And all the people shall say "Amen" to each curse. The people of Israel are called to verbally affirm the curses that will come if they break covenant with God. Not just understand them intellectually. Say them. Commit to them. Mark themselves by agreeing to the judgment.
I'm reading this in a season of watching Christian culture lose its moral coherence. We claim to follow Jesus while pursuing wealth, power, revenge, sexual freedom - the things Jesus actually warned against. And I'm wondering: when did we stop saying the curses?
What if we were required to say: if I pursue greed, I am cursed. If I pursue revenge, I am cursed. If I pursue sexual freedom outside of marriage, I am cursed. Not in a shaming way, but as clear-eyed acknowledgment of consequences.
We've softened everything. We've said God is only love, so curses are just consequences that God regrets. We've lost the sense that God actually means what He says. That rebellion against Him has a weight to it.
The Israelites were called to say amen to the curses. To understand that they were choosing either blessing or curse. Not both. Not a both-and where you get to rebel and nothing happens.
I find myself wanting to say amen to the curses now. Not from shame, but from clarity. Yes, I understand the stakes. Yes, I understand what rebellion against God actually costs. And that's why I'm choosing blessing. Not because I'm forced. Because I'm awake.
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