You must carefully follow every commandment I am giving you today, so that you may live and multiply, and enter and possess the land that the LORD swore to give your fathers. You must carefully followThe phrase "You must carefully follow" emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commandments. The Hebrew root for "carefully follow" is "shamar," which means to keep, guard, or observe. This implies a diligent and intentional effort to adhere to God's laws. In the historical context, the Israelites were on the brink of entering the Promised Land, and their success depended on their faithfulness to God's instructions. This serves as a reminder for believers today to be vigilant in their spiritual walk, ensuring that their actions align with God's will. every command
The term "every command" underscores the comprehensive nature of God's expectations. The Hebrew word for "command" is "mitzvah," which refers to a directive or ordinance given by God. This highlights that no command is insignificant; each one is part of a divine covenant. For the Israelites, this meant that their relationship with God was not based on selective obedience but on a holistic commitment to His word. For modern Christians, it serves as a call to embrace the entirety of God's teachings, recognizing that each command contributes to a life of holiness and purpose. I am giving you today
"I am giving you today" reflects the immediacy and relevance of God's commands. The use of the present tense indicates that God's instructions are not just historical artifacts but are continually applicable. The phrase suggests a personal and direct communication from God to His people, emphasizing that His guidance is always timely and pertinent. This encourages believers to view God's word as a living document, meant to guide their daily lives and decisions. so that you may live and increase
The promise "so that you may live and increase" reveals the purpose behind God's commands. The Hebrew word for "live" is "chayah," which means to have life or to be revived. "Increase" comes from the root "rabah," meaning to multiply or grow. This indicates that obedience to God leads to both spiritual vitality and material prosperity. For the Israelites, this was a literal promise of flourishing in the Promised Land. For Christians, it symbolizes the abundant life promised by Jesus, encompassing both spiritual growth and the blessings that come from living in accordance with God's will. and may enter and possess the land
The phrase "and may enter and possess the land" speaks to the fulfillment of God's promises. "Enter" and "possess" are active verbs, indicating that the Israelites were to take initiative in claiming what God had promised. The land represents not just a physical territory but the realization of God's covenant with His people. Historically, this was the land of Canaan, a tangible symbol of God's faithfulness. For believers today, it represents the spiritual inheritance available through Christ, urging them to actively pursue and embrace the promises of God in their lives. that the LORD swore to your fathers
Finally, "that the LORD swore to your fathers" connects the present command to the historical promises made to the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Hebrew word for "swore" is "shaba," meaning to make an oath. This highlights God's unchanging nature and His faithfulness to His word. The reference to the patriarchs serves as a reminder of the continuity of God's plan and His commitment to His people across generations. For Christians, it reinforces the assurance that God's promises are steadfast and that He remains faithful to His covenant, encouraging them to trust in His eternal promises. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, delivering God's commandments to the people as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. 2. IsraelitesThe chosen people of God, who are being reminded of the importance of obedience to God's commands. 3. The Promised LandThe land of Canaan, which God swore to give to the forefathers of the Israelites, representing God's faithfulness and promise. 4. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant-keeping God who has promised the land to the forefathers of the Israelites. 5. The CovenantThe agreement between God and the Israelites, which includes the promise of the land in return for their obedience. Teaching Points Obedience as a Path to BlessingThe verse emphasizes that careful obedience to God's commands leads to life, multiplication, and possession of God's promises. The Importance of Remembering God's PromisesJust as the Israelites were reminded of God's promises to their forefathers, believers today should remember and trust in God's faithfulness. Living in Covenant RelationshipThe call to follow God's commands is rooted in the covenant relationship, which requires commitment and faithfulness. Spiritual MultiplicationBeyond physical multiplication, this verse can be seen as a call to spiritual growth and fruitfulness in the life of a believer. Entering God's PromisesThe act of entering and possessing the land symbolizes entering into the fullness of God's promises through obedience and faith. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the call to obedience in Deuteronomy 8:1 relate to the concept of covenant in the Old Testament? 2. In what ways can we apply the principle of "carefully following every command" in our daily lives today? 3. How does the promise of life and multiplication in Deuteronomy 8:1 connect with Jesus' teachings in the New Testament? 4. What are some modern-day "Promised Lands" that God might be calling us to enter and possess through obedience? 5. How can we ensure that we are living in a way that reflects the covenant relationship with God, as described in Deuteronomy 8:1? