If Israel one day should depart from the Lord, but then later return to Him, He would pour out His great blessings on His people (30:1-10) – Such blessings would be conditional, as Israel must return to Him with all their heart and soul (30:2,10). What blessings would He grant to them if they returned?
– He would have compassion on them (30:3).
– He would bring them back out of captivity to their homeland (30:3-5).
– He would prosper and multiply them (30:5). – He would circumcise their heart (30:6).
– He would put curses on their enemies (30:7).
– He would bless them materially by blessing their work, the fruit of their body, their livestock, and their land (30:9).
– He would rejoice over them (30:9). How happy He would be to see them serving Him out of love!
Life and death (30:11-20) – What God commanded Israel through Moses was not mysterious, and it was not far away from them (30:11-13). As God said, “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it” (30:14). If Israel ever should fail to serve Jehovah properly, there would be no excuses for such behavior. His word was available for them at all times. How wonderful it would be if God’s word always would be in our mouth and in our heart! Read how Paul made application of these thoughts in Romans 10:8-10.
The Lord called on Israel to make a choice. What were the options? “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil” (30:15). Each individual Israelite would have to make his/her own choice, but the Lord implored them with these words: “. . . I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (30:19).
Suppose an Israelite said, “Okay, if I choose life, what will that mean for me? How would I show that I am choosing life?” The answer is not complicated. Those who choose life are those who choose to live for the Lord, meaning that they will take heed to these thoughts: “. . . love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments . . .” (30:16). Real spiritual life is for those who choose to serve the Lord with all of their being. There are no shortcuts and no magic formulas to pleasing the Lord. It is simply a matter of continuous, daily walking according to His instructions. That may not appeal to some, but it is the way of the Lord . . . and it works!
— Roger D. Campbell