MEMORY VERSE: "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" (Deuteronomy 8:2).
TEXT: Deuteronomy 8:1-20.
The love of God for the children of Israel was expressed in His plan and purpose as we shall see in our lesson today. From our text, God stated reasons for giving them His commandments. He, therefore, expected that the benefits expressed in His word should motivate them to obey all the commandments given to them by Moses the man of God. These benefits include preservation, protection and provision (verses 4-13). He further stated that what happened to them during the forty years in the wilderness was to prove whether they would be obedient and humble themselves.
Question 1: State the commandment we must first obey, in order to enable us obey God acceptably?
"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent" (Acts 17:30). The commandment to obey which will enable us to obey other commandments acceptably is the command to repent. To repent means turning away from sins (as the Holy Spirit brings conviction of sins through the word of God) to Christ by faith. It involves a change of mind, direction and attitude towards sins. This is necessary to receive salvation in Christ by faith. This divine change brings grace into our heart. This helps us to obey God's commandments with humility.
SPIRITUAL FOOD OF THE REDEEMED (Deuteronomy 8:1-3,6; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:4-6,61,86,115,128,172; Ephesians 6:1-3; Luke 4:1-4; Psalm 19:7-11; John 6:51,57,63).
"All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers" (Deuteronomy 8:1). The word of God is a spiritual food that strengthens, satisfies, stabilises, sanctifies and supplies conviction, commitment and consecration which builds our spiritual lives (verse 3). We are to obey this word. The Lord called the children of Israel to obey all the commandments He gave them. For Christian youths today, it includes the command to repent (Acts 17:30), be sanctified (1 Peter 1:15,16), baptised with the Holy Ghost (Ephesians 5:18), pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17), read and study the word of God (John 5:39), preach the gospel (Acts 10:42; 2 Timothy 4: 1,2), work (study) (2 Thessalonians 3:7-12), free from worldliness (1 John 2;15-17), worship and serve God (Psalm 45:11; Revelation 22:8,9; Hebrews 12:28) and prepare for the coming of Christ (Matthew 24:42,44; Luke 12:40). Simply, the whole Bible contains the commandments of God. We should pray for grace to obey its contents because the "commandment is exceeding broad" (Psalm 119:96).
Question 2: From verses 1 and 6 of our text, what are the benefits of obeying the commandments of God?
"Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him" (verse 6). The benefits of obeying the word of God cover both spiritual and physical. They include preservation of life (verse 1), progress (verse 1), possession of the Promised Land (verse 1), ability to walk with God (verse 6) and maintaining the fear of God (verse 6).
From verse two, the Lord wanted the children of Israel to remember that all that happened to them during the forty years wandering were to prove their obedience and humility. The test of obedience will always come to us. We should be like the sons of Jonadab who performed the commandment of their father (Jeremiah 35:12-19).
"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 LORD doth man live" (Deuteronomy 8:3). The goodness of the Lord was great towards the children of Israel. He fed them for forty years with manna (angels' food) (Psalm 78:24,25). However, He wanted them to know that as physical body requires physical food, the soul also requires spiritual food. This spiritual food is the word of God that nourishes the soul. We should desire and study it. "Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12).
Question 3: What are the profits of taking the word of God as spiritual food?
The profits of taking the word of God as spiritual food are: (1) conversion (Psalm 19:11), growth (1 Peter 2:2), cleansing (John15:3), sanctification (John17:17), protection (Ephesians 6:17) and overcoming temptations (Luke 4:3,4). It is our responsibility to read, study, hear, accept, mediate on, believe and practise the word regularly. In summary, the instruction of God to every Christian youth is: "Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him" (verse 6).
SPECIAL FAVOUR FOR THE REDEEMED (Deuteronomy 8:4,5,7-17; Psalm 91:1-6; Deuteronomy 6:10-15; 28:4,7,48; 32:15-19; Psalm 78:15-37; Hosea 13:6-8; Luke 12:16-21; Revelation 3:14-21).
"Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years" (Deuteronomy 8:4). The children of Israel were the redeemed of the Lord (Deuteronomy 7:8). Despite their short-comings in the wilderness, He still showed them special favour.
Question 4: From verses 4-9, enumerate special favour God showed to the children of Israel for forty years in the wilderness.
