The Lord explains the choice. They can disobey and the city will become a desolation or they can obey and their own kings will go through the gates riding in chariots and on horses. Why is the choice so hard? It is sometimes presented literally as a choice between life and death. Why don’t they choose life? Why don’t we?

In this particular case, what they are asked to obey is to do justice and righteousness, to not harm the foreigner in the land, the fatherless, or the widow, or kill the innocent. Is it too much to ask? Apparently.

Can you do what is right? Can you choose what is right?

Those are two different questions.

Under the Old Covenant, they had to do what was right. And they had all those sacrifices to help them out when they didn’t. It was a work of salvation, but it did come from a place of faith. They had to believe the sacrifice was covering their sin and giving them right-standing with God and the blessing they were after.

Under the New Covenant, we choose what is right. The law has taught us we can’t do what is right. So we cry out for a Savior. We achieve righteousness, again, from a place of faith. We receive forgiveness and cleansing so the Holy Spirit can fill us and give us the righteousness of Christ. We choose what’s right. He performs it. It’s His work now, not ours.

We’re told that people will see the destruction of their lives and ask, “Why did the Lord deal with them like this?” The answer is because they disregarded the Lord’s covenant.

Are you embracing the covenant promises of God to take away your sin and to put His law in your heart so that you will obey and walk in the righteousness of Christ?

Salvation is impossible for man. You are in a bottomless pit of depravity. You will never be a good person. But salvation is possible with God. Do you believe it?