Date: Thu, 29 Dec 1994 09:55:19 -0600
Reply-To: t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: Deuteronomy 8
Contents
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1. Introduction
2. Explanation
3. Questions
1. Introduction
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This is an issue of a continuous explanation of the Bible-book Dvarim,
that is Deuteronomy. If something is unclear in the explanation, ask me.
The Bible-text is taken from the King James version.
Deuteronomy 8.
Title: Warning against arrogance and forgetting of the benefactions
Short contents:
Moshe admonished the people to be obedient to God, because He has given
them many blessings. He mentions the beauty and the fertility of the
land. He warns them for pride and forgetting of God, when it would go
well with them, and he threatens them with punishments.
2. Explanation
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1 All the commandments 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 the LORD sware unto your fathers.
Here, Moshe attracts the people to keep God's commandments. He does this
by putting the promised lands before their eyes. Moshe says that the LORD
had already sworn this land to the fathers. From this, we see that the
nation not inherited the land because of their obedience, but because of
God's allegiance to His oath. So, they receive not pay on their
obedience, but it is just the other way around. Because they receive the
inheritance, they are the more urged to obedience, in thankfulness to
God. But this does not mean that the behaviour of the nation was
unimportant. It is sure, if they would be disobedient, then they would
not inherit the land. This appeared in the desert. Many are knocked down
there. Also these people, who lie here to the border of Kenaan, have been
stiff-necked. Nevertheless, God promised them the land. This is a prove
even more that this reward was in grace.
2 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.
The LORD humbled the nation. Sure, this was necessary. For in prosperity,
it is easy to serve God. But to serve God also in adversity, that is
difficult. Therefore, the nation needed humility in the desert. Then
would become public, how it looked inside their heart. And how looked it
there? The story is known. When there was lack of water, then the people
grumbled. That was the inside their hart. From this we learn something.
It is true that we can say in prosperity that we serve God. But this
tells nothing. Beautiful words. It is necessary that we also become
humbled by God. For example, when all things are against us.
Unemployment, poverty, disease, death. Then will become public what lives
in our heart. Begin we to scold? Have we then wrong thoughts about God?
Do we think then: "why must this happen to me?" From this is to see what
lives in our heart. When somebody wants to have security about his
salvation, then it is indispensable that God makes him humble. In this
way, also Avraham is tempted. The LORD wanted to know if Avraham would
obey Him in all things, even in the offering of his only son. "And it
came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Avraham, and said
unto him, Avraham: and he said, Behold, here I am," Bereshiet / Genesis
22:1.
3 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
every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
It is the normal way of life that the people are fed through bread of the
earth. But now, the LORD wanted to teach them something. He made them go
hungry. The normal bread was no longer available. Instead of that, God
gave them the manna out the heaven. The people had to learn that God is
mighty to keep them in life also through extraordinary means. The LORD
can keep a man alive, also without bread. He keeps him alive by all,
which proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD. Also, we need to learn this.
We can only learn this when God takes the normal mediums away from us.
This is a very powerful means in the life of somebody, to experience the
strength of God. This teaches us also that the ordinary food does not
feed us naturally. It is needed that God adds His blessing to it. "Better
is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble
therewith. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox
and hatred therewith," Mishlee / Proverbs 15:16,17. But through the rut
of the daily life, we forget that God's blessing is necessary. From there
it is needed that also we sometimes are humbled by God, and that we are
taught in this way.
4 Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell,
these forty years.
Here is to see that God can do wonders. For during forty years rambling,
the clothes already had to be worn out for often, and their feet swelled.
That this not has happened, that shows blatant God's power, without the
ordinary means.
5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth
his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
The LORD has not humbled them to plague them. He chastened them like a
father does with his son. The goal of this education is not to plague,
but to teach. The people had to learn that God took care for them, and
did them well.
6 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to
walk in his ways, and to fear him.
The nation was humbled. The goal was that they would keep the
commandments of God. The people had not to serve God in an arrogant way.
When then would say: "We can keep serve God with ease", than would it be
not well. When they would say this, that would not give evidence of
Godsfear. For in fear is not pride, but submission. "Only fear the LORD,
and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things
he hath done for you," Shmueel / Samuel A 12:24. Shmueel / Samuel says
the same as Moshe says here. Serve God with the whole heart, in fear,
because He has done great things.
7 For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of
brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys
and hills;
8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and
pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt
not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of
whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
Moshe recommends the land very much. There are brooks of water and
fountains, much wheat is there, and many fruit trees, iron and brass
mines. Moshe recommends this so much so that they will honour God even
more, and give gratitude to Him.
10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD
thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his
commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command
thee this day:
This is something, which happens too often. When is goes well with
somebody, than he forgets God, his Benefactor. This has also happened to
the nation Israel. When it went well with them, they forgot God. This
says de prophet Hoshea / Hosea. "For she did not know that I gave her
corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they
prepared for Baal. Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the
time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and will recover my wool
and my flax given to cover her nakedness," Hoshea / Hosea 2:8,9. Hoshea /
Hosea says that the nation forgot God. Therefore, God will come and take
away all the good. Also we forget God when it goes prosperously in our
life. Therefore, it is more profitable for us that we not get too many
riches. What is that, too many riches? That is more than we can bear.
12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly
houses, and dwelt therein;
13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy
gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;
14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God,
which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of
bondage;
Here, Moshe mentions the cause of the temptation of the riches. When one
has become rich, then he goes to look at himself. He sees how much he
has, more than the others. Then, he starts finding himself better then
the rest. From this originates the pride. Therefore Moshe warns and says
that our "heart then" not "be lifted up". When there is pride, the fall
is very near. "Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before
honour is humility," Mishlee / Proverbs 18:12. Moshe wants to check the
future pride of the people by pointing out their descent. They were only
slaves. They have not saved themselves, but the LORD did it. When they
then have become rich later, than they have to look back. They were only
slaves. They have not earned these riches by themselves, but they have
got if of the LORD. When one sees his riches in this way, then he will
not become proud.
15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein
were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no
water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
Moshe shows here, how great God's benefaction was. They are lead through
a terrible desert, with many poisonous serpents, and no water.
Nevertheless, they are not decayed because God protected them.
16 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;
Here again is the manna mentioned, the bread from heaven. God gave this
to them in a supernatural way. When they were kept in an ordinary way,
they should not have seen God's power so much. They would have eaten up
the ordinary bread in a careless way. But it had not to be so. Therefore,
they were humbled. So that they saw their want. When the LORD helped them
then, then they should be grateful all the more. Moshe also mentions that
the LORD proved them. By that temptation, they came in great need, and
called to God. The LORD proved them "to do them good at their latter
end". Here we see, that the abundance of goods rocks a man to sleep. But
lack of goods awakes the man, and makes him calling to God. This lack of
all kinds of goods is not so pleasant for us, but very advantageous. "But
though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the
multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve
the children of men, "Eecha / Lamentations 3:32,33.
17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand
hath gotten me this wealth.
Here again it concerns pride. This is the cause. That someone says in his
heart that he has earned the might in his own strength. Of course, the
most Israelites will confess with their mouth that God has blessed them.
For man has to seem religious in the eyes of the people, they think. But
in their heart, they think quietly something different. Later, the people
acted in this way. "And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and
they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will
not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart
goeth after their covetousness," Jchezkeel / Ezekiel 33:31.
18 But thou shalt remember the LORD 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 it is this day.
This is the best medicine against pride. Thinking that not we have given
ourselves strength, but that God it is, Who gives all. Then there comes
no arrogance, but the pride will be exterminated. Who considers that all
the good come from God will sooner show thankfulness. What does Moshe say
further? Why gives God the good? Is it because the nation behaved them so
praiseworthily? No, not therefore. Why then? "That He may establish His
covenant which He sware unto your fathers." Also here, Tanach teaches us
that God does us well not because of our worth, but that He does us well
because of reasons in Himself. Whatever we do, without God's help all
collapse. The Psalm teaches this to us. "Except the LORD build the house,
they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the
watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit
up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved
sleep," Thilliem / Psalm 127:1,2.
19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and
walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify
against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
They will surely perish. For the LORD tolerates no other gods besides
Him. He will punish that idolaters. This warning of Moshe has not been
superfluous, because later the Israelites have forgotten their God. "And
the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the
LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves." "Therefore the anger
of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of
Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served
Chushanrishathaim eight years," Shoftiem / Judges 3:7,8.
20 As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall
ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD
our God.
Moste warns the people with the example of the heathen. They have this
example still before their eyes, because it has happened only a short
time ago. Moshe wants to put the punishments lively before their eyes.
Not to plague them, but for their good. He wants that the people will not
sin, because of fright for the punishment. In this way, also Iov / Job,
that pious and righteous man, did not dare to sin. "For destruction from
God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not
endure," Iov / Job 31:23.
3. Questions
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If you want to gain more benefit from the explanation, you could consider
to answer the questions and do the tasks. You can send these to the
editor. He will look at it, and return them to you with his comments.
Questions.
1 Read verse one, and think back to the journey of the people Israel
through the desert. Has the nation come in Kenaan because of their
obedience, or because of another reason?
2 Read verse two. By humbling becomes public what lives in the heart.
a. How is the nation humbled?
b. How can somebody in the present time be humbled?
3 Read verse three. Has bread feeding power in it, or is more needed?
4 In which way will riches lead us away from God?
5 Why does a man sometimes get adversity from God?
Tasks.
1 Read verse four. Seek text, which read the same in Nchemjah / Nehemiah
9.
2 In Bemidbar / Numbers 21:9 is a matter of a serpent of brass. In
Mlachiem B / 2 Kings 18, Chizkiahu destroys the serpent. Why has he
done this?
3 Read verse 18, where is written that it is God, Who gives power. Seek
the same in Thilliem / Psalm 29, Thilliem / Psalm 68, Thilliem / Psalm
144, Jesjajah 40, Zecharjah / Zechariah 10.
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Chr-Exp, a Christian explanation of the Tanach and the New Testament
Editor: Teus Benschop - t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
No copyrights on this publication - Translated by a Dutchman
Institution Practical Bible-education, the Netherlands
.