“The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart.”
Deuteronomy 28:28 is a part of a larger passage known as the blessings and curses, which are found in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. In this chapter, Moses outlines the consequences of disobedience to the covenant that God made with the Israelites.
This particular verse speaks of the punishment that would befall the Israelites if they turned away from God and broke His commandments. The phrase “The LORD shall smite thee” suggests that it is God Himself who would bring about these afflictions as a form of divine judgment.
The verse lists three specific afflictions:
- Madness:This refers to a state of mental illness or insanity. It signifies a loss of sound judgement, reason, or mental stability. The implication is that disobedience and turning away from God’s ways can lead to a breakdown in mental well-being.
- Blindness:In this context, blindness represents a loss of physical sight or a lack of spiritual insight and understanding. It can symbolise a spiritual darkness resulting from straying away from God’s truth and guidance.
- Astonishment of heart:This phrase indicates a sense of confusion, bewilderment, or deep distress in one’s heart. It suggests a state of emotional turmoil, shock, or dismay caused by the consequences of disobedience.
It’s important to note that these afflictions mentioned in Deuteronomy 28:28 are not God’s desired outcome for His people. Rather, they serve as warnings of the consequences that would follow if the Israelites abandoned their covenant relationship with Him.
Blessings and curses:The blessings and curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28 were intended to motivate the Israelites to remain faithful to God and obey His commandments. The passage emphasises the importance of following God’s ways, as obedience leads to blessings and disobedience leads to curses.
