29:9
“Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do.” This sums up the nature of the Law. If the people had followed “the terms of the covenant” everything would indeed have gone well with them. Of course, the problem was that they were utterly incapable of following the terms of the covenant, so things did not go well. How does this tie into the so-called prosperity gospel? As Jesus is our righteousness should we not now expect prosperity? The short answer is no, but it needs a somewhat longer answer. Through Christ we are brought near to God, we are totally acceptable to Him, and we do indeed receive many blessings. However, we need a deeper understanding. For God has brought us into His kingdom and we are involved in His purposes. And those purposes involve us in sharing in Christ’s sufferings, as the New Testament makes clear. We do not do this in order to make up for any lack or contribute to the atonement. Christ’s work on the cross was complete and finished, as Hebrews makes abundantly clear. But seeing people saved, seeing the needy helped, standing against evil may involve suffering.
29:10-15
The covenant was made with all the people. This included the various leaders, but also all the men, all the wives, and all the children., and it included the foreigners working in the land for them. All were included. They were all standing before the Lord to enter into a covenant with the Lord. The Lord made this covenant with an oath. He was confirming that they were His people, and that He would be their God. “You will be my people, and I will be your God” is the oft repeated refrain in the Old Testament. It was also a fulfilment of the promise made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This covenant was also made with future generations.
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