February 27, 2026 - Deuteronomy 23-27

Moses continues to speak to Israel and to recall the commandments of God.  Furthermore, he instructed, “And when you have crossed over the Jordan, you shall set up these stones, concerning which I command you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with plaster.  And there you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones.  You shall wield no iron tool on them;  you shall build an altar to the LORD your God of uncut stones. And you shall offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God,  and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and shall eat there, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God.  And you shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly” (27:4-8).  “Very plainly” write God’s words!  Write them on stones so that they will not easily be erased before the people!  Read them over and over again!  Similarly, how important it is for us to remember that God has spoken to us through the Bible.  And how important it is for us to be in the Bible, day after day, lest we forget God’s commandments and fail to obey them and lest we forget all God’s blessings and fail to thank him and lest we forget all that we have in Christ and fail to rest in him at all times.

Holy Bible, book divine,

precious treasure, thou art mine;

mine to tell me whence I came;

mine to teach me what I am:

Mine to chide me when I stray,

mine to show a Savior’s way;

mine art thou to guide my feet;

mine to judge, condemn, acquit.

Mine to comfort in distress,

if the Holy Spirit bless;

mine to show by living faith,

we can triumph over death.

Mine to tell of joys to come,

and the rebel sinner’s doom;

Holy Bible, book divine,

precious treasure, thou art mine.   --John Burton (1803)