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 19:5-6This passage emphasizes the covenant relationship between God and Israel, highlighting the importance of obedience to God's commands. Joshua 1:7-8Joshua is instructed to be strong and courageous, carefully following the law given by Moses, which echoes the call to obedience in Deuteronomy 8:1. John 14:15Jesus speaks about the connection between love and obedience, which parallels the call to follow God's commands in Deuteronomy. Hebrews 11:8-10Abraham's faith and obedience are highlighted, showing the fulfillment of God's promises through faithfulness. Psalm 119:1-2The psalmist speaks of the blessings of walking in the law of the Lord, which aligns with the promise of life and multiplication in Deuteronomy 8:1. | A Call to Remembrance | F. A. Warmington. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | A New Year's Meditation | J. B. Brown, B. A. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | A Protecting Providence | A. P. Peabody. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | Afflictive Dispensations of Providence | D. Dickinson, D. D. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | Development and Discipline | C. Wadsworth. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | Divine Leading | J. J. Eastmead. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | Divine Providence a Moral Discipline | F. A. West. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | God Proves His Children | George Macdonald. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | God's Leading | Spurgeon, Charles Haddon | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | God's Training of Men | C. Kingsley, M. A. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | Human Life | Homilist | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | Human Life a Pilgrimage | John Mason, M. A. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | Looking Backward | W. L. Watkinson. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | Looking Backward | Sidney Pitt. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | Memory a Scribe | Watson, Thomas | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | Past Recollections | W. G. Barrett, M. A. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | Remember the Way | S. Martin, D. D. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | Remembering and Forgetting | S. H. Howe, D. D. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | Remembrance of God's Dealings | T. Webster, B. D. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | Remembrance of Past Trials | Preacher's Analyst | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | Retrospect Exhilarating | Bishop Cheney. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | The Advantages of a Devout Review of the Divine Dispensat | James Stark. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | The Advantages of a Frequent Retrospect of Life | C. Bradley, M. A. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | The Blessing of Temptation | W. W. Champneys, M. A. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | The Christian Called to Review the Dealings of God with Him | J. Benson. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | The Common Levels of Life | J. B. Brown, B. A. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | The Design of Affliction | J. Parker, D. D. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | The Discipline of Life | | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | The Duty, Benefits, and Blessings of Remembering God's Commandments | J. D. Day, M. A. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | The Journey of Life | Homilist | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | The Lesson of Memory | A. Maclaren, D. D. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | The Moral Discipline of Man | Homilist | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | The Power of Memory | J. R. Hargreaves. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | The Retrospect | W. Jay. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | The Stages of Probation | Dean Goulburn. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | The Way of the Past | Lay Preacher | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | The Way to Improve Past Providences | John Mason, M. A. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | To Bring to Remembrance | J. Wells. | Deuteronomy 8:1-2 | | The Lessons of the Wilderness | R.M. Edgar | Deuteronomy 8:1-6 | | The Moral Uses of Memory | D. Davies | Deuteronomy 8:1-6 |
People MosesPlaces Beth-baal-peor, EgyptTopics Care, Careful, Command, Commanding, Commandment, Commandments, Enter, Fathers, Follow, Forefathers, Giving, Heed, Heritage, Increase, Increased, Multiplied, Multiply, Oath, Observe, Orders, Possess, Possessed, Promised, Sware, Swore, Sworn, To-day, UndertookDictionary of Bible Themes Deuteronomy 8:1 8404 commands, in OT Deuteronomy 8:1-2 8670 remembering Deuteronomy 8:1-5 8231 discipline, divine Library God's Training
DEUTERONOMY viii. 2-5. 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. 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 …
Charles Kingsley—Discipline and Other SermonsThe Lesson of Memory
'Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these lofty 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.'--DEUT. viii.2. The strand of our lives usually slips away smoothly enough, but days such as this, the last Sunday in a year, are like the knots on a sailor's log, which, as they pass through his fingers, tell him how fast it is being paid out from the reel, and how far it has …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture National Wealth
(Fifth Sunday after Easter.) Deut. viii. 11-18. 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: lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth …
Charles Kingsley—The Gospel of the Pentateuch Subterraneous Places. Mines. Caves.
