. Walk in all the ways that I command you, that it may go well with you.” • Ezekiel 36:27 “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.” \Jesus on Loving Obedience\ • Matthew 7:21, 24 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom… but only he who does the will of My Father… Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” • John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” • John 15:10 “If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.” \The Apostles Continue the Charge\ • Acts 5:29 “We must obey God rather than men.” • Romans 6:16 “You are slaves to the one you obey… whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness.” • 1 Corinthians 7:19 “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. What counts is keeping God’s commandments.” • Hebrews 5:9 “He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” • James 1:22 “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” • 1 John 2:3-5 “By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments… whoever keeps His word, truly God’s love is perfected in him.” • Revelation 22:14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates.” \Living the Lesson Today\ Deuteronomy 28:40 pictures resources slipping through disobedient fingers. Across Scripture the message stays consistent: blessing, intimacy, and fruitfulness come by hearing God’s voice and doing what He says. The Spirit now enables what the Law demanded—so we heed, trust, and obey, confident that obedience still opens the door to life that truly flourishes. |
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