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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 8:1

Verse 1 1.All the commandments. Although the first verse might have been included among the promises, whereby, as we shall hereafter see, the Law was ratified by Moses, because he here exhorts and incites the Israelites to obedience by proposing to them the hope of reward; still it appeared to me that I might conveniently insert it here, since the design of Moses was simply this, to attract them by the sweetness of the promised inheritance to receive the doctrines of the Law. This sentence,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 8:3

Verse 3 3.And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger. Inasmuch as they were sometimes made to suffer hunger in the wilderness, he proves the advantage of this discipline, because they thus learnt that the human race does not live by bread and wine alone, but by the secret power of God. For though all confess that it is through God’s goodness that the earth is fruitful, still their senses are so tied to the meat and drink, that they rise no higher, and do not acknowledge God as their... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 8:5

Verse 5 5.Thou shalt also consider in thine heart. He concludes that in the constant tenor of God’s acts, from the time the Israelites were brought out of Egypt, His paternal care for their instruction might be recognised For the word יסר, (258) yasar, is taken by some in too restricted a sense for “to chastise,” whereas it comprehends the whole process of a proper education; as if he had said, that unless they were hereafter submissive, and disposed to be dutiful, they would be something more... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 8:1-2

God's dealings with the Israelites were disciplinary. Both by the afflictions and privations to which they were subjected, and by the provision they received anti the protection afforded to them, God sought to bring them into and keep them in a right state of mind towards him—a state of humble dependence, submissive obedience, and hopeful trust. But that this effect should be produced, it was needful that they should mark and remember all his ways towards them. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 8:1-6

EXPOSITION FURTHER EXHORTATION TO OBEDIENCE , ENFORCED BY A REVIEW OF GOD 'S DEALINGS WITH ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS . That they might be induced the more faithfully to observe all the commandments which had been enjoined upon them so as to go on and prosper, they are called to remember the experiences of the forty years in the wilderness, when God guided them and disciplined them for their good. He humbled them that he might test the state of their heart... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 8:1-6

Life's meaning discerned by the retrospect of it. The remark has not infrequently been made that incidents closely connected cannot be rightly understood till the time has come for them to be reviewed in their entirety as matters of history. What is true of events generally, applies in all its force to the wonders included in the rescue and wanderings of the people of Israel. And that which may be said of them, holds good, in this respect, of the life-story of God's children now. Two words... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 8:1-6

The moral uses of memory. The memory of man exerts a mighty influence over his history and his destiny. Minus memory, man would be altogether another being. Remembrance of the past is a guidepost, or a beacon, for the future. The key-word of this passage is "all:" "all the way;" "every word;" "all the commandments." I. THE SCOPE OF MEMORY . "All the way which the Lord thy God hath led thee." 1. Remember thy needs— how many, how various, how urgent. Our hourly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 8:1-6

The lessons of the wilderness. Moses here recalls the leadings of God in the wilderness, for the warning and instruction of the Israelites. And we are taught, surely, such lessons as these— I. THE WAY OF SALVATION IS ONE ALSO OF HUMILIATION '. This is, indeed, God's plan, "to hide pride from us." The way of salvation through Christ is humiliating . We are proved by it and made to see what is in our heart. II. AT THE SAME TIME , IT IS A WAY OF ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 8:2-6

The uses of adversity. It is a great matter when in any experience of life we can read the Divine purpose in bringing us through it. The speaker in these verses unfolds the design and lessons of the wilderness discipline. Our Lord, in the temptation, found an application to himself ( Matthew 4:4 ). Every believer will find the same in seasons of adversity. I. ADVERSITY A DIVINE ORDINANCE . ( Deuteronomy 8:2 .) 1. Divinely sent . "The Lord thy God led thee" (cf. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 8:3

God humbled the Israelites by leaving them to suffer hunger from the want of food, and then supplying them with food in a miraculous manner. They were thus taught that their life depended wholly on God, who could, by his own creative power, without any of the ordinary means, provide for the sustaining of their life. And fed thee with manna (cf. Exodus 16:15 ). It is in vain to seek to identify this with any natural product. It was something entirely new to the Israelites—a thing which... read more

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