7 December Deuteronomy 27

The law written on our hearts

Deuteronomy 27:2-5 (NIV) “When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster. Build there an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on them”.

Once Israel crossed the Jordan, they had to create an altar made of plaster-covered stones with the words of the Law. This altar was meant to help instil obedience by reminding the people of God’s faithfulness to perform His part of the Covenant.

God wants us to remember his word and covenant. In Jeremiah, God promises to write his covenant on our minds and hearts. Writing in our hearts and minds means we take God’s word seriously, make it our own, love it and live accordingly. The Holy Spirit now writes the same law carved on stone tablets in our hearts. Instead of trying to make ourselves righteous by our efforts, we accept the righteousness of Christ. His blood pays for our sins, and His obedience counts for us. With Christ’s grace, we will obey God’s law written in our hearts.

Jeremiah 31:33 (NIV) “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people”. In this verse, Jeremiah describes a new covenant between God and man, which perfectly describes the ministry of Jesus Christ. This drive for obedience, from the inside out, is the work of the Holy Spirit in those who are saved. The author of Hebrews speaks to the covenant: Hebrews 8:10 (ESV)” For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people”. Adjacent to this Paul questions in 2 Corinthians 3:1-3 (NIV) “Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts”.

In conclusion, the law written on our hearts is a profound testament to God's desire for a personal, transformative relationship with His people. Just as the Israelites were reminded of God's covenant by the words engraved on stones, we are reminded through the Holy Spirit's work within us. This internal writing moves beyond external rituals and laws to heart-driven obedience rooted in love and grace.

Through Jesus Christ, we are part of a new covenant that fulfils the promises of Jeremiah. God’s law is not just a set of rules but a living guide, shaping our thoughts, actions, and desires. We no longer strive to achieve righteousness on our own but rely on Christ’s righteousness, allowing His sacrifice and obedience to align us with God's will.

We are living letters, evidence of Christ’s transformative work, visible to all around us. Let us, therefore, embrace the law written on our hearts, living as God’s people, guided by His Spirit, and reflecting His grace and love in our daily lives.