Deuteronomy 11-13, Psalm 63

If Israel enters the land and follows the Lord’s statutes and ordinances, they will be blessed by the Lord. If, however, they turn from keeping his law, they will receive a curse from the Lord, rather than a blessing. After warning the Israelites of what’s at stake, Moses begins to give a second presentation of the law of God to a new generation, hence “Deuteronomy,” meaning “second law.” Among his many admonitions is the destruction of high places and altars to foreign gods, saying, “You are not to do as we are doing here today; everyone is doing what seems right in his own sight.” Under this covenant, the purity of God’s people as a whole was tantamount, for they represented God on the earth. Therefore sin and idolatry could not be tolerated among those who were a part of Israel.