Deuteronomy 8:17

_BEWARE THAT THOU FORGET NOT THE LORD THY GOD, IN NOT KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS, AND HIS JUDGMENTS, AND HIS STATUTES, WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY:_ Beware that thou forget not the Lord. After mentioning those instances of the divine goodness, Moses founded on them an argument for their future obedience. Verse 15. LED THEE THROUGH THAT ... WILDERNESS, WHEREIN WERE FIERY SERPENTS, AND SCORPIONS. The part of the desert referred to was after the departure from Horeb (see the notes at Numbers 21:4; Deuteronomy 1:19; also Jeremiah 2:6), by way of the mountain of the Amorites, as they came to Kadesh-barnea. Now, as the whole journey from Horeb to Kadesh occupied eleven days, that portion of the

17._And thou say in, thy heart. _He describes that kind of pride of which we have lately spoken, viz., when men attribute to their own industry, or labor, or foresight, what they ought to refer to the blessing of God. It has indeed been said, that our hearts are uplifted in other ways also; but this is the principal ground of pride, to assume and assign to ourselves what belongs to God. For nothing so greatly confines us within the boundaries of humility and modesty as the acknowledgment of God’s grace; for it is madness and temerity to raise our crests against Him on whom we depend, and to whom we owe ourselves and all we possess. Rightly, then, does Moses reprove the pride of the human heart which arises from forgetfulness of God, if they think that they have gained by their own exertions _(marte suo) _what God has given them of His own pleasure, in order to lay them under obligation t...

10-20 Moses directs to the duty of a prosperous condition. Let them always remember their Benefactor. In everything we must give thanks. Moses arms them against the temptations of a prosperous condition. When men possess large estates, or are engaged in profitable business, they find the temptation to pride, forgetfulness of God, and carnal-mindedness, very strong; and they are anxious and troubled about many things. In this the believing poor have the advantage; they more easily perceive their supplies coming from the Lord in answer to the prayer of faith; and, strange as it may seem, they find less difficulty in simply trusting him for daily bread. They taste a sweetness therein, which is generally unknown to the rich, while they are also freed from many of their temptations. Forget not God's former dealings with thee. Here is the great secret of Divine Providence. Infinite wisdom and...

EXPOSITION FURTHER EXHORTATION TO OBEDIENCE, ENFORCED BY A REVIEW OF GOD'S DEALINGS WITH ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS. DEUTERONOMY 8:1 That they might be induced the more faithfully to observe all the commandments which had been enjoined upon them so as to go on and prosper, they are called to remember the experiences of the forty years in the wilderness, when God guided them and disciplined them for their good. He humbled them that he might test the state of their heart and affections towards him, using the distress and privations to which they were subjected as means of bringing out what was in

AND THOU SAY IN THINE HEART,.... These words are in connection with the former part of the Deuteronomy 8:14: AND THOU FORGET THE LORD THY GOD; the author and giver of all the good things enjoyed, and think within themselves, though they might not express it in words at length: MY POWER AND THE MIGHT OF MINE HAND HATH GOTTEN ME THIS WEALTH; so ascribing that to themselves, their labour, and diligence, which ought to be ascribed to the bounty and blessing of God; see Hosea 12:8....

4. THOU SHALT REMEMBER! PROVISION AND WARNING CHAPTER 8 _ 1. Remember the forty years and Jehovah's care (Deuteronomy 8:1)_ 2. The gracious provision in the land (Deuteronomy 8:7) 3. Warning against forgetting Jehovah (Deuteronomy 8:11) Admonition to obedience begins this chapter. Disobedience and what will result from it closes it. Between the first and last verses we find extremely precious words. They are called upon to remember the experiences of the wilderness. It was Jehovah, who led them and watched over them. The wilderness experience was made a blessing to them. It taught them the blessed lessons of humility and brought out all that was in their hearts. And

DEUTERONOMY 8. Israel's duty to be faithful and obedient to Yahweh enforced by a recital of His loving treatment of them in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:1). Unless they are faithful they will perish as the Canaanites did (Deuteronomy 8:18). Deuteronomy 8:2. prove: Deuteronomy 6:16 * (tempt, same Heb. verb). Deuteronomy 8:3. manna: Exodus 16:14;...

WEALTH. Hebrew. strength, put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Adjunct) for the wealth it procures. App-6....

_thou say in thine heart_ That is not only as if convinced; but, whether or not thou sayest this expressly with thy lips, thou feelest and practically behavest as if thine own power and might had gotten thee this wealth....

_VER._ 17. _THOU SAY IN THINE HEART, MY POWER,_ &C.— See Isaiah 10:13....