Today's readings are Deuteronomy 28.1-22 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Deut.+28.1-22 ) and Matthew 18.1-20 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Matt.+18.1-20 ).
Today we see blessings and cursings proclaimed upon Israel based on Israel's obedience or disobedience. See the righteous requirement of God's Law, the force with which God speaks. If we are transgressors, if we do not perfectly keep his requirements, we are partakers of the curse. And we all must confess we are partakers of the curse. So why don't we see the weight of God's judgment falling upon us? Why do we not suffer the penalty for our sin? Look how great our Lord's mercy and forgiveness are. Look how he has not treated us as our sins deserve. See our reading in Matthew and look at the kind of shepherd our Lord is, leaving the flock to seek out the stray.
I wonder if we've ever thought about this kind of animal husbandry? A solo shepherd, without backup, will in fact not leave an intact flock of sheep unprotected to go looking for a stray. The stray is likely very difficult to find and during the shepherd's absence the rest of the flock is subject to predators, wandering, all manner of dangers. But what kind of shepherd do we have in Christ? Just like we see the crazy farmer who plants seeds even where they can't be harvested reasonably, we have the crazy shepherd who goes to seek the sheep that has wandered and placed itself right in the jaws of the hungry wolves.
We are blessed wherever we are, even though we have not kept our Lord's commands. Our Lord himself has taken all the punishment for our sin and has left us as the holy nation who obey his word. He has poured out his blessing on us, becoming the accursed one in our place. He has rescued us from all evil.
Thanks be to God for his great love.
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