"The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me."
Deuteronomy 28 contains blessings and curses that were given to the Israelites by Moses as they were about to enter the Promised Land. This chapter presents a covenant between God and the people of Israel, outlining the blessings they would receive if they obeyed God’s commandments and the curses they would experience if they disobeyed.
In verse 20, God declares that if the Israelites forsake Him and engage in wickedness, He will send upon them cursing, vexation, and rebuke in all their endeavours. Let’s break down the verse further to understand its meaning:
"The LORD shall send upon thee cursing": This refers to the punishment and consequences that God will bring upon the people. It implies that they will experience negative outcomes and hardships due to their disobedience.
"vexation, and rebuke": The Israelites will face distress, trouble, and rebuke from God. This suggests that their actions will result in personal and collective suffering.
"in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do": This phrase means that their efforts, projects, and endeavours will be plagued by difficulties and failure. It indicates that God’s judgment will affect every aspect of their lives and work.
"until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly": This is a severe warning of the consequences of persistent disobedience. The people will face destruction and perish swiftly if they continue in their wicked ways.
"because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me": The reason for these curses is the Israelites’ wickedness and their abandonment of God. Their disobedience and turning away from the Lord will lead to these negative consequences.
This verse serves as a warning to the Israelites to remain faithful to God and follow His commandments. It emphasises the importance of obedience and the severe consequences of forsaking God and engaging in wickedness.
As Christians, we can draw a broader application from this verse. It reminds us of the importance of remaining faithful to God’s teachings and commandments. It encourages us to live in righteousness, acknowledging that disobedience can lead to negative consequences in our lives. It also reminds us of the need to seek repentance and turn back to God if we have strayed from His ways.
Overall, Deuteronomy 28:20 highlights the relationship between obedience and the consequences of disobedience. It reminds us of God’s justice and the importance of walking in righteousness and faithfulness to Him.
