In Deuteronomy 27 Moses and the elders give the people instructions to build pillars on which to place the commandments of the Lord when they enter the Promised Land. They are also instructed to build an altar there and make sacrifices of well-being in celebration of God’s deliverance.

Then Moses and the Levites give instructions for the delivery of blessings and curses. The curses are given first. There are 12 curses given. These primarily deal with the treatment of others. If a person mistreats another in the ways described that person will be cursed.

Deuteronomy 28 opens with the blessings the people will receive if they diligently keep the commandments. They will multiply and be prosperous. They will defeat their enemies. They will be God’s holy people. God will make them leaders and not followers or slaves.

If, however, they disobey, the opposite will occur. They will lose their lands. They will meet with disaster. They will be defeated by their enemies. They will be taken into captivity. They will decrease in number.

In Romans 7 Paul discusses the law and its effect on us. He essentially says that since the law highlights those things that are against the law it actually opens the door for us to consider ways to sin. Instead of discouraging us to do those things we shouldn’t, it opens us up to temptation, just as telling children not to do something often entices them to do that very thing.

It is not that the law is causing us to be sinful, but rather that sin takes the law and uses it to entice us to do wrong. We know what we shouldn’t do and do it anyway. We want to do good and yet we don’t do it. Concentrating on the law leads us into perilous territory.