Read Deuteronomy 8:11–20
Questions from the Scripture text: What must they beware not to do (Deuteronomy 8:11)? How does verse 11 further define “forgetting YHWH your God”? If they do not keep God’s commandments, what situation becomes especially dangerous to them (Deuteronomy 8:12-13)? What is the danger in these circumstances (Deuteronomy 8:14)? What had YHWH done for them (Deuteronomy 8:15-16)? In order to do what? But if they forget YHWH, what would they be in danger of saying (Deuteronomy 8:17)? What must they do with YHWH (Deuteronomy 8:18)? Why? What will happen to them if they forget Him (Deuteronomy 8:19)? To whom else has this happened (Deuteronomy 8:20)? What will happen to Israel, and why, if they are like those nations?
Why is disobeying God’s Word called forgetting Him? Deuteronomy 8:11–20 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that disobeying God’s Word is personal, proud, praising (wrongly), and pernicious (leading to destruction).
In this passage, the Spirit equates to “forget YHWH your God” with “not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes.” The first half of the chapter (Deuteronomy 8:1-10) had been more focused upon the positive (“remember YHWH your God”); now, the second half warns against the negative (“Beware that you do not forget YHWH your God”). As the warning unfolds, we see that failing to keep His Word is personal, proud, praising (wrongly), and pernicious (leading to destruction).
Deuteronomy 8:11 equates failing to keep God’s Word with forgetting Him personally. This can happen with any person, when we are too focused upon, and satiated with, the pleasures of this world (Deuteronomy 8:12-14a). But it is especially evil when we forget Him Who is our Creator (“YHWH”), covenant God (“your God”), Redeemer (Deuteronomy 8:14b; “Who brought you out”…), and Caregiver (Deuteronomy 8:15-16; “Who led you”… “Who fed you”…). Failing to keep His Word is personal.
Failing to keep His commandments is also proud. Feeling that we do not need to obey Him presumes that we are not dependent upon Him. We might not say it out loud, but we are much like the fool, who would never say with his lips that there is no God. (Just think about how wicked and foolish is that man and nation that says it with their lips!). The fool may not say that with his lips, but he says it in his heart. To fail to keep His commandments is to “say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth,” Deuteronomy 8:17). Every other sin contains within it the sin of pride.
Thirdly, failing to keep His commandments praises wrongly. Pride and idolatry go together, because an idol is a god that you craft, that you invent. So, Deuteronomy 8:19 also equates forgetting YHWH with following other gods and serving them and worshiping them. Whatever you live for, whatever you depend upon, whatever you are devoted to, you turn it into a god. This is part of the great wickedness of sin; every other sin contains within it the sin of idolatry.
Finally, failing to keep His commandments is pernicious. It is harmful. It is lethal. It is self-destructive. Egypt has already been an object lesson in this. The Canaanite nations are about to be (Deuteronomy 8:20a). And if Israel forgets YHWH, they too will perish (Deuteronomy 8:19b), just like those nations (Deuteronomy 8:20b). His written Word is His voice (verse 20b). And failing to keep it is personal, proud, praising (wrongly), and pernicious (leading to destruction).
When have you enjoyed much of the good things of this world? What is the danger to your heart in such circumstances? How are you making a habit of obeying God’s Word? How are you making a habit of viewing it personally, out of love and remembrance for God? Who has He been to you?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for creating us, choosing us, redeeming us, and caring for us. And thank You for communicating Yourself to us in Your Word. Grant that, by the grace of Your Spirit, we would remember You, love You, and obey that Word, in Christ, in Whose Name we ask it, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH434 “A Debtor to Mercy Alone”
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