Writing Assignment 4 - Essay Example

Writing Assignment 4 QUESTION Deuteronomy History”, the much debated section of The Old Testament, de s many spiritual thoughts to explain thereasons why God gives blessings or why He decides to bestow curse. In other words, verses connoted in Duet 28-30 provides a precise understanding to the contextual factors, which can make people experience blessings or suffer curses. The biblical view presented in Deut 28, epitomizes about benediction for obedience and curses of disobedience to the supreme power, the God as it quotes, “And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God” (NIV28.2). The metaphysical view in this verse discloses about an individual’s receiving blessing from the LORD for being obedient by following his directed commands (Biblical gateway, “Deuteronomy 28-30”).

Specifically, when giving an explanation as to how a man shall be able to experience blessings, the biblical verses of Deut 28.12 connotes that “The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow”. This statement counts on that if a person serves humanity and the nation by acting as a lender, Lord will open up his treasures for that person and offer blessings.

He will also provide ample rain, which is portrayed as a symbol of health, food and prosperity in that person’s land (Biblical gateway, “Deuteronomy 28-30”). Deuteronomy 28.21 further presents the philosophical belief of curses, which the God shall bestow on a soul against disobedience. The spiritual vision states that Lord will plague the soul with infection and disease, if that person tries to possess else’s land unlawfully, by committing disobedience to the LORD. The biblical view explained in Deut 29 again reflects about the ‘Renewal of Covenant’.

The message of Lord directs the soul to follow the terms mentioned in Covenant for prosperity, disobedience to which may cause a man to experience curses (Biblical gateway, “Deuteronomy 28-30”). However, when ultimately a soul withdraws from disobedience to righteous acts of caring for others, the God is also stated to act mercifully by blessing him with prosperity. In Deut 30, the testament says about the prosperity of the souls after they turn to God and obey him. Deut 30:11-20 also preaches about the God’s direction, where he mentioned that he will lend opulence, life, death and destruction, counting on the souls obeying him and keeping his commands and laws, wherein the souls disobeying him by unlawfully possessing others land shall be cursed mercilessly (Biblical gateway, “Deuteronomy 28-30”).

These learning can be further found inculcated in the story of Joshua as versed in Joshua 2 of New International Version (NIV), the God has been said to vow to the Israelites to save them and their army and guarantee their victory if they obeyed His instructions. As stated in Joshua 2.17, “The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground” (Biblical gateway, “Joshua 2).

However, very precisely, the God commands that those who shall follow Him will be excluded from the group going to experience His wrath, even if falling in same bloodline or asking for mercy. Illustratively, in 2 Kings 22.11-13, Josiah, when finds God’s book of Revelation and learns that his ancestors had not followed a single instruction from Him, instructs the priest Hilkiah to pray for mercy and safety of Judah. But, God denies any mercy to the land as a consequence of the king’s ancestors’ disobedience.

Nonetheless, for Josiah’s incomparable obedience to the God’s verdicts, he receives blessings in the form of an easy, painless death before Judah was to be destroyed (Biblical gateway, “2 Kings 22-25”). Hence, man obeying Him will experience blessings or boons, whereas man going against Him and deciphering disobedience will have to experience curses. In our time, the passage may apply to follow a moral and spiritual lifestyle, guided with values that offer kindness and firmly honest principles to lead a prosperous life.

QUESTION 2 In the story crossing the Jordan River, as versed in Joshua 3, Joshua had to act as the follower of God and instruct the Israelites to bring them in the safe dry lands. In the statement of Joshua 3.2-4, Joshua was instructed by the LORD that if he and his men follow His commandments, the God shall rescue them from the devastating flood and bring them to security. As instructed, Israelites, under the followership of Joshua as successful to cross the wet-lands and be safe in the dry lands.

According to the verse Joshua.16-17, “the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground” (Biblical gateway, “Joshua 3 (New International Version)).

Again in Joshua 6, narrations brief the experiences of Jericho, a kingdom which was ruled by unworthy kings, who disobeyed the commandments of the God. In this stanza, the people of Jericho were handed to Joshua by the God, who then executed all the kings and their armed men, destroying the city entirely following the LORD’s instructions. Hence, disobedience bestowed the God’s curse on Jericho. As versed in Joshua 6.26, “At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: “Cursed before the Lord is the one who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho: “At the cost of his firstborn son; he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest; he will set up its gates”” (Biblical gateway, “Joshua 6 (New International Version)).

Apparently, obedience to God by Joshua brought him blessings while Jericho was bestowed with God’s wrath to destruction. The same commandment can be found in Joshua 7 emphasizing the sin by Achan. This passage narrated Israelites as unfaithful. Achan and others took some devoted things unlawfully, showing disrespect to the God, which was hence deemed as disobedience. Alas, God also made the Israelites destined for destruction. As versed in Joshua 7.11-12, “Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep.

They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction” (Biblical gateway, “Joshua 7 (New International Version)). Apparently, the principles versed in these stories affirm that obedience to God is the key to His blessings, while disobedience is certainly the attitude that brings wrath to men by God.

Notably, these principles can be helpful to bring discipline in our world today, where people can be guided towards the greater good and sinister doings can be restrained. Works Cited “2 Kings 22-25”. Josiah of Judah. Biblical gateway, 2011. Web. 24 Sep. 2013. . “Deuteronomy 28-30”. New International Version. Biblical gateway, 2011. Web. 24 Sep. 2013. . “Joshua 2”. King James Version (KJV). Biblical gateway, 2011. Web. 24 Sep. 2013. . “Joshua 3 (New International Version)”. New International Version (NIV).

Biblical gateway, 2011. Web. 24 Sep. 2013. . “Joshua 6 (New International Version)”. New International Version (NIV). Biblical gateway, 2011. Web. 24 Sep. 2013. . “Joshua 7 (New International Version)”. New International Version (NIV). Biblical gateway, 2011. Web. 24 Sep. 2013. .