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. If you ever forget the LORD your GodThis phrase serves as a warning against spiritual amnesia, a recurring theme in Deuteronomy. The Israelites are reminded of their covenant relationship with God, who delivered them from Egypt. Forgetting God implies neglecting His commandments and the history of His faithfulness. This warning is relevant throughout the Old Testament, as seen in Judges 2:10-12, where a generation arose that did not know the LORD. and go after other gods
The phrase highlights the temptation of idolatry, a significant issue for Israel, surrounded by polytheistic cultures like the Canaanites. The allure of other gods often came with the promise of prosperity and fertility, appealing to human desires. This warning is echoed in Exodus 20:3, the first of the Ten Commandments, emphasizing exclusive worship of Yahweh. to worship and bow down to them
Worship and bowing down indicate acts of reverence and submission, which belong solely to God. The physical act of bowing signifies a heart posture of allegiance. In the ancient Near East, such acts were common in religious practices, but for Israel, they were reserved for God alone, as seen in Daniel 3:18, where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow to Nebuchadnezzar's image. I testify against you today
This phrase underscores the seriousness of the warning, with Moses acting as a witness to the covenant. The legal language reflects the covenantal framework, where blessings and curses are contingent on obedience. This concept is further developed in Deuteronomy 30:19, where heaven and earth are called as witnesses. that you will surely perish
The consequence of idolatry is severe, emphasizing the life-and-death stakes of covenant faithfulness. Perishing refers not only to physical destruction but also to spiritual ruin. This warning foreshadows the eventual exile of Israel due to persistent idolatry, as seen in 2 Kings 17:6-18. The call to exclusive worship of God is a type pointing to Jesus Christ, who fulfills the law and calls for wholehearted devotion in Matthew 22:37. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe speaker of this verse, Moses is delivering God's commandments and warnings to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. 2. IsraelitesThe audience of Moses' message, the Israelites are God's chosen people who have been delivered from slavery in Egypt and are on the brink of entering Canaan. 3. The Promised Land (Canaan)The land promised by God to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It represents a place of blessing and fulfillment of God's promises. 4. Other godsRefers to the deities worshiped by the surrounding nations, which the Israelites are warned against following. 5. PerishingThe consequence of turning away from God, indicating both physical destruction and spiritual separation. Teaching Points The Danger of ForgetfulnessForgetting God leads to spiritual decline. Regular remembrance of God's past faithfulness is crucial for maintaining a strong relationship with Him. The Exclusivity of WorshipGod demands exclusive worship. Engaging in idolatry or syncretism is a direct violation of His commandments and leads to severe consequences. Consequences of DisobedienceDisobedience to God results in perishing, both physically and spiritually. This serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of sin. The Importance of Covenant FaithfulnessThe covenant relationship with God requires faithfulness. The Israelites' experience serves as a warning and example for believers today. Vigilance Against IdolatryModern idolatry can take many forms, such as materialism or self-worship. Believers must remain vigilant and guard their hearts against anything that takes God's rightful place. Bible Study Questions 1. What are some practical ways we can ensure we do not "forget the LORD" in our daily lives? 2. How can the warnings in Deuteronomy 8:19 be applied to modern-day temptations and distractions? 3. In what ways do we see the consequences of idolatry and disobedience in the world today? 4. How does the concept of covenant faithfulness in Deuteronomy 8:19 relate to the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ? 5. What steps can we take to identify and remove "other gods" or idols in our lives, ensuring that our worship remains exclusive to the LORD? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 20:3-5The first and second commandments warn against having other gods and making idols, emphasizing the exclusivity of worship due to God alone. Joshua 24:20Joshua reiterates the warning that forsaking the LORD for foreign gods will lead to disaster. 1 Kings 9:6-7God warns Solomon that if Israel turns away from Him, they will be cut off from the land He has given them. Jeremiah 25:6The prophet Jeremiah warns against following other gods, which leads to God's wrath and judgment. People MosesPlaces Beth-baal-peor, EgyptTopics Bow, Bowed, Destroyed, Destruction, Follow, Forewarn, Forget, Gods, Hast, Overtake, Perish, Really, Servants, Serve, Served, Solemnly, Surely, Testified, Testify, Thyself, To-day, Utterly, Walk, Warn, WorshipDictionary of Bible Themes Deuteronomy 8:19 1025 God, anger of
5978 warning Deuteronomy 8:19-20 8315 orthodoxy, in OT
8763 forgetting
8764 forgetting God
8840 unfaithfulness, to God 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 8:19 NIVDeuteronomy 8:19 NLTDeuteronomy 8:19 ESVDeuteronomy 8:19 NASBDeuteronomy 8:19 KJV
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