Blessings or Curses

Bobby Gums   09.05.2025

 

Deuteronomy 28 draws a very distinctive line between the results of our obedience to the Lord’s commands and our disobedience. And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments…all these blessings

shall come on thee, and overtake thee. Then the alternative, But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments…that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee. Let us examine some of these blessings and curses that God says shall come to pass as a result of the choices we make in life.

 Blessings

Wherever we may be, we constantly depend upon the heavenly Father to meet our daily needs and for His protection. Dt 28:3-14 expounds on the many ways that the Lord blesses those that do hearken to His voice and obey all His commandments. He not only meets their needs, but blesses those in body, soul, and spirit. Verse 9, The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. The LORD has sworn to establish us as His holy people – sanctified, set apart, to make us a sanctuary – unto Himself. Isaiah 62:12 says, And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken. Hallelujah! Be encouraged brothers and sisters and do not lose heart because Acts 14:22 exhorts us to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. God brings a necessary work of humility and reformation first, but afterwards we are assured of comfort and peace in Christ. It is not easy, it is not meant to be. The Lord Jesus himself admonishes us to “count the cost”, decide for ourselves if it be worth it to follow Him. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Php 1:6). And so, Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee (Dt 31:6).

 Curses

As far as the curses (vs 15à) that come upon those that will not hearken unto the voice of the LORD God, to observe to do all his commandments, it is not that they just do not get HIS blessings, but get curses instead. Likewise, there will be curses of body, soul, and spirit. Verse 28, The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart. This should serve as a dire warning, prayerfully a wake up call to us all. The LORD shall stricken those who refuse His Word and His ways with madness (Strong’s 7697: craziness. This term denotes an intense mental disturbance that renders a person erratic, irrational, or out of control. Scripture portrays it primarily as a divinely imposed condition that either judges covenant breakers or confounds God’s enemies). The LORD will also smite the rebellious with blindness (Strong’s 5788 Spiritually, a disabling loss of perception [discernment], that scripture often uses to convey spiritual incapacity, moral darkness, or judicial hardening). Finally, in verse 28, The LORD shall smite those same ones with astonishment of heart (Strong’s 8541: confusion, bewilderment. Scripture conveys the idea of a paralyzing bewilderment that seizes the mind in the moment of divine judgment. It is not mere surprise or temporary disorientation, but a profound inner stupefaction that renders a person unable to think or act rationally. Scripture presents this state as the opposite of the wisdom, clarity, and peace that come from walking in covenant fidelity with the LORD).

 These curses are easily avoided and His blessings easily obtained. He [Christ Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him (1 Jn 2:2-5). Come to Christ today for His forgiveness of sins, and He will shed His love abroad in your heart, that you would become a new creature in Christ, and you will be on the receiving end of His wonderful blessings that come to those that heed His Word and obey His commandments. God give us ears to hear what your Spirit is saying today!

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Eph 4:12)

Bobby Gums

704.619.9201