Thus having taken some notice of the superficies of the land, let us a little search into its bowels. You may divide the subterraneous country into three parts: the metal mines, the caves, and the places of burial. This land was eminently noted for metal mines, so that "its stones," in very many places, "were iron, and out of its hills was digged brass," Deuteronomy 8:9. From these gain accrued to the Jews: but to the Christians, not seldom slavery and misery; being frequently condemned hither by …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Emmanuel's Land
P. G. Deut. viii. 7-10 The land! the glory of all lands, Beyond the Jordan's wave; Beyond the weary desert sands-- The land beyond the grave! Now safe witin that glorious land, We prove His faithful Word; 'Midst Canaan's golden fields we stand, The ransomed of the Lord. Amidst the burning desert drought We learnt His watchful love; Streams from the flinty rocks He brought, Sent bread from Heaven above. Our God in weariness and need, His love was measured there By hunger which His hand would feed, …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others Palestine Eighteen Centuries Ago
Eighteen and a half centuries ago, and the land which now lies desolate--its bare, grey hills looking into ill-tilled or neglected valleys, its timber cut down, its olive- and vine-clad terraces crumbled into dust, its villages stricken with poverty and squalor, its thoroughfares insecure and deserted, its native population well-nigh gone, and with them its industry, wealth, and strength--presented a scene of beauty, richness, and busy life almost unsurpassed in the then known world. The Rabbis never …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life The Temptation of Christ
Matthew 4:1-11 -- "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a …
George Whitefield—Selected Sermons of George Whitefield Why all Things Work for Good
1. The grand reason why all things work for good, is the near and dear interest which God has in His people. The Lord has made a covenant with them. "They shall be my people, and I will be their God" (Jer. xxxii. 38). By virtue of this compact, all things do, and must work, for good to them. "I am God, even thy God" (Psalm l. 7). This word, Thy God,' is the sweetest word in the Bible, it implies the best relations; and it is impossible there should be these relations between God and His people, and …
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
A BRIEF AND FAITHFUL RELATION OF THE EXCEEDING MERCY OF GOD IN CHRIST TO HIS POOR SERVANT, JOHN BUNYAN; WHEREIN IS PARTICULARLY SHOWED THE MANNER OF HIS CONVERSION, HIS SIGHT AND TROUBLE FOR SIN, HIS DREADFUL TEMPTATIONS, ALSO HOW HE DESPAIRED OF GOD'S MERCY, AND HOW THE LORD AT LENGTH THROUGH CHRIST DID DELIVER HIM FROM ALL THE GUILT AND TERROR THAT LAY UPON HIM. Whereunto is added a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 In Death and after Death
A sadder picture could scarcely be drawn than that of the dying Rabbi Jochanan ben Saccai, that "light of Israel" immediately before and after the destruction of the Temple, and for two years the president of the Sanhedrim. We read in the Talmud (Ber. 28 b) that, when his disciples came to see him on his death-bed, he burst into tears. To their astonished inquiry why he, "the light of Israel, the right pillar of the Temple, and its mighty hammer," betrayed such signs of fear, he replied: "If I were …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Meditations Before Dinner and Supper.
Meditate that hunger is like the sickness called a wolf; which, if thou dost not feed, will devour thee, and eat thee up; and that meat and drink are but as physic, or means which God hath ordained, to relieve and cure this natural infirmity and necessity of man. Use, therefore, to eat and to drink, rather to sustain and refresh the weakness of nature, than to satisfy the sensuality and delights of the flesh. Eat, therefore, to live, but live not to eat. There is no service so base, as for a man …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Third Sunday Before Lent
Text: First Corinthians 9, 24-27; 10, 1-5. 24 Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. 25 And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: 27 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II Deuteronomy
Owing to the comparatively loose nature of the connection between consecutive passages in the legislative section, it is difficult to present an adequate summary of the book of Deuteronomy. In the first section, i.-iv. 40, Moses, after reviewing the recent history of the people, and showing how it reveals Jehovah's love for Israel, earnestly urges upon them the duty of keeping His laws, reminding them of His spirituality and absoluteness. Then follows the appointment, iv. 41-43--here irrelevant (cf. …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Deuteronomy 8:1 NIVDeuteronomy 8:1 NLTDeuteronomy 8:1 ESVDeuteronomy 8:1 NASBDeuteronomy 8:1 KJV
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