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The Ministry of Healing
the street of the gate of Ephraim. And all the congregation of them
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that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under
the booths.... And there was very great gladness.”
Verses 15-17
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God gave to Israel instruction in all the principles essential to
physical as well as to moral health, and it was concerning these
principles no less than concerning those of the moral law that He
commanded them:
“These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine
heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and
shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou
walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest
up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they
shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them
upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:6-9
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“And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What
mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the
Lord our God hath commanded you? Then thou shalt say unto thy
son, ... The Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the
Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive,
as it is at this day.”
Verses 20-24
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Had the Israelites obeyed the instruction they received, and prof-
ited by their advantages, they would have been the world’s object
lesson of health and prosperity. If as a people they had lived accord-
ing to God’s plan, they would have been preserved from the diseases
that afflicted other nations. Above any other people they would have
possessed physical strength and vigor of intellect. They would have
been the mightiest nation on the earth. God said:
“Thou shalt be blessed above all people.”
Deuteronomy 7:14
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“The Lord hath avouched thee this day to be His peculiar people,
as He hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all His
commandments; and to make thee high above all nations which
He hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honor; and that thou
mayest be an holy people unto the Lord thy God, as He hath spoken.”
Deuteronomy 26:18, 19
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“And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if
thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. Blessed shalt
thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed
shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the