Matthew Henry Commentary Deuteronomy 8
Matthew Henry Commentary
Deuteronomy 8
Matthew Henry Commentary
Deuteronomy 8
"All the commandment 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 Jehovah sware unto your fathers. 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. And he humbled thee, and suffered 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 everything that proceedeth out of the mouth of Jehovah doth man live. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. And thou shalt consider in thy heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so Jehovah thy God chasteneth thee. And thou shalt keep the commandments of Jehovah thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. For Jehovah thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig-trees and pomegranates; a land of olive-trees and honey; a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig copper." — Deuteronomy 8:1-9 (ASV)
Obedience must be:
- Careful, to observe and do;
- Universal, to do all the commandments; and
- From a good principle, with a regard to God as the Lord and their God, and with a holy fear of Him.
To encourage them to this obedience, Moses directs them to look back. It is good to remember all the ways, both of God's providence and grace, by which He has led us through this wilderness, so that we may cheerfully serve Him and trust in Him.
They must remember the hardships they were sometimes brought into, for humbling their pride and revealing their perverseness. This was to test them, so that they and others might know all that was in their hearts, and that all might see that God chose them, not because of anything in them that might recommend them to His favor.
They must remember the miraculous supplies of food and clothing granted to them. Let none of God's children distrust their Father, nor take any sinful path to supply their needs. Some way or other, God will provide for them in the way of duty and honest diligence, and truly they will be fed. This may be applied spiritually: the word of God is the food of the soul.
Christ is the Word of God; by Him we live. They must also remember the rebukes they had received, and not without need. This is the use we should make of all our afflictions: by them let us be stirred to our duty. Moses also directs them to look forward to Canaan. Look, whichever way you choose, both back to the past and forward to Canaan.
Whichever way we look, looking both back and forward will provide us with arguments for obedience. Moses saw in that land a type of the better country. The gospel church is the New Testament Canaan, watered with the Spirit in His gifts and graces, planted with trees of righteousness, bearing fruits of righteousness. Heaven is the good land, in which nothing is lacking, and where there is fullness of joy.
"And thou shalt eat and be full, and thou shalt bless Jehovah thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware lest thou forget Jehovah thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his ordinances, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: lest, when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; then thy heart be lifted up, and thou forget Jehovah thy God, who brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; who led thee through the great and terrible wilderness, [wherein were] fiery serpents and scorpions, and thirsty ground where was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; who 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: and [lest] thou say in thy heart, My power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember Jehovah 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 at this day. And it shall be, if thou shalt forget Jehovah thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. As the nations that Jehovah maketh to perish before you, so shall ye perish; because ye would not hearken unto the voice of Jehovah your God." — Deuteronomy 8:10-20 (ASV)
Moses points to the duty of a prosperous condition. Let us always remember our Benefactor. In everything we must give thanks. Moses also arms us against the temptations of a prosperous condition.
When people 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 in this, which is generally unknown to the rich, while they are also freed from many of their temptations. Do not forget God's former dealings with you.
Here is the great secret of Divine Providence: infinite wisdom and goodness are the source of all the changes and trials believers experience.
Israel had many bitter trials, but it was “to do them good.” Pride is natural to the human heart.
Would anyone suppose that such a people, after their slavery at the brick-kilns, should need the thorns of the wilderness to humble them? But such is man! And they were tested so that they might be humbled. None of us live a single week without giving proof of our weakness, folly, and depravity. To broken-hearted souls alone the Savior is precious indeed.
Nothing can make the most suitable outward and inward trials effective except the power of the Spirit of God. See here how God's giving and our receiving are reconciled, and apply it to spiritual wealth.
All God's gifts are in fulfillment of His promises. Moses repeats the warning he had often given of the fatal consequences of forsaking God. Those who follow others in sin will follow them to destruction.
If we do as sinners do, we must expect to fare as sinners do.
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