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Deuteronomy 23:5

The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 23:5

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

The curse turned into a blessing.

No enchantment, no curse of evil men, can prevail against the people of God. Contrariwise, God will turn the curse into a Messing. In Malachi, on the other hand, he threatens to "curse the blessings" of the wicked (). How does God turn the curse into a blessing?

1. Directly, by substituting a blessing for a curse. The curse is not merely not allowed to take effect for harm, but God puts a blessing in its stead. A Divine law of compensation comes into operation. The wicked is punished, and the object of his unrighteous hatred consoled and rewarded, by the curse being read backward, and made a reason for conferring blessing. The very curses of the wicked are thus a means of enrichment to the good. Balaam's curses were thus changed into blessings (; .).

2. Providentially, by overruling the designs of evil men for their own confusion, and for his people's good. We have examples in the histories of Joseph (), of Mordecai and the Jews (Esther 6-10.), of Daniel (.). The persecutions of the Church have thus been overruled for the extension of the gospel (). The highest example is the crucifixion of Christ ().

3. Spiritually, by turning outward afflictions into means of spiritual good.

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