The Scripture says: "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22). God's special favour for His people Israel include: (1) preservation of their clothes (verse 4); (2) preservation of their body (verse 4); (3) profitable correction when they did evil (verse 5); (4) promise of abundant provisions in the land of Canaan (verses 7,8); and (5) promised prosperity in the land of Canaan (verse 9). In God's plan, His children should "eat bread without scarceness", and lack nothing (verse 9). Today, Christian youths have unlimited special favour in Christ (Philippians 4:19). Our prayer should be: "Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come" (Psalms 102:13). However, as the blessings of God increase, we should beware of not forgetting the Giver.
Question 5: State two possible outcomes when the blessings of God increase.
"When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. 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:" (Deuteronomy 8:10,11). The two possible outcomes are: one, to praise God for His goodness. This is the positive outcome expected from the recipients of God's blessings (Psalm 103:1-5). Two, to forget the Lord, the Giver of blessings. God, who knows everything from the beginning to the end, had warned the children of Israel against forgetting Him as a result of prosperity. Later in their history, they forgot the Lord after being filled with His blessings. "According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me" (Hosea 13:6). As obedience and humility are partners, so prosperity may lead to pride. Hence, the Lord expressed His mind this way: "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;" (Deuteronomy 8:14). The Lord warned them of saying: "My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth" (Deuteronomy 8:17). Therefore, all the blessings we receive are from God who gives us all things to enjoy and we are to use them for His glory. "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life" (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
SAINTS' FAITHFULNESS TO THE REDEEMER (Deuteronomy 8:18-20; Nehemiah 7:1,2; 9:7,8; 1 Corinthians 4:1,2; 7:25).
"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" (Deuteronomy 8:18). The precaution for not forgetting the Lord is to remember Him always as the one behind all blessings. This is the only way the children of Israel could show their appreciation, loyalty and faithfulness to their Redeemer who brought them out of bondage. As children of God, we are to be faithful to the Lord in everything we do (1 Corinthians 4:1,2). One of the ways we can do that is to remember Him and His word faithfully. Examples abound in scriptures of those who were faithful to the Lord. Some of them were Timothy (1 Corinthians 4:17), Tychicus (Ephesians 6:21), Epaphras (Colossians 1:7; 4:7), Onesimus (Colossians 4:9), Silas (1 Peter 5:12), Paul (1 Timothy 1:12) and Antipas (Revelation 2:13).
Question 6: What does it mean to "remember the LORD thy God"?
To remember the Lord means to remember the following: the Creator (Ecclesiastes 12:1); the Day of the Lord (Exodus 20:8); the day of your redemption (salvation) (Exodus 13:3; Deuteronomy 16:3); the commandments of the Lord (Numbers 15:39; Malachi 4:4; Matthew 26:75; Acts 20:35); the works of the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:12; Psalm 105:5); the judgment of God (Deuteronomy 24:9); and the Death, Resurrection and Coming of Christ (2 Timothy 2:18; 1 Thessolians 5:1-6). The commandment of the Lord, to all saved youths, is: "Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind" (Jeremiah 51:50). Examples of those who remembered the Lord in the Bible are David (Psalm 63:5-7), Jonah (Jonah 2:7) and Peter (Luke 22:61). There are great blessings when we remember the Lord. Some of them are: victory over sin (Exodus 20:20); promotion and provision from God (Isaiah 58:13,14); prosperity (Psalm 1:2,3); preservation from evil; wisdom, knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:6; 2 Timothy 2:7) and increase of faith (Joshua 2:8-11).
"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" (Deuteronomy 8:19). As remembering God attracts His blessings, so is forgetting Him brings His punishment (Isaiah 17:9-11).
Question 7: What are the consequences of forgetting God?
Individuals or a group of people who forget God have the consequences of being consumed by God (Deuteronomy 4:9,23,24), living without hope in God (Job 8:11-14), punishment in hell (Psalm 9:17), destruction from God (Psalm 50:22), lack of provision and satisfaction (Isaiah 65:11-14), being forgotten, forsaken and reproached (Jeremiah 23:39,40) and being rejected by God (Hosea 4:6). The Lord said as He punished those nations that lived in the land before them, so would He do to those who forgot Him and disobeyed His word. "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 20). The only solution is to repent, be humble and obey the word of God now.
(Source: DCLM Youth Search the Scriptures - Vol 37, Lesson 471)
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