Definition: Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all [things];
Explanation: Okay, letās break down Deuteronomy 28:47. It's a pretty important verse that speaks about obedience and reward. Hereās what it means in simple terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is saying that God is disappointed with the Israelites (and later, all people) when they didnāt show Him gratitude and enthusiasm for following His instructions. It's not just a simple "we were good" ā it highlights a lack of joyful obedience. Letās unpack it: āBecause thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulnessā¦ā This is the core of the problem. It means they weren't praising and celebrating Him as He deserved to be praised for. They werenāt expressing their gratitude in a way that shows love and respect. āā¦and with gladness of heartā¦ā This adds to the disappointment. They weren't being happy or excited about following God's commands. It was more like a heavy burden, not a celebration. So, what does it mean in practical terms? Itās essentially saying that obedience is more important than happiness. God wants us to be grateful and excited for following His will. When we donāt show this, it can lead to problems and difficulties. It's a reminder that true obedience isnāt just about doing what God says, but also about how we do it ā with joy and enthusiasm. In short: The verse warns us that if we arenāt thankful and excited for following God, we risk falling off the path and facing challenges. --- Do you want me to: Explain a specific part of this verse in more detail? Connect it to a story or example? Discuss the significance of this verse within the larger context of Deuteronomy?