August, 1937
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number of personal pronouns used. It is "my fruits,” “ my barns,” “ my goods,” “ my soul.” There is no thought of God any where in his reasonings. The time that we need prayer for ourselves most of all is not when we are in want, but when we are full, not when we have failed, but when we have succeeded. 3. The stern warning of God was con firmed hy the subsequent history of Israel. The nation began its downward plunge not in the days of its hardships, but in the days of its great prosperity and wealth under Solomon when silver was as common as stones in Jerusalem. A good lady, belonging to another com munion, once remonstrated with W . B. Robertson of Irvine. ' She said : “ I hear you are introducing some dreadful innovations into your church service.” “ Indeed?” he replied. “What innova tions have we introduced ?” • “ Oh,” she said, “ I hear that you read the commandments at the communion.” “ Is that all you heard o f?” was the re ply. “We have introduced a far greater innovation than that.” “What is it?” said the good lady in some alarm. “We try to keep them,” he replied.— From The Life of W. B. Robertson, D.D., by J. Brown. Golden Text Illustration D euteronomy 8:11
III. T he L oss of B lessings (19, 20)
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The people were reminded that the na tions who possessed the land were being driven out because of their indulgence in the very sin against which Israel was be ing warned. The fact that the Israelites were God’s people did not give them free dom to sin with impunity. The enemy nations were not driven out because God was prejudiced against them and showed partiality toward Israel; but they were driven out because they did not align them selves with Jehovah and obey Him. Considering the history of Israel cover ing many centuries, how can we say that God acts with caprice, or that He over looks in one individual or nation what He punishes in another? He is the God of righteousness. Sin is an offense to Him whether it be found in His own people, or in the people of the world who stand in opposition to Him. His grace provides, however, a Sin-bearer in the Lord Jesus Christ—One who meets