{"id":51719,"date":"2019-03-20T13:03:49","date_gmt":"2019-03-20T11:03:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=51719"},"modified":"2022-10-13T15:11:44","modified_gmt":"2022-10-13T12:11:44","slug":"serve-god-with-joy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/serve-god-with-joy\/","title":{"rendered":"Serve God With Joy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Deuteronomy 28 contains one of the harshest visions of punishments in the entire Torah. Traditionally known as the <\/span>Tochecha<\/span><\/i> \u2013 \u201cThe Rebuke\u201d \u2013 most of the chapter outlines ghastly, frightening punishments that will visit the Israelites if they do not keep the Divine covenant ratified at Moab.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is relatively little theodicy in the <\/span>Tochecha<\/span><\/i>. However, towards the end of the chapter the chastisements are justified on the following grounds: \u201cbecause you did not heed the LORD your God and keep the commandments and laws that He enjoined upon you\u201d (Deuteronomy 28:58).<\/span><\/p>\n

Another explanation appears somewhat earlier in the chapter:<\/span><\/p>\n

45. All these curses shall befall you\u2026because you did not heed the LORD your God and keep the commandments and laws that He enjoined upon you\u202647. Because (<\/span>tahat<\/span><\/em>) you would not serve the LORD your God in joy and gladness over the abundance of everything, 48. you shall have to serve\u2014in hunger and thirst, naked and lacking everything\u2014the enemies whom the LORD will let loose against you\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

The common understanding of verse 47 is as startling as it is well-known: Even if the Jewish people observe the covenant, but do not serve God with joy, they will still be subject to terrible punishment.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the one hand, this is a powerful message about the importance of joy in worship. On the other hand, it is difficult to understand why such terrible penalties should be meted out if the Israelites essentially respect the covenant.<\/span><\/p>\n

An alternative interpretation of the verse presents itself: \u201c<\/span>instead<\/span> of<\/span> (<\/span>tahat<\/span><\/em>)<\/span> serving the Lord your God in joy and gladness\u2026you shall have to serve \u2013 in hunger and thirst\u2026\u201d In other words, God presents two life-paths to His people: One can either serve God and be rewarded with a happy life, or disobey the commandments and suffer in misery. Although this rendition is less dramatic, it better fits with the spirit of the chapter and the book of Deuteronomy: God demands really one thing of the Israelites \u2013 commitment.<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":51720,"id":51720,"title":"dt27-joy","filename":"dt27-joy.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt27-joy.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/serve-god-with-joy\/dt27-joy\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"dt27-joy","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":51719,"date":"2019-03-20 11:03:35","modified":"2019-03-20 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