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Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 8:1-9
Obedience must be, 1. Careful, observe to do; 2. Universal, to do all the commandments; and 3. From a good principle, with a regard to God as the Lord, and their God, and with a holy fear of him. To engage them to this…
A Charge to Israel; Israel's Retrospect. (b. c. 1451.)
A CHARGE TO ISRAEL; ISRAEL'S RETROSPECT. (B. C. 1451.) The charge here given them is the same as before, to keep and do all God's commandments. Their obedience must be, 1. Careful: Observe to do. 2. Universal: To do all…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:1-6
The moral uses of memory. The memory of man exerts a mighty influence over his history and his destiny. Minus memory, man would be altogether another being. Remembrance of the past is a guidepost, or a beacon, for the f…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:1-6
The lessons of the wilderness. Moses here recalls the leadings of God in the wilderness, for the warning and instruction of the Israelites. And we are taught, surely, such lessons as these— I. THE WAY OF SALVATION IS ON…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:1-20
EXPOSITION FURTHER EXHORTATION TO OBEDIENCE, ENFORCED BY A REVIEW OF GOD'S DEALINGS WITH ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS.
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:1-6
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 wilderne…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:1-6
Life's meaning discerned by the retrospect of it. The remark has not infrequently been made that incidents closely connected cannot be rightly understood till the time has come for them to be reviewed in their entirety…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:2-6
The uses of adversity. It is a great matter when in any experience of life we can read the Divine purpose in bringing us through it. The speaker in these verses unfolds the design and lessons of the wilderness disciplin…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:3
Not bread, but God's Word. The lesson of the manna gathered up into one concise sentence. It teaches us— I. TO SEE GOD IN SECONDARY CAUSES. The Word of God is as truly the creative and nourishing principle in ordinary b…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:3
God humbled the Israelites by leaving them to suffer hunger from the want of food, and then supplying them with food in a miraculous manner. They were thus taught that their life depended wholly on God, who could, by hi…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:4
As the manna furnished by God's creative power saved them from hunger, so by God's providence and care their raiment was marvelously kept from decay, and they had not to go barefoot from their sandals being worn out. Wa…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:5
Thus God educated, disciplined, and trained his people as a father does his child. Chasteneth. The idea is not so much that of punishment or chastisement, properly so called, as that of severe discipline and training. G…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:5
God the Chastener. I. CHASTISEMENT IS A NECESSITY OF OUR MORAL NATURE. He is no wise parent who spares the rod when the good of the child requires that chastisement be administered. Gentler methods failing, the undutifu…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:7-20
God forgotten amid second causes. The support of the wilderness was manifestly miraculous. They could not doubt their dependence there upon God. They might murmur even amid daily miracle, but they could not doubt it. It…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:7-20
The land on which they were about to enter is described as a good laud, fertile and well watered, and yielding abundant produce to its cultivators; and they are cautioned against forgetting, in their enjoyment of the gi…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:7-10
The duty of thankfulness for the bounty of God in nature. The people of Israel were being led by the Lord their God to a land beautiful, luxuriant, fruitful. (For an account of the productions of Palestine, of the ferti…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:7-20
Wealth perilous to piety. God's policy in the government of men is to win by prodigal kindness. A churlish parsimony has never been found with him; the very opposite. An open eye discovers widespread munificence—a royal…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:7-10
The good land. I. A LAND OF GREAT NATURAL ADVANTAGES—a wealthy possession. Wood, water, metals, a fertile soil, good pasturage, honey in the clefts of the rocks, etc. (Deuteronomy 11:11, Deuteronomy 11:12; Deuteronomy 3…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:8
"Palestine has been celebrated in all ages for three products: corn, wine, and oil, which still continue to be its most valuable crops". The principal corn crops were wheat and barley. The vine was largely and carefully…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:9
A land whose stones are iron. Minerals do not abound in Palestine; the hills are for the most part calcareous; but by the side of the limestone in the north of Canaan ferruginous basalt appears in largo masses, and on L…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 8:10-20
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 larg…
Cautions Relating to Worldly Prosperity. (b. c. 1451.)
CAUTIONS RELATING TO WORLDLY PROSPERITY. (B. C. 1451.) Moses, having mentioned the great plenty they would find in the land of Canaan, finds it necessary to caution them against the abuse of that plenty, which was a sin…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:10-19
The dangers of wealth. I. WEALTH IS DANGEROUS WITHOUT THE PREVIOUS TRAINING OF ADVERSITY. Those who, cradled in the lap of luxury, have never known struggle and difficulty are rarely persons of meek, humble, chastened d…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 8:10
When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God. "From this place the Jews have made it a general rule, or, as they call it, an affirmative precept, that every one bless God at their meals, tha…