Deuteronomy 8:5-20

5 Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the LORD your God disciplines you for your own good.

6 “So obey the commands of the LORD your God by walking in his ways and fearing him.

7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills.

8 It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey.

9 It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills.

10 When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.

11 “But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the LORD your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today.

12 For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in,

13 and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful!

14 Do not become proud at that time and forget the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.

15 Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock!

16 He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good.

17 He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’

18 Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.

19 “But I assure you of this: If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them, you will certainly be destroyed.

20 Just as the LORD has destroyed other nations in your path, you also will be destroyed if you refuse to obey the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 8:5-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 8

In this chapter Moses repeats the exhortation to observe the commands of God, and urges the Israelites to it, from the consideration of the great and good things God had done for them in the wilderness, and even in those instances which were chastisements, and were of an humbling nature, De 8:1-6, and on the consideration of the blessings of the good land they were going to possess, De 8:7-9 for which blessings they are exhorted to be thankful, and are cautioned against pride of heart through them, and forgetfulness of God, and of his goodness to them while in the wilderness, and when brought into the land of Canaan, which they were to ascribe to his power and goodness, and not their own, De 8:10-18, and the chapter is concluded with a warning against idolatry, lest they perish through it as the nations before them, De 8:19,20.