Definition: And it shall come to pass, [that] as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Deuteronomy 28:63. It's a really powerful and somewhat unsettling passage about God’s relationship with His people. Here’s a simplified explanation: The Core Idea: This verse describes a future time when God will be incredibly pleased with the Israelites (and, by extension, all of humanity) because they will prosper and flourish. However, this blessing is conditional . God intends to bring about this prosperity through a process of judgment – a “plucking” or removal from a place. Let's unpack it piece by piece: "And it shall come to pass..." : This sets up a future event - something that will happen later. "...that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you..." : This is the good part. God is genuinely happy for the Israelites' success. He’s planning to bless them with plentiful blessings – prosperity, abundance, growth, and fulfillment. Think of it like a really big harvest. "...so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought..." : This is where it gets interesting. God isn’t just happy; he's actively planning to take away their blessings. He intends to “destroy” them – meaning to eliminate them or make them powerless. “To bring you to naught” suggests a complete loss of everything they’ve worked for. "...and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it." : This is the judgment . God will remove the Israelites from their current location (the "land you possess") and send them away – perhaps to a distant place, or even to exile. It's a symbolic removal, signifying they are being cast out of a good situation. What’s the Meaning? This verse is often interpreted as a warning about the dangers of pride and complacency. It highlights that God’s blessings aren’t guaranteed. He doesn’t just want to help; he wants to ensure that people don't become too comfortable and lose their way, leading them down a path that ultimately results in separation from him and their prosperity. It emphasizes that true blessing comes with responsibility and obedience. Important Note: The exact interpretation of this verse has varied throughout history. It’s been used as a metaphor for various situations – both positive and negative – where a blessing might be taken away or disrupted. In short, Deuteronomy 28:63 describes a future event where God's blessings will be multiplied for the Israelites, but with a significant consequence: a removal from their current place of prosperity. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Connect it to a specific story or example? Discuss its historical context?