The bumper sticker under consideration this week is “God Bless America.” We will have two sermon texts for analyzing this sticker: Deuteronomy 11:26-29 and Deuteronomy 30:15-20.
What you’ll notice about these two passages is that they serve as “bookends” for the 19 chapters in between. Deuteronomy 11:26-29 says, “I’m setting (present tense) before you today a blessing and a curse.” Then God begins to describe the standard of righteousness by which the blessing or curse will be determined. This goes on until Deuteronomy 30:15-20, which then says, “I have set (past tense) before you a blessing and curse.”
1. Upon what basis does God promise to grant blessings to Israel? Upon what basis will God grant curses to Israel?
2. What are some of the synonyms God uses to describe “blessings” and “curses”? (Deut 30:15,19)
3. Describe the relevance of Mount Gerazim and Mount Ebal to the blessings and curses of God.
4. Do Americans have the right to demand God’s blessings? Under what conditions can Americans expect to be blessed by God?
5. Given our nation’s present state of spiritual health, is God more inclined to bless American or curse America? What do you base your answer upon?