Deuteronomy 8:5. As a man chasteneth his son That is, unwillingly, being constrained by necessity; moderately, in judgment remembering mercy; and for his reformation, not his destruction. read more
The promised land (7:1-8:20)Israel’s responsibility was to destroy the people of Canaan along with everything connected with their religion, so that nothing would remain in the land that might corrupt God’s people (7:1-5). Israel’s favoured place as God’s chosen people was not an excuse for them to do as they liked, but a reason for them to avoid corruption and be holy. If they were disobedient, they would surely be punished (6-11). But if they were obedient, they would enjoy the blessings of... read more
as = according as. a man. Hebrew ' i s h . App-14 . chasteneth = correcteth, applicable to instruction as well as chastisement. 2 Samuel 7:14 .Psalms 89:32 .Proverbs 3:12 . his son. Compare Proverbs 3:12 and Hebrews 12:5 , Hebrews 12:6 . read more
"And thou shalt keep the commandments of Jehovah thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. For Jehovah thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig-trees and pomegranates; a land of olive trees and honey; a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest... read more
God humbled the Israelites in the sense that He sought to teach them to have a realistic awareness of their dependence on Himself for all their needs. This is true humility. God’s provision of manna to eat and clothing to wear should have taught the people that they were dependent on His provision for all their needs, not just food and clothing.What proceeds from God’s mouth (Deuteronomy 8:3) does not refer to the spoken revelations of God exclusively but, more comprehensively, to all that... read more
Warning against pride and forgetfulness of God ch. 8"Two important lessons from the past are now referred to. First, the experience of God’s care in the wilderness period, when the people of Israel were unable to help themselves, taught them the lesson of humility through the Lord’s providential discipline. The memory of that experience should keep them from pride in their own achievements amid the security and prosperity of the new land (Deuteronomy 8:1-20)." [Note: Thompson, p. 134.] The... read more
Practical Exhortations (continued)The people are reminded of God’s goodness to them at the time of the exodus and during their sojourn in the wilderness. They are exhorted to humility and obedience, and warned against worshipping strange gods.2, 3. The events of the wanderings were intended to teach Israel humility and dependenee on God alone: see on Deuteronomy 7:19. 3. Which thou knewest not] see Exodus 16:15. But by every word, etc.] If necessary God can sustain human life apart from the... read more
(5) As a man chasteneth his son.—This is the foundation of many similar sayings in Holy Scripture: Proverbs 13:24, “He seeketh chastening for him,” i.e., seeks it early. All our ideas of training necessarily imply time; it cannot be done in a moment. But the main point of the illustration is to prove God’s love. “Whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth;” else, why should He be at the pains to chasten at all? read more
The Way in the Wilderness (First Sunday of the Year) Deuteronomy 8:2 (i) Let us emphasize the word all, for on that word the emphasis of the sentence truly lies. (ii) The character of the path to be estimated not by the present difficulty or danger, but by the importance of the end. (iii) The infinite variety of the way. (iv) The beauty of the way. It is a goodly world which our God hath built and adorned for us, a world whose goodliness is ever around us. (v) The bread of the wilderness. This... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 8:5
God the Chastener. I. CHASTISEMENT IS A NECESSITY OF OUR MORAL NATURE . He is no wise parent who spares the rod when the good of the child requires that chastisement be administered. Gentler methods failing, the undutiful son ought to be chastised, he deserves it. He needs the discipline. It acts wholesomely upon him, awakening conscience, begetting respect for paternal authority, deterring from evil, leading probably to penitence and submission. II. CHASTISEMENT... read more