Deuteronomy 8:19

19 Don't forget the LORD your God. Don't follow other gods. Don't worship them and bow down to them. I give witness against you today that if you do, you will certainly be destroyed.

Deuteronomy 8:19 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 8:19

And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God,
&c.] Either the mercies they received from him, not acknowledging they came from him, but ascribing them to themselves; or their duty to him, to whom they were so greatly obliged: and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them; which would be to forget him indeed, forsaking his worship, and giving homage and adoration to idols, which is what is intended by these expressions:

I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish;
by one judgment and calamity or another, as the sword, famine, pestilence, and captivity; there being nothing more provoking to God than idolatry, which so much detracts from his honour and glory: and which besides, in such a people, so highly favoured of God, it argued the basest ingratitude.

Deuteronomy 8:19 In-Context

17 You might say to yourselves, "Our power and our strong hands have made us rich."

18 But remember the LORD your God. He gives you the ability to produce wealth. That shows he stands by the terms of his covenant. He promised it with an oath to your people long ago. And he's still faithful to his covenant today.

19 Don't forget the LORD your God. Don't follow other gods. Don't worship them and bow down to them. I give witness against you today that if you do, you will certainly be destroyed.

20 You will be destroyed just like the nations the LORD your God is destroying to make room for you. That's what will happen if you don't obey him.