Deuteronomy 8:19
WEB
It shall be, if you shall forget Yahweh your God, and walk after other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you shall surely perish.
BSB
If you ever forget the LORD your God and go after other gods to worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish.
KJV
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.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H1961
v — exist, be, become, come to pass
Derivation: a primitive root (compare 1933);
to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
KJV: beacon, × altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, follow, happen, × have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, × use.
vb — fall out
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
I.
1.
a. Fall out, happen
b. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
2. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
a.
(1). וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
(2). rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
b. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
II. Come into being, become
1.
a. abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
b. sq. prep.
2. become
a. sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
b. sq. pred. adj.
c. become like
d. sq. pred. לְ pers.
e. sq. לְ pred.
f. oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
g. with עַל and לְ
h. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
III. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
1. exist, be in existence
2. abide, remain, continue
3. with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
4. as copula, joining subj. & pred.
5. periphrastic conjug.
Niph.
1. either be done, be brought about, or occur, come to pass
2. be done, finished, gone
H518
prt — lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not
Derivation: a primitive particle;
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
KJV: (and, can-, doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, + more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or, + save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more, none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when, whereas, whether, while, + yet.
conj — if
אִם conj.
1. hypoth. part. if
2. Interrog. part.
relative conjunction
כִּי אם־
1. each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
a. that if
b. for if
2. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
a. limiting the prec. clause, except
b. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
c. after an oath, surely
H7911
v — mislay, be oblivious
Derivation: or שָׁכֵחַ; a primitive root;
to mislay, i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention
KJV: × at all, (cause to) forget.
vb — forget
שָׁכַח 102 vb. forget
Qal 86 forget
Niph. be forgotten
Pi. י׳ hath caused to forget
Hiph. to make my people forget my name
Hithp. they were forgotten in the city.
H853
prt — self, even, namely
Derivation: apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity;
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
KJV: [as such unrepresented in English].
mark of the accusative
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
H3068
n-pr — Existent, Jeho-vah
Derivation: from 1961;
(the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
n.pr.dei — God
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
I. יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
II.
1. יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
2. the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
3. יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
H430
n-m — gods, God, magistrates
Derivation: plural of 433;
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
KJV: angels, × exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), × (very) great, judges, × mighty.
n.m.pl — gods
אֱלֹהִים 2570 n.m.pl.
1. pl. in number.
a. rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power
b. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels
c. angels
d. gods
2. pl. intensive
a. god or goddess
b. godlike one
c. works of God, or things belongng to him
d. God
3. הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God
4. אֱלֹהִים = God
H1980
v — walk
Derivation: akin to 3212; a primitive root;
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
KJV: (all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, be eased, enter, exercise (self), follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead, march, × more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away), be at the point, quite, run (along), send, speedily, spread, still, surely, tale-bearer, travel(-ler), walk (abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax, (way-) faring man, × be weak, whirl.
vb — go
הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk
Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך
I. lit.
1. of persons
2. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations
3. in like manner of inanimate things
4. The inf. abs. is often used
a. as in other vbs., quite independently
b. to intensify meaning of finite form
c. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.
(1). with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance
(2). with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)
(3). in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance
(4). twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion
(5). quite by itself
(6). 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.
d. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.
5. In combination with other verbal forms
II. Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:
1. pass away, die
2. live (‘walk’), in general
3. of moral and religious life
4. other fig. uses
Pi. (chiefly poet. and late)
1. walk in or with a throng
2. also of walking about = living
3. depart, go entirely away
4. fig. of mode of life, action, etc.
Hithp. walk, walk about, move to and fro
Hiph.
1. lead, bring
2. lead away
3. carry, bring
4. fig. of influence on character
5.
a. cause to walk, go
b. cause to flow, run
c. cause to depart, retire, go back
H310
adv a — the hind part, after
Derivation: from 309;
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
KJV: after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, + out (over) live, + persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.
adv — the hinder
אַחַר prop. subst. the hinder or following part
1. adv.
a. of place, behind
b. of time, afterwards
2. prep.
a. of place, behind, after
b. of time, after
3. conj. after that.
H312
a — hinder, next, other
Derivation: from 309;
properly, hinder; generally, next, other, etc.
KJV: (an-) other man, following, next, strange.
adj — another
אַחֵר adj. another
H5647
v — work, serve, till, enslave
Derivation: a primitive root;
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.
KJV: × be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,
vb — work
עָבַד 290 vb. work, serve
Qal
1. labour, work, do work
2. work for another, serve him by labour
3. serve as subjects
4. serve God
5. serve י׳ with Levitical service
Niph.
