The Fifth Book of Moses, called Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 8
Chapter VIII · Vol. I, pp. 492–493
An exhortation to obedience in regard of God's mercy and goodness in his dealings with Israel.
1 ALL athe commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers.
a ch. 4.1-3; 6.1-3. Ps. 119.4,6; 19.11. 1 Co. 15.58. Mat. 6.33. 1 Ti. 4.8. Tit. 3.8. Is. 3.10; 1.19. Ro. 2.7,10.
2 And bthou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no.
b ch. 7.18,19; 1.3; 2.7; 13.3. Ex. 16.4. 2 Ch. 32.31. 1 Pe. 1.7. Ja. 1.12. Jn. 16.33. Ac. 14.22. 2 Ti. 3.12.
3 And he humbled thee, and csuffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
c Ex. 16.3-34. Mat. 4.4. Lu. 4.4. ver. 10. 1 Ti. 4.4,5. Ps. 104.29,30.
4 Thyd raiment waxed not1 old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.
A.M. 2553. B.C. 1451.
d Ne. 9.21. ch. 29.5. Mat. 6.31,32.
1 If, as some learned expositors think, these words merely intimate that the wool of their sheep, their own skill in spinning and weaving, and their purchases from the Arabs, supplied them with continuous change of new raiment, as the old was worn out—why mention these things as a matter worthy of such special record? Does not the reference to raiment, in immediate contact with the manna—confessedly a miraculous food continued for forty years—lead rather and decidedly to the conclusion that the raiment was also miraculously preserved?—a beautiful emblem of that indestructible 'wedding garment' of a Saviour's 'righteousness, which is unto all and upon all them that do believe,' Mat. 22. 11. Ro. 3. 22.—C.
5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, eas a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
6 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to fwalk in his ways, and to fear him.
f Ex. 18.20. Ps. 25.4; 128.1; 112.1. ch. 6.2,13; 10.12. 2 Ch. 6.31.
7 For the LORD thy God gbringeth thee into a good land; a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;
g ch. 6.10,11; 11.10,11. Ps. 104.10,11; 65.9,10,13. Ex. 3.8. Eze. 20.6. Ne. 9.22-25.
8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil-olive2 and honey;
2 Heb. of olive-trees of oil.
9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a hland whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.3
h ch. 33.25. Job 28.2.
3 In several parts of Lebanon, and of the mountain chain south of it, iron-ore abounds; and smelting operations have been carried on very recently. Traces of extinct copper works have also been discovered in the same regions. P.——The three characteristics of Canaan are, its abundant variety of brooks and springs, in which it contrasted with the great and solitary Nile in Egypt; its various vegetable productions, in the number of which it likewise excelled; and in those mineral stores, contained in the bosom of its hills, to which the valley of Egypt produced no parallel. All these, as exhibitions of beauty, stimulants of industry, and sources of riches and enjoyment, faintly shadow forth that 'better country,' where God hath provided a 'continuing city,' He. 11. 16; 13. 14.—C.
10 Wheni thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
i ch. 6.11,12. Ps. 103.2; cv. cxxxv. cxxxvi. Mat. 14.19,20. 2 Ch. 17.5,6. 1 Th. 5.18. 1 Ti. 4.5. Ro. 14.6.
11 Bewarek 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:
12 Lest when thou lhast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
l ch. 28.47; 31.20; 32.15. Pr. 30.9. Ho. 13.6. Eze. 16.48. Je. 5.8. Ps. 73.3-9. Job 21.7-15.
13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;
14 Then thine heart be mlifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
15 Who nled thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were ofiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
16 Whop fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not; that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;
p ver. 2,3. Ex. 16.15. Ne. 9.20,21. Ps. 78.24,25; 94.12. He. 12.10,11. Je. 24.5; 29.11. 1 Pe. 1.7. Ja. 1.12. Ro. 8.28. 2 Co. 4.17.
18 But thou shalt rremember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
19 And it shall be, sif thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
s ch. 4.25,26; 31.16,17; 32.15-26; 28.15-68. Le. 26.14-39; 30.19. Zep. 1.18. Da. 9.12. Am. 3.2. Lu. 12.47,48; 13.3,5. 1 Sa. 12.25.
20 As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish;4 because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.
4 This threatening, afterwards fulfilled, suggests the answer to a common infidel objection, that the cruelties inflicted on the Canaanites were unworthy of God, and could not have his authority, viz. that they were not to gratify the passions of the Israelites, but the just judgments of God on their signal wickedness, and that the Israelites would be, and actually have been, subjected to the same judgments when they practised the same crimes against God.—I.
Notes
[Ver. 2. To know. Not as if God sought to make a discovery of something unknown to God in the heart of man; 'for he knew what was in man,' Jn. 2. 25; but that, by showing man to himself, he might humble him, by making him sensible of 'the plague of his own heart.' 1 Ki. 8. 38. C.]
Ver. 3. [By every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. Our Lord quotes these words in answer to the temptation of Satan, Mat. iv., exciting him to command 'stones to be made bread.' They contain three important facts: (1) That man is naturally supported by food. (2) That the production of food, and the power of digestion and nutrition, greatly and mainly depend upon the 'word of God.' The truth of this statement is evidenced by the productive powers of all countries where the gospel even comparatively prevails, when contrasted with the 'parched land' of the 'rebels' against God, Ps. 68. 6; and still farther, when the power of conscience is taken into account in all its bearings upon guilt, enmity, pardon, or peace with God; the influence of which, upon bodily health, is matter of daily experience. (3) That the real life of man resides not in the body, that bread can sustain, but in the soul; of which 'the word of God,' heard and believed, is the only efficient nutriment, Is. 55. 3. C.]
Ver. 8. [Olive-oil was, and still is, one of the staple products of Palestine. The Hebrew word debash, here translated 'honey,' may signify a conserve or syrup of grapes, which is now largely used in Palestine as an ordinary article of food. Its Arabic name is dibs, manifestly identical with the Hebrew. P.]
Reflections.—With great care and skill should ministers promote holiness among their people; and there is need to turn promises and providences every way, to lead men to Jesus, the tree of life. To mortify our pride—commemorate our peevishness—and render the wisdom, holiness, and mercy of God familiar, let us observe the frowns and smiles of God's providence towards us. Trials are as necessary as deliverances; nor can anything hinder God from supplying us in the greatest straits. If the enjoyment of an earthly Canaan, much more should the faith of the heavenly inheritance, animate to an earnestness in universal holiness and gratitude. But how difficult is it to maintain humility of mind amidst remarkable prosperity! or fellowship with God amidst a flow of earthly enjoyments! for this purpose, let me always remember that forgetfulness of God, ingratitude, and pride, bring into the prosperity by which they are occasioned the most fearful curse; and let me wisely observe the providences of God in my lot. To humble me, and discover my own naughtiness, let me remember the wilderness-straits to which I have been reduced. To recommend Jehovah to my heart, let me consider what he hath done for me, and promised to me. Let every peculiar excellency in my lot be a mean of elevating my heart to God himself, my goodly inheritance. In the day of my adversity, let me be joyful in him; and in the day of my prosperity, let me consider that all comes from him, and may be withdrawn at his pleasure; and while the loving-kindness of God allures me to holiness, let his terrors awe and deter me from sin.