The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:
The verse is one of the curses Moses read and threatened to Israel for disobedience to God's commandments, that God would strike them with madness and blindness and terror of heart. The chapter states plainly the blessings of obedience set against the fearful results and curse of transgression, leaving people to choose whether to enjoy blessing or suffer the consequences of disobedience. Its directions express the principles of the law of God's kingdom, made specific so minds are not left in ignorance and uncertainty. They were spoken by Christ to make the people's duties clear.
It presents the never-ceasing obligation of all whom God has blessed with life and health and temporal and spiritual advantages, and its message has not grown weak with age but God's claims are just as binding now and as fresh in importance as His gifts are fresh and continual. Obedience to God's commandments serves the people's present and future good. The Lord's promises to Israel are upon condition of obedience, with life for keeping His statutes and judgments and punishment for disobedience.
Together with the first chapter of Deuteronomy, it explains why the adult generation and army that left Egypt was refused entrance into the promised land. The living God who created the heavens and the earth and gave His law upon Sinai sends prosperity and adversity according to obedience or transgression of His law contained in the sacred chest. The ark itself is not God and its presence does not secure success; blessing comes by obedience to the law inside it and calamity comes by profaning it.
The verse warns that disobedience brings affliction, and that afflicting disease of every kind comes because of sin, because people transgress God's law and break down the barriers and protections He in providence erected to preserve them from disease so they might live in health and holiness and learn obedience. This curse of disease stands opposite the covenant of mercy that if people will diligently hearken to God's voice and do what is right and keep His commandments and statutes, He will put none of the diseases brought upon the Egyptians upon them, for He is the Lord who heals them. The curse for disobedience has grown heavier as people have continued to disobey.
The verse is one of the curses Moses read and threatened to Israel for disobedience to God's commandments, that God would strike them with madness and blindness and terror of heart. The chapter states plainly the blessings of obedience set against the fearful results and curse of transgression, leaving people to choose whether to enjoy blessing or suffer the consequences of disobedience. Its directions express the principles of the law of God's kingdom, made specific so minds are not left in ignorance and uncertainty. They were spoken by Christ to make the people's duties clear.
It presents the never-ceasing obligation of all whom God has blessed with life and health and temporal and spiritual advantages, and its message has not grown weak with age but God's claims are just as binding now and as fresh in importance as His gifts are fresh and continual. Obedience to God's commandments serves the people's present and future good. The Lord's promises to Israel are upon condition of obedience, with life for keeping His statutes and judgments and punishment for disobedience.
Together with the first chapter of Deuteronomy, it explains why the adult generation and army that left Egypt was refused entrance into the promised land. The living God who created the heavens and the earth and gave His law upon Sinai sends prosperity and adversity according to obedience or transgression of His law contained in the sacred chest. The ark itself is not God and its presence does not secure success; blessing comes by obedience to the law inside it and calamity comes by profaning it.
The verse warns that disobedience brings affliction, and that afflicting disease of every kind comes because of sin, because people transgress God's law and break down the barriers and protections He in providence erected to preserve them from disease so they might live in health and holiness and learn obedience. This curse of disease stands opposite the covenant of mercy that if people will diligently hearken to God's voice and do what is right and keep His commandments and statutes, He will put none of the diseases brought upon the Egyptians upon them, for He is the Lord who heals them. The curse for disobedience has grown heavier as people have continued to disobey.