1. be tilled, of land
2. dub. cultivated field
Pu. worked
Hiph.
1. compel to labour as slaves
2. make to serve as subjects
3. cause to serve God
Hoph. be led or enticed to serve
H7812
v — depress, prostrate
Derivation: a primitive root;
to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God)
KJV: bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.
vb — bow down
[שָׁחָה] 172 vb. bow down
Qal bow down
Hiph. fig., anxiety depresses it
Hithpa‛lēl
1. bow down, prostrate oneself, before a monarch or superior, in homage, etc.
2. before God, in worship
3. before other gods
H5749
v — duplicate, repeat, protest, testify, encompass, restore
Derivation: a primitive root;
to duplicate or repeat; by implication, to protest, testify (as by reiteration); intensively, to encompass, restore (as a sort of reduplication)
KJV: admonish, charge, earnestly, lift up, protest, call (take) to record, relieve, rob, solemnly, stand upright, testify, give warning, (bear, call to, give, take to) witness.
vb. denom — bear witness
עוּד vb. denom. bear witness
Qal Impf. < Hiph.
Hiph.
1. testify, bear witness
2. cause to testify, take as witness
3. protest, affirm solemnly, wanr
Hoph. and protest be entered
vb — return
[עוּד] vb. prob. return, go about, repeat, do again
Pi. surround
Pōl‛ēl, restore, relieve
Hithpōl. be restored
H3117
n-m — day
Derivation: from an unused root meaning to be hot;
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
KJV: age, always, chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), elder, × end, evening, (for) ever(-lasting, -more), × full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, old, outlived, perpetually, presently, remaineth, × required, season, × since, space, then, (process of) time, as at other times, in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), × whole ( age), (full) year(-ly), younger.
n.m — day
יוֹם 2285 n.m. day
1. day, opp. night
2. Day as division of time
3. יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous
4. Pl. days of anyone
5. Days
6. יוֹם = time
7. Phrases
H3588
conj — relative conjunction
Derivation: a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent;
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
KJV: and, (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), but, certainly, doubtless, else, even, except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, (al-) though, till, truly, until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.
conj — that
כִּי conj. that, for, when
1. that
2.
a. Of time, when, of the past
b. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
c. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
3. Because, since
relative conjunction
כִּי אם־
1. each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
a. that if
b. for if
2. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
a. limiting the prec. clause, except
b. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
c. after an oath, surely
forasmuch as
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
H6
v — wander, lose, perish, destroy
Derivation: a primitive root;
properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
KJV: break, destroy(-uction), not escape, fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, × and surely, take, be undone, × utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.
vb — perish
אָבַד vb. perish (M I אבד, As. abâtu Dl W 184 Aram אֲבַד, Syriac).—
Qal Pf. א׳ Nu 21:30 +; אָבְדוּ ψ 10:16 + (+ Ez 6:3 𝔊 Co) etc.; Impf. יֹאבַד Jb 3:3 Je 4:9; יֹאבֵ֑ד Jb 20:7 + 2t.; 3fs. תֹּאבַד Dt 22:3 + 4t.; תֹּאבֵ֑ד Jb 8:13 + 3t.; יֹאבְדוּ Ju 5:31 + 3t.; יֹאבֵ֑דוּ Jb 4:9 +; 3fpl. וַתֹּאבַדְנָה֙ I S 9:3; תֹּאבֵדוּן Dt 4:26 +; נֹאבֵ֑ד Jon 1:6, 3:9; נֹאבְדָה Jon 1:14 etc.; Inf. abs. אָבֹד Dt 4:26 + 2t.; cstr. אֲבֹד Dt 7:10 Pr 11:10; אֲבָדְךָ Dt 28:20; אָבְדֶ֑ךָ Dt 28:22; אֲבָדְכֶם Jos 23:13; אָבְדָם Ob 12 Pr 28:28; Pt. אֹבֵד Dt 26:5 + 7t.; cstr. אֹבַד Dt 32:28 (bef. ע? v. Di Bö § 378); etc.
