(19) I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Deuteronomy 30:19

Explanation:
Moses sums up his entire message in these last two verses beginning with today’s text. He does so by calling “heaven and earth” as witnesses against them. How can heaven and earth be a witness? Well both angelic and human witnesses are being claimed here. There were those in heaven that would be a witness, including angelic beings and even God, Himself. There were those on earth who would be called to witness.

To what were they a witness? They were witness to the fact that Moses had presented to the nation of Israel a choice. The choice was between life and death, and what would result. To obey God would bring life and blessing. To disobey God would bring death and curse. The choice was clear.

But the choice wasn’t to be made just once. It was a continual choice that they would have to make, and teach their children to make. Notice what he said in the verses leading up to today’s text:

(15) See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
(16) In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
(17) But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
(18) I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

Deuteronomy 30:15-18

You see, it was a call to decide to continue to make a certain kind of decision. Much like choosing a path. They could make the initial choice to go down a certain path, but as one travels down the road they could choose to turn around. They could leave the path and go their own way. Moses was calling them to a decision to keep making the right decisions.

Application:
This was the nature of the law, and the problem with the law is that no one can keep it entirely. The Bible says that the law was our schoolmaster teaching us that we were sinners in need of a Savior. The good news for us is that there is a new covenant that has been made. When we are justified by faith in Christ we are given peace with God. God promises to save us, to make us alive spiritually, and to adopt us into His family. He imputes Christ’s righteousness to us, and our sin He will remember no more! We can rest in the truth found in Romans 8:1.

(1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:1

Now as a loving Father to those who know Him as Savior, we know that God blesses obedience, and He corrects disobedience in His kids. In that way we ought to choose life and blessing, rather than disobedience and chastening. This ought to be our response.

(1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans 12:1

Response:

• Take a few moments today to thank the Lord that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ!
• Are there life choices you are making that are bringing the chastening of the Lord? Repent! Choose blessing rather than chastening!