But if you shall still do wickedly, you shall be consumed, both you and your king."
To fear and serve God faithfully, the Israelites would need to remember God’s faithfulness to them in the past, and to bear in mind the certain consequences of disobedience (cf. Deuteronomy 28:41; Deuteronomy 28:45-64; Deuteronomy 30:15-20). The dark alternative was being swept away in exile.