1. perish, die, of individuals (mostly late) Nu 17:27 (∥ גוע & (v. 28) מות), (also Dt 26:5? cf. infr.) Jon 1:6, 14 Jb 31:19 cf. 29:13 Pr 31:6 Est 4:14, 16, 16 Mi 4:9 Je 40:15 cf. Is 57:1 Pr 11:10 28:28 Ec 7:15 ψ 119:92; emphasis on morality Jb 4:20 ψ 146:4 Ec 9:6; Saul & Jonath., under fig. of weapons 2 S 1:27; lion Jb 4:11; caravan Jb 6:18 (cf. Di); cf. אָ׳ חָסִיד מִן־הָאָרֶץ Mi 7:2, וְאָ׳ מֶלֶךְ מֵֽעַזָּה Zc 9:5; perish, be exterminated (judgment for sin), of Israel Lv 26:38 Dt 8:19, 19, 20 28:20, 22 30:18, 18 Je 27:10, 15 cf. 6:21, Ob 12 cf. ψ 80:17 Is 27:13; other nations Dt 7:20 Je 10:15 51:18 ψ 2:12 10:16 83:18 cf. 9:4 Am 1:8 Is 41:11 60:12 cf. Jon 3:9 v. also Ex 10:7 Nu 21:29, 30 (JE) Je 48:46; house of Ahab 2 K 9:8; wicked in general Ju 5:31 Jb 4:9 cf. v 7, ψ 37:20 49:11 68:3 (∥ sim. of melting wax), 73:27 92:10; also Pr 19:9 21:28; לָנֶצַח א׳ Jb 20:7; cf. דֶרֶךְ רְשָׁעִים א׳ ψ 1:6; sq. מֵעַל הָאָ֑רֶץ (of annihilation of Isr.) Dt 4:26, 26 11:17 Jos 23:13, 16 (D); sq. מִתּוֹךְ הַקָּהָל (of Korah’s company) Nu 16:33 (JE); perish, be ruined, destroyed, of inanimate things, e.g. land Je 9:11 (∥ נִצְּתָה כַמִּדְבָּר) cf. 48:8; harvest Jo 1:11; Jonah’s gourd Jon 4:10; riches Je 48:36 Ec 5:13; vessel ψ 31:13; houses Am 3:15 (so oft. As. Dl W); city Ez 26:17 (but del. 𝔊 Co); cf. bamôth Ez 6:3 𝔊 Co; heavens & earth ψ 102:27.
2. fig. perish, vanish, subj. memory Jb 18:17 ψ 9:7; name ψ 41:6 (i.e. be forgotten); vigour Jb 30:2; wisdom Is 29:14; cf. אֹבַד עֵצוֹת Dt 32:28; אֱמוּנָה Je 7:28 (∥ נִכְרְתָה); חָזוֹן Ez 12:22; יוֹם Jb 3:3 (i.e. blotted out); לֵב Je 4:9 (i.e. courage fail); תִּקְוָת ψ 9:19 Pr 10:28 11:7 Ez 19:5 37:11 Jb 8:13; so תַּאֲוַת ψ 112:10 (i.e. come to naught); תּוֹחֶלֶת Pr 11:7, sq. מִן + agent La 3:18; תּוֹרָה + עֵצָה sq. מן + persons negligent Je 18:18 Ez 7:26, cf. Je 49:7; esp. א׳ מָנוֹס מִן־ (i.e. they could not escape) Am 2:14 Je 25:35 Jb 11:20 ψ 142:5.
3. be lost, strayed, asses I S 9:3, 20; sheep Je 50:6 Ez 34:4, 16 ψ 119:176 (fig. of erring men); perh. Dt 26:5.
Pi. caus. of Qal.—Pf. אִבַּד 2 K 21:3 + 2 t.; sf. וָֽאַבֶּדְךָ Co Ez 28:16 cf. infr.; אִבַּדְתִּי Je 15:7; וְאִבַּדְתִּ֫י Ez 6:3 (𝔊 Co וְאָֽבְדוּ) etc.; Impf. יְאַבֵּד Ec 9:18; וִֽיאַבֵּד Ec 7:7 Zp 2:13; 1 s. sf. וָאַבֶּדְךָ Ez 28:16 (for וָאֲאַבּ׳ Ew § 72 a Ol § 79 a Kö I 338 Ges § 68 nn; but Co 3 ms.; v. also Co 38 14); תְּאַבְּדוּן Dt 12:2 etc.; Inf. abs. אַבֵּד Dt 12:2 + 3 t.; cstr. id. Ez 22:27 + etc.; Pt. מְאַבְּדִים Je 23:1.
