12 When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.  13-15 Then say to the Lord your God: ‘I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them.  I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor have I offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the  Lord my God; I have done everything you commanded me.  Look down from heaven, your holy dwelling-place, and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on oath to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.’

16 The Lord your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.  17 You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws – that you will listen to him.  18-19 And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands. He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honour high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised. Deuteronomy 26:12-19 New International Version

God gave the Israelites duties and ceremonies to fulfil once they had settled in the land He was giving them. This one involved providing for the Levites who served in the Tabernacle, as well as for orphans and widows. (vs 12) Fully obeying God in this way would give them confidence to ask for His blessing from above. (vs 13-15) So how were they to go about obeying the decrees and laws God had given? (vs 16)

Their obedience was to be wholehearted. They were to take care to do what was right. They were not to be casual when it came to serving God and only keep the laws they liked. Verse 17 shows that He wasn’t FORCING them to obey Him – He was giving them the choice to obey. What had God already done for them and what would He do in the future? (vs 18-19)

He had already shown them great love in making them His special people; and if they were faithful in obeying His laws and decrees He would set them above all the nations of the world. If the Jews had kept their side of the covenant they would’ve been blessed with eternal fame. Sadly, as years went by, many of them took this relationship with God for granted and forsook His laws and decrees. They stoned prophets He sent to call them back to Himself, and ended up crucifying the Lord Jesus Christ. The outcome of this was that the Kingdom of God was taken to the gentiles.

But there’s a danger that professing Christians can end up taking God's love for granted too. The apostle Paul compared Israel to a cultivated Olive tree which had some branches cut off, and a branch from a wild Olive tree grafted in. Then he says: “You gentile Christians are like that wild olive tree and you now share the strong spiritual life of the Jews. So then, you mustn't despise those who were broken off like branches. How can you be proud? You are just a branch; you don't support the roots - the roots support you! But you will say, 'Yes, but the branches were broken off to make room for me.' That’s true - they were broken off because they did not believe; you remain in place because you do believe. But don't be proud of this; instead, be afraid. God didn't spare the Jews, who are like natural branches; do you think He will spare you? See how kind - and how severe God is. He is severe toward those who have fallen, but kind to you - if you continue in His kindness. But if you don't, you too will be broken off.  And if the Jews abandon their unbelief, they will be put back in the place where they were; for God is able to do that.” (Romans 11:17-23) God's kindness and our relationship with Him must never be treated lightly or taken for granted. As an old hymn says – God's love (as shown through the cross of Christ) is so amazing, so divine; it demands my soul, my life, my all.