Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.
To be cursed in the city and in the field means that disobedience brings a curse on every part of life, in every place where people live and work. It stands as the stated consequence and warning for transgression, set in direct contrast to the blessings promised in those same places for obedience. It belongs to God's conditional promise to Israel, in which life and blessing were given upon condition of doing His judgments and keeping His ordinances, statutes and commandments. God sends prosperity or adversity according to obedience or transgression of His law, so the curse reflects His displeasure at being forsaken and brings loss of blessing and prosperity. Because of transgression and departing from His commandments, the curse comes upon the earth itself, upon man, upon cattle and beasts, upon the fish of the sea, and upon all flesh, and as transgression becomes almost universal it will be permitted to become as broad and as deep as the transgression.
Meaning and Historical Setting
Disobedience brings a curse upon every part of life, falling alike where people dwell and where they labor, in the city and in the field. No setting is exempt, for town and countryside, home and work, are both placed under it when God's commandments are forsaken. That forsaking brings loss of blessing and prosperity and reflects God's displeasure, with prosperity or adversity sent according to obedience or transgression of His law. It stands as the stated consequence and warning for transgression, set in direct contrast to the blessings promised in those same places for obedience.
The warning belongs to Deuteronomy 26, 27 and 28, which state plainly the blessings of obedience. Those directions express the principles of the law of God's kingdom, made specific so that minds are not left in ignorance and uncertainty. It was among the curses upon disobedience read aloud to all the people assembled together from the book that had been written, together with the events of their past history and the promises to them if they would be obedient. The curse upon humanity and the earth began with Adam's fall, increased after Abel's murder and the Flood, and has grown heavier through continuing disobedience.
Conditional Promise of Blessing
The verse belongs to God's conditional promise to Israel, with the curse set as the outcome if the condition is not met. The promises were made upon condition of obedience in doing His judgments and keeping His ordinances and statutes and commandments, and life is given in the keeping of them. Disobedience brings an altering of God's purpose and loss of promise, as seen when the adult army that left Egypt was refused entrance into the promised land and left to fall in the wilderness. God sends prosperity or adversity according to obedience or transgression of His law. The curse in the city and in the field shows that disobedience to His commandments brings a curse upon every part of life, including loss of blessing and prosperity, and reflects His displeasure with forsaking Him.
Diligent hearkening to His voice and doing what is right and keeping His commandments and statutes brings blessing and health and preservation from disease. Transgressing His law breaks down the barriers He erected to preserve His people in health and holiness and brings curse and disease of every stripe and type because of sin. Christ is the invisible leader and mighty Healer who desires to preserve and heal all who do His will. Under this curse Israel's transgression left them vulnerable to their enemies.
Widening Curse and Present Choice
Because of transgression and departing from God's commandments the curse comes upon the earth itself, upon man, upon cattle and beasts, upon the fish of the sea, and upon all flesh. Human beings suffer the result of their own course of action, and the beasts also suffer under the curse, and as transgression becomes almost universal the curse will be permitted to become as broad and as deep as the transgression. The curse is seen in disease in cattle making meat eating dangerous, in diseased flesh sold in marketplaces bringing disease among men as the sure result, and in a short time the milk of cows and anything coming from animal creation will not be safe to use. Those who take God at His Word and obey His commandments with a whole heart will be blessed with His shield of protection and will be brought to a position where they will not touch nor taste the flesh of dead animals.
Being cursed in the city and in the field is the fearful result of disobeying God's commands set against the blessings of obedience, requiring people to choose between the outcomes. Distrust, disobedience, and alienation from God's will and way place the sinner in a position where the Lord cannot give him His divine favor. The directions present the never-ceasing obligation of all whom God has blessed with life and health and advantages in temporal and spiritual things. The message has not grown weak because of age, and God's claims are just as binding now and just as fresh as His gifts are fresh and continual.
To be cursed in the city and in the field means that disobedience brings a curse on every part of life, in every place where people live and work. It stands as the stated consequence and warning for transgression, set in direct contrast to the blessings promised in those same places for obedience. It belongs to God's conditional promise to Israel, in which life and blessing were given upon condition of doing His judgments and keeping His ordinances, statutes and commandments. God sends prosperity or adversity according to obedience or transgression of His law, so the curse reflects His displeasure at being forsaken and brings loss of blessing and prosperity. Because of transgression and departing from His commandments, the curse comes upon the earth itself, upon man, upon cattle and beasts, upon the fish of the sea, and upon all flesh, and as transgression becomes almost universal it will be permitted to become as broad and as deep as the transgression.
Meaning and Historical Setting
Disobedience brings a curse upon every part of life, falling alike where people dwell and where they labor, in the city and in the field. No setting is exempt, for town and countryside, home and work, are both placed under it when God's commandments are forsaken. That forsaking brings loss of blessing and prosperity and reflects God's displeasure, with prosperity or adversity sent according to obedience or transgression of His law. It stands as the stated consequence and warning for transgression, set in direct contrast to the blessings promised in those same places for obedience.
The warning belongs to Deuteronomy 26, 27 and 28, which state plainly the blessings of obedience. Those directions express the principles of the law of God's kingdom, made specific so that minds are not left in ignorance and uncertainty. It was among the curses upon disobedience read aloud to all the people assembled together from the book that had been written, together with the events of their past history and the promises to them if they would be obedient. The curse upon humanity and the earth began with Adam's fall, increased after Abel's murder and the Flood, and has grown heavier through continuing disobedience.
Conditional Promise of Blessing
The verse belongs to God's conditional promise to Israel, with the curse set as the outcome if the condition is not met. The promises were made upon condition of obedience in doing His judgments and keeping His ordinances and statutes and commandments, and life is given in the keeping of them. Disobedience brings an altering of God's purpose and loss of promise, as seen when the adult army that left Egypt was refused entrance into the promised land and left to fall in the wilderness. God sends prosperity or adversity according to obedience or transgression of His law. The curse in the city and in the field shows that disobedience to His commandments brings a curse upon every part of life, including loss of blessing and prosperity, and reflects His displeasure with forsaking Him.
Diligent hearkening to His voice and doing what is right and keeping His commandments and statutes brings blessing and health and preservation from disease. Transgressing His law breaks down the barriers He erected to preserve His people in health and holiness and brings curse and disease of every stripe and type because of sin. Christ is the invisible leader and mighty Healer who desires to preserve and heal all who do His will. Under this curse Israel's transgression left them vulnerable to their enemies.
Widening Curse and Present Choice
Because of transgression and departing from God's commandments the curse comes upon the earth itself, upon man, upon cattle and beasts, upon the fish of the sea, and upon all flesh. Human beings suffer the result of their own course of action, and the beasts also suffer under the curse, and as transgression becomes almost universal the curse will be permitted to become as broad and as deep as the transgression. The curse is seen in disease in cattle making meat eating dangerous, in diseased flesh sold in marketplaces bringing disease among men as the sure result, and in a short time the milk of cows and anything coming from animal creation will not be safe to use. Those who take God at His Word and obey His commandments with a whole heart will be blessed with His shield of protection and will be brought to a position where they will not touch nor taste the flesh of dead animals.
Being cursed in the city and in the field is the fearful result of disobeying God's commands set against the blessings of obedience, requiring people to choose between the outcomes. Distrust, disobedience, and alienation from God's will and way place the sinner in a position where the Lord cannot give him His divine favor. The directions present the never-ceasing obligation of all whom God has blessed with life and health and advantages in temporal and spiritual things. The message has not grown weak because of age, and God's claims are just as binding now and just as fresh as His gifts are fresh and continual.