1. cause to perish, destroy, kill, obj. pers. (mostly late) 2 K 11:1 Est 3:9 4:7 8:5 9:24; ∥ הרג 9:6, 12; ∥ הַשְׁמִיד + הרג 3:13 7:4 8:11; ∥ המם Est 9:24; cf. ψ 119:95; obj. נְפָשׁוֹת Ez 22:27 (del. 𝔊 Co); in judgment, subj. י׳ ψ 5:7; cf. Pr 1:32; sq. מִתּוֹךְ Ez 28:16; obj. a people 2 K 13:7 2 K 19:18 = Is 37:19; Jb 12:23; in judgment Dt 11:4 Je 12:17 15:7 Zp 2:13 ψ 9:6 cf. 21:11; obj. inanimate things esp. idols, bamôth etc., Nu 33:52, 52 (J) Dt 12:2, 2 2 K 21:3 Ez 6:3 (but cf. 𝔊 Co supr.); bars of Zion La 2:9 (∥ שִׁבַּר).
2. fig. cause to vanish, blot out, do away with names of idols Dt 12:3; voice of Babylon Je 51:55; memory of dead Is 26:14; substance Pr 29:3; understanding Ec 7:7; good (טוֹבָה q.v.) Ec 9:18.
3. cause to stray, lose; obj. Isr. under fig. of flock Je 23:1 (∥ הֵפִיץ); abs. Ec 3:6 (∥ בַקֵּשׁ).
Hiph. Pf. וְהֶֽאֱבִיד Nu 24:19; הֶאֱבַ֑דְתָּ Jb 14:19 etc.; Impf. אֹבִידָה Je 46:8 (Ges § 68, 2 R.1). Inf. cstr. הַאֲבִיד 2 K 10:19 + etc.; Pt. מַאֲבִיד Dt 8:20.
1. destroy, put to death, in judgment, (subj. י׳) obj. pers. Lv 23:30 (sq. מִקֶּרֶב עַמָּהּ; ∥ כָּרַת v 29); Je 49:38 (sq. מִשָּׁם); Ob 8 (sq. מֵֽאֱדוֹם); obj. nation, Ammon Ez 25:7 (sq. מן־הארצות; ∥ כָּרַת), cf. v 16; Canaanites Dt 8:20 (sq. מִפְּנֵיכֶם); Canaan = Philistines Zp 2:5 (∥ כָּרַת); esp. Isr. Dt 28:51, 63 (∥ הַשְׁמִיד), cf. Js 7:7; also abs. Je 18:7 (∥ לִנְתוֹשׁ וְלִנְתוֹץ); = 1:10 (+ וְלַהֲרוֹס) = 31:28 (+ וּלְהָרֵעַ); animals Ez 32:13 (sq. מֵעַל מַיִם רַבִּים); cf. Dt 7:10; ψ 143:12 (∥ תַּצְמִית); (human subj.), obj. servants of Baal 2 K 10:19, obj. nation Dt 9:3, cf. Nu 24:19 (E; sq. מֵעִֽיר); 2 K 24:2; cf. Je 46:8; obj. inanimate, chariots Mi 5:9; idols Ez 30:13 (del. BCo).
2. fig., obj. name of kings Dt 7:24 (sq. מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמָיִם); hope Jb 14:19; voice of mirth etc. Je 25:10 (cf. 51:55 Pi. supr.)
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Verses 10–20
Deuteronomy 8:10–20
Moses, having mentioned the great plenty they would find in the land of Canaan, finds it necessary to caution them against the abuse of that plenty, which was a sin they would be the more prone to new that they came into the vineyard of the Lord, immediately out of a barren desert.
I. He directs them to the duty of a prosperous condition, Deu 8:10. They are allowed to eat even to fulness, not to surfeiting no excess; but let them always remember their benefactor, the founder of their feast, and never fail to give thanks after meat: Then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God. 1. They must take heed of eating or drinking so much as to indispose themselves for this duty of blessing God, rather aiming to serve God therein with so much the more cheerfulness and enlargement. 2. They must not have any fellowship with those that, when they had eaten and were full, blessed false gods, as the Israelites themselves had done in their worship of the golden calf, Exo 32:6. 3. Whatever they had the comfort of God must have the glory of. As our Saviour has taught us to bless before we eat (Mat 14:19, Mat 14:20), so we are here taught to bless after meat. That is our Hosannah - God bless; this is our Hallelujah - Blessed be God. In every thing we must give thanks. From this law the religious Jews took up a laudable usage of blessing God, not only at their solemn meals, but upon other occasions; if they drank a cup of wine they lifted up their hands and said, Blessed be he that created the fruit of the vine to make glad the heart. If they did but smell at a flower, they said, Blessed be he that made this flower sweet. 4. When they gave thanks for the fruits of the land they must give thanks for the fruits of the land itself, which was given them by promise From all our comfortable enjoyments we must take occasion to thank God for our comfortable settlements; and I know not but we of this nation have as much reason as they had to give thanks for a good land.
II. He arms them against the temptations of a prosperous condition, and charges them to stand upon their guard against them: "When thou art settled in goodly houses of thy own building," Deu 8:12 (for though God gave them houses which they builded not, Deu 6:10, these would not serve them, they must have larger and finer), - "and when thou hast grown rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold (Deu 8:13), as Abraham (Gen 13:2), - when all thou hast is multiplied," 1. "Then take heed of pride. Beware lest then thy heart be lifted up," Deu 8:14. When the estate rises, the mind is apt to rise with it, in self-conceit, self-complacency, and self-confidence. Let us therefore strive to keep the spirit low in a high condition; humility is both the ease and the ornament of prosperity. Take heed of saying, so much as in thy heart, that proud word, My power, even the might of my hand, hath gotten me this wealth, Deu 8:17. Note, We must never take the praise of our prosperity to ourselves, nor attribute it to our ingenuity or industry; for bread is not always to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, Ecc 9:11. It is spiritual idolatry thus to sacrifice to our own net, Hab 1:16. 2. "Then take heed of forgetting God." This follows upon the lifting up on the heart; for it is through the pride of the countenance that the wicked seek not after God, Psa 10:4. Those that admire themselves despise God. (1.) "Forget not thy duty to God." Deu 8:11. We forget God if we keep not his commandments; we forget his authority over us, and our obligations to him and expectations from him, if we are not obedient to his laws. When men grow rich they are tempted to think religion a needless thing. They are happy without it, think it a thing below them and too hard upon them. Their dignity forbids them to stoop, and their liberty forbids them to serve. But we are basely ungrateful if the better God is to us the worse we are to him. (2.) "Forget not God's former dealings with thee. Thy deliverance out of Egypt, Deu 8:14. The provision he made for thee in the wilderness, that great and terrible wilderness." They must never forget the impressions which the horror of that wilderness made upon them; see Jer 2:6, where it is called the very shadow of death. There God preserved them from being destroyed by the fiery serpents and scorpions, though sometimes he made use of them for their correction: there he kept them from perishing for want of water, following them with water out of a rock of flint (Deu 8:15), out of which (says bishop Patrick) one would rather have expected fire than water. There he fed them with manna, of which before (Deu 8:3), taking care to keep them alive, that he might do them good at their latter end, Deu 8:16. Note, God reserves the best till the last for his Israel. However he may seem to deal hardly with them by the way, he will not fail to do them good at their latter end. (3.) "Forget not God's hand in thy present prosperity, Deu 8:18. Remember it is he that giveth thee wealth; for he giveth thee power to get wealth." See here how God's giving and our getting are reconciled, and apply it to spiritual wealth. It is our duty to get wisdom, and above all our gettings to get understanding; and yet it is God's grace that gives wisdom, and when we have got it we must not say, It was the might of our hand that got it, but must own it was God that gave us power to get it, and therefore to him we must give the praise and consecrate the use of it. The blessing of the Lord on the hand of the diligent makes rich both for this world and for the other. He giveth thee power to get wealth, not so much to gratify thee, and make thee easy, as that he may establish his covenant. All God's gifts are in pursuance of his promises.
III. He repeats the fair warning he had often given them of the fatal consequences of their apostasy from God, Deu 8:19, Deu 8:20. Observe, 1. How he describes the sin; it is forgetting God, and then worshipping other gods. What wickedness will not those fall into that keep thoughts of God out of their minds? And, when once the affections are displaced from God, they will soon be misplaced upon lying vanities. 2. How he denounces wrath and ruin against them for it: "If you do so, you shall surely perish, and the power and might of your hands, which you are so proud of, cannot help you. Nay, you shall perish as the nations that are driven out before you. God will make no more account of you, notwithstanding his covenant with you and your relation to him, than he does of them, if you will not be obedient and faithful to him." Those that follow others in sin will certainly follow them to destruction. If we do as sinners do, we must expect to fare as sinners fare.
Cross-references: Deut 8:10 · Exod 32:6 · Matt 14:19 · Matt 14:20 · Deut 8:12 · Deut 6:10 · Deut 8:13 · Gen 13:2 · Deut 8:14 · Deut 8:17 · Eccl 9:11 · Hab 1:16 · Ps 10:4 · Deut 8:11 · Jer 2:6 · Deut 8:15 · Deut 8:3 · Deut 8:16 · Deut 8:18 · Deut 8:19 · Deut 8:20