Deuteronomy 8:10-20 comments: a call to the Israelite to be thankful

 

Deuteronomy 8:10 ¶  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: 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; 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; 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; 17  And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. 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. 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. 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 your God.

 

Verse 10 is such a wonderful verse. Remember back in chapter 6.

 

Deuteronomy 6:10  And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, 11  And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; 12  Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

 

Think of Psalm 103:1 ¶  «A Psalm of David.» Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3  Who

forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4  Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

 

Again, these verses confirm the temporal nature of God’s blessings for the Hebrew but they remind us to be thankful.

 

Colossians 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

 

1Thessalonians 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 

We are, of all creatures, a most disgusting thing when we forget that our blessings come from God and that without His mercy and kindness we will perish. Every day we should be seeking His mercy and thanking Him. From the food in our stomach to our health we have a need to honor the one from whom it all comes and when we do not and start taking things for granted we become hardened and bitter as well as prideful and vane.