Dave Burnette's Commentary

Deuteronomy Chapter 8

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Moses 
Date Penned: (1407 BC)
Overview: To Remind and Rededicate Israel to the Lord (c 1-34)
Theme: Principles for Godly Living (c 5-28)
Message: Do Not Forget God (v 1-20)

Deuteronomy 8 Commentary

(8:3) The Bread of Life - Jesus quoted this verse when the devil tempted him to turn stones into bread (Matthew 4:3-4). Many people think that life is about satisfying their appetites. If they can earn enough money to dress, eat, and play in high style, they think they are living "the good life." But such things do not satisfy our deepest longings. In the end, they leave us empty and dissatisfied. Real life, according to Moses, comes from total commitment to God and living by every word that comes from him. How can we live by his word? (1) Recognize our need for it. (2) Agree that God alone can truly satisfy us. (3) Pray for God's presence, wisdom, and direction as we read Scripture. (4) Savor the relationship we have with him through Christ. (5) Practice what he teaches us.

(8:4) Thanking God for His Blessings - We can easily take God's protection for granted. Most of us seldom take notice or thank God when our cars don't break down, our clothes don't rip, or our money isn't stolen. The people of Israel also failed to take notice, it seems, for they didn't even notice that in 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, their clothes didn't wear out and their feet didn't blister or swell. Thus, they did not remember to give thanks to God for these blessings. What has been working well for you? What has been giving you good service? What has been lasting for a long time without breaking down or apart? Remember to thank God for these quiet blessings.

(8:10) Thanking the Lord for Our Daily Bread-  This verse is traditionally cited as the reason we pray before or after meals. Its purpose, however, was to warn the Israelites not to forget God once their needs and wants had been satisfied. Let your table prayers serve as a constant reminder of the Lord's goodness to you and his call for you to help provide for the poor.

(8:11-20) Thanking God for Our Resources - In times of plenty, we often take credit for our prosperity and become proud that our own hard work and cleverness have made us rich. We can become so busy collecting and managing wealth that we push God right out of our lives. But it is God who gives us everything we have, and it is God who asks us to humbly manage it for him.

 

 


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Don't Forget

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the book of Deuteronomy with Chapter 8 and we see Moses is explaining how we are to not forget the Lord our God as he blesses us. It would seem that the blessings of God would cause Israel to be thankful and obey the Lord but the last generation failed and Moses warns Israel to Not Forget the Lord our God. In making application we see this same principal in America. We who are blessed more than any country in recent history seem the most unthankful. In verse 10 we see a prayer of thanks at meal time but rarely do we see families giving grace. Many Christians consistently fail to go to the house of God to give thanks. Even thanksgiving in America is more about football and bargain sales instead of a day to pray and give thanks to Lord our God. This message came to my attention when I watched a Millionaire TV Star visit Zambia and see the small grass hut homes they have with no running water and dirt floors. The kids go to school hungry and there is no lunch and they study and work hard. The amazing thing is that the kids are happy. They sing songs and play soccer and to the amazement of all. Yet here even in my family at times our kids are unhappy and unthankful because they don't have the "latest thing". How about you? Do you see the blessings of the Lord and how blessed you are? Let us learn from today's text and give thanks - so we too will not forget the Lord our God.

 

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Deuteronomy 8

Deuteronomy 8

 1All 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.

 2And 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.

 3And 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.

 4Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.

 5Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.

 6Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.

 7For 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;

 8A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;

 9A 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.

 10When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.

 11Beware 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:

 12Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;

 13And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;

 14Then 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;

 15Who 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;

 16Who 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;

 17And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

 18But 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.

 19And 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.

 20As 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 your God.