Old Testament - Deuteronomy 8 & 15 - May 17, 2022

5/17/2022 – Deuteronomy 8 & 15

Deuteronomy 8

I was surprised as I started reading in Deuteronomy, and as I read the Lord’s instructions to the Israelites as they are now so close to Canaan, the land the Lord had promised them. They were directed to kill so many—and then I found this in one of my study manuals: “By the time Israel approached the promised land, these Canaanites had become an extremely wicked and idolatrous people. When Abraham was told that his seed would inherit the land of Canaan, the Lord also told him that Israel would first be taken into captivity in Egypt because “the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full” (Genesis 15:16). Now, several hundred years later, that fulness of iniquity had come. Certain acts are so evil and so destructive to the order of the society that the only just reparation is the death of the guilty parties (see Exodus 21:12–17). Nephi was told that Laban’s death was justified because his wickedness threatened the spiritual existence of an entire future nation. The Lord began His explanation of that principle by saying, “Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes” (1 Nephi 4:13). Likewise, the kinds of evil of which the Canaanites were guilty were so infectious, so contaminating, that to have shown mercy and let them survive would have proven to be the spiritual downfall of Israel. Indeed, later history shows that this is exactly what happened when Israel failed to follow these instructions. Moses warned Israel: “Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee” (Deuteronomy 9:5; see also 1 Nephi 17:32–38). Israel was not commanded to treat all her enemies in this manner.”

In v 2 of chapter 8 the Lord explains the reason why the Israelites had to spend 40 years in the wilderness: “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.” That should remind us to have patience with the Lord’s time table AND to work harder and more often to truly follow His commandments.

The Lord went on to explain that He had sent the manna to humble them & to help them to understand that “man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord.” (v 3) He also reminded them of other ways He helped them “thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.”  It is easy for us to not notice, or thank the Lord, for the problems we DON’T have to experience.

He goes on to tell them that He chastens us, for the same reasons that good parents chasten their own children when needed. (v5) He follows that by reminding us, once again, that we should work to “keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.” (v 6) And He follows THAT up with additional warning: “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.” (v 11)

The Lord reminds them of the difficult times they have been through. (v’s 15-16) He cautions them (and us) as He warns of the problems that often come to us when our lives are plentiful and easy. (v13-14)

He finishes with the instructions for us to realize and to give all credit to the Lord in our good times: “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 today.” (v18)

Deuteronomy 15

The Lord continues to command His people to be holy, to care for the poor, and to remember His blessings. 

He gives us multiple ways that we can help the poor: “…thou shalt not harden thine heart, not shut thine hand from thy poor brother. But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need in that which he wanteth.” (v’s 7-8)

He continues with this instruction in v 11. This verse makes me think of the way the Church is contributing and helping, not just those in the Church, but all those who are having difficult times in whatever country they are in: “For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother to the poor….” He also wants them to remember that “thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing today.” (v 15)

The Lord ends by giving the Israelites things to do that will remind them always of Him and of His ways, He’s showing how they can be Christ-like, and He promises that if we willing help those in need, then we will be blessed in all our works.