138. Set on High
Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth.
The conditional promise: if you listen carefully to the Lord to observe and do all the commandments, then the Lord will set you on high above all the nations of earth. The height of the Kingdom of Israel came during the time of David and Solomon, then it was divided and after many centuries disintegrated until the people of God were exiled into larger empires. The conclusion to be drawn is that the people did not listen and obey the Covenant Stipulations, the Ten Commandments, and all the commands given through Moses. Therefore, the political nation of Israel did not rise high above the nations.
The very people of the Covenant were eventually driven out of the Land because they polluted the Land with idolatry, sin and rebellion against God. Therefore, the land spewed them out.
The promise did, however, come true in the spiritual and eternal sense. The kingdom of God in the hearts of believers did grow, and is still growing, to become high above all the nations of the world. Earth people are left behind, while heavenly people grow and flourish, and God set them high above the kingdom of the world. Empires and worldly kingdoms come and go, expand and die, sometimes rapidly and sometimes after hundreds of years, but the spiritual and real and eternal kingdom of God expands and grows and never dies.
It is impossible to see, and hard to believe, but the eternal kingdom of God that lives and reigns in our hearts is in reality (eternal and spiritual reality) set high above all worldly kingdoms. Where is the kingdom? Where is the power? Where is the glory? It is hidden to human eyes, but revealed to faith, which is worked in us by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Gospel. What seems weak and foolish to the world is actually strong and wise. The cross of Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. We glory in the cross. Through the work of Christ, disobedience is forgiven and obedience is granted. So believers are set high above. Rejoice in the victory and the power and the glory!