And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;
The verse stands within Israel's covenant warning and defines entrenched rebellion as still refusing to heed God after all prior warnings and walking contrary to Him. Its stated consequence is reciprocal divine opposition, with God walking contrary to the disobedient in return. That response withdraws the promised blessings and brings curses, condemnation, punishment, and the loss of His prosperity, while obedience brings blessing.
The chapter functions as an admonition for people living at the end of the world, using Israel's history to display this outcome of disobedience and obedience. Those given greater light are held to greater account, and persistent disobedience can give Satan control of the mind. The same warning applies to those who selfishly withhold their means from God's work, in that losses may scatter what they refuse to use for His glory. Read alongside the chapter's call to heed God, the verse warns against hard-heartedness and neglecting the duty to care for others, for continued refusal of His instruction despite His warnings leaves rebellion persisting.
The verse stands within Israel's covenant warning and defines entrenched rebellion as still refusing to heed God after all prior warnings and walking contrary to Him. Its stated consequence is reciprocal divine opposition, with God walking contrary to the disobedient in return. That response withdraws the promised blessings and brings curses, condemnation, punishment, and the loss of His prosperity, while obedience brings blessing.
The chapter functions as an admonition for people living at the end of the world, using Israel's history to display this outcome of disobedience and obedience. Those given greater light are held to greater account, and persistent disobedience can give Satan control of the mind. The same warning applies to those who selfishly withhold their means from God's work, in that losses may scatter what they refuse to use for His glory. Read alongside the chapter's call to heed God, the verse warns against hard-heartedness and neglecting the duty to care for others, for continued refusal of His instruction despite His warnings leaves rebellion persisting.