Deuteronomy 28:1-14 contain a list of some amazing blessings which are for
the children of God. In verses 1 and 2, God gives the conditions of these
blessings; however, depending on the translation of the Bible you read the
conditions of these blessings seems to change. These conditions are either to
?hear God?s voice? (in the King James Version) or to ?obey God?s laws? (New
International Version, New Living Translation, English Standard Version, and
others). So, which is it, those who hear God?s voice or those who obey God?s
laws?
Dr. Gary Greig is one of my 3 spiritual advisors whom I look to for
input and confirmation concerning scriptural truths as well as whether the words
which I feel I have received from the Lord are indeed from the Lord. He is also
Senior Editor of Bible and Theology at Regal Books.
So I asked Gary if
Deut. 28:1-2 clearly says in the Hebrew that the following 12 verses of amazing
blessings are for those who ?hear God?s voice? (as the King James Version says),
or for those who ?obey God?s laws? as some of the other modern versions
say.
Gary?s response is below:
Deut 28:1-2 does indeed literally
say in the Hebrew, ?If you indeed hear/listen to the voice of the Lord (Heb
shamoa tishma? beqol Yahweh)...(28:2)...if you hear/listen to the voice of the
Lord (Heb ki tishma? beqol Yahweh)...?
The ?you? is singular in Hebrew
referring to each individual among God?s people. The Hebrew phrase (and the
phrase in Aramaic and other Semitic languages) ?hear the voice of...? means to
?listen obediently,? or to ?hearken? (KJV?s translation), or to ?heed,? or to
?obey? (NASB, NIV translations), and I?m convinced this is the meaning of Jesus?
words in John 10:27 ?My sheep hear My voice....? (Jesus was speaking Aramaic,
the common language among 1st century Jews in the land of Israel, when He spoke
those words.) Jesus is not just talking about simply the ability to hear His
voice?Balaam and other false prophets could hear God?s voice?but He is talking
about hearing and obeying His voice.
So, yes the promises of Deut. 28:1-14
are based on a believer?s ability to hear and also their willingness to obey the
Lord?s voice.
So the amazing blessings of God as listed in Deut. 28:1-14
are for children of God who hear and obey the voice of God. I pray that includes
you!
Mark Virkler is with Christian Leadership University. CLU is a Christian University and Online Bible
College offering Christian education including Christian counseling and Christian theology
seminaries and offers certificates, undergrad, Masters, and Doctorates in
the various Christian
colleges of CLU.