Deuteronomy 27:1-8: a reflection

1Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep all the commandment which I command you today. 2It shall be on the day when you shall pass over the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set yourself up great stones, and coat them with plaster. 3You shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have passed over, that you may go in to the land which the LORD your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you. 4It shall be, when you have crossed over the Jordan, that you shall set up these stones, which I command you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall coat them with plaster. 5There you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You shall not use any iron tool on them. 6You shall build the LORD your God’s altar of uncut stones. You shall offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God. 7You shall sacrifice peace offerings, and shall eat there. You shall rejoice before the LORD your God. 8You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.”

As Israel prepares to enter the land, Moses commands that when they cross the Jordan they are to set up large stones, coat them with plaster, and write on them all the words of the law, and write them, he says, very plainly. God's word was to be inscribed, made visible and central, kept plainly before the people in their new land, so that it would not be forgotten but would stand always before their eyes, clear and legible, at the heart of their life in the land.

Notice the concern to keep God's word plainly before the people. It was not enough for the law to be known vaguely, or kept out of sight; it was to be written on stones, coated with plaster, inscribed very plainly, set up where it would be seen. God's word was to be made visible and central, kept clearly before them, so that it would remain at the heart of their life and not be forgotten. The instruction to write it very plainly shows a concern that God's word be clearly and constantly before the people, not hidden or neglected.

That concern is worth taking to heart, for we too are prone to let God's word slip out of sight, and need to keep it plainly before us. We can let God's word be crowded out, kept vaguely in the background, neglected, rather than kept clearly and constantly before us; but Israel was to write it very plainly, keeping it visible and central. Keep God's word plainly before you, at the center of your life, rather than letting it slip out of sight or be crowded out; make it visible and central, as Israel was to write the law very plainly on the stones. Do not let God's word be neglected or kept vaguely in the background; keep it clearly and constantly before you, giving it a central and visible place in your life, as Israel was commanded to inscribe the law very plainly where it would always be seen, that it might remain at the heart of their life in the land.

Lord, as Israel prepares to enter the land, Moses commands that when they cross the Jordan they are to set up large stones, coat them with plaster, and write on them all the words of the law, and write them, he says, very plainly. Your word was to be inscribed, made visible and central, kept plainly before the people, so that it would not be forgotten but would stand always before their eyes, at the heart of their life in the land. Show me the concern to keep your word plainly before the people. It was not enough for the law to be known vaguely, or kept out of sight; it was to be written very plainly, set up where it would be seen. Your word was to be made visible and central, so that it would remain at the heart of their life. Take that concern to my heart, for I too am prone to let your word slip out of sight, and need to keep it plainly before me. I can let your word be crowded out, kept vaguely in the background, neglected, rather than kept clearly and constantly before me; but Israel was to write it very plainly. Help me keep your word plainly before me, at the center of my life, Lord, rather than letting it slip out of sight or be crowded out. Keep me from letting your word be neglected or kept vaguely in the background; help me keep it clearly and constantly before me, giving it a central and visible place in my life, as Israel was commanded to inscribe the law very plainly.