Charles Spurgeon Commentary Deuteronomy 8:2

"And thou shalt remember all the way which Jehovah thy God hath led thee these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble thee, to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or not." — Deuteronomy 8:2 (ASV)

And thou 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.

It is good to have a good memory, and that is the best memory which remembers what is most worth remembering. There are many things we would gladly forget, yet we find it hard to forget them; they often rise up at the most inappropriate times, and we loathe ourselves to think that we should ever recollect them at all. But, whatever we forget, we should always remember what God has done for us. This should inspire our gratitude, create deep humility, and foster our faith for both the present and the future. The Scripture says, Thou shalt remember all the way which Jehovah thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness. If forty years of the Lord's leading should make some of us bless His holy name, what should you do, my brothers, who, perhaps, are getting near eighty years?

What praise and gratitude you should offer to Him who has led you all your life long!

Consider what God intends to accomplish through our wilderness experience. His purposes are:

1. First, to humble us. Has it had that effect?
2. Then, to prove us. Ah, I am afraid it has had that result, and has indeed proved what poor, wretched creatures we are! That has been proved in our experience again and again.
3. And also, that it may be known what is in our heart—whether we will keep God's commandments, or not.

And you shall remember all the way which the LORD your God led you these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you, and to prove you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments, or not.

Look back, and derive from your past experience a motive for more careful obedience in the future. He does not read his own life rightly who does not see in it abundant causes for gratitude; and how can gratitude express itself better than by a cheerful, hearty obedience in the present and the future?