Deuteronomy 8:17-19

17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”
18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
19 If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.

Deuteronomy 8:17-19 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.

Cross References 5

  • 1. Dt 9:4,7,24; Deuteronomy 31:27
  • 2. Judges 7:2; Psalms 44:3; Isaiah 10:13
  • 3. Genesis 26:13; Deuteronomy 26:10; Deuteronomy 28:4; 1 Samuel 2:7; Psalms 25:13; Psalms 112:3; Proverbs 8:18; Proverbs 10:22; Ecclesiastes 9:11; Hosea 2:8
  • 4. Deuteronomy 6:14; Psalms 16:4; Jeremiah 7:6; Jeremiah 13:10; Jeremiah 25:6
  • 5. Deuteronomy 4:26; Deuteronomy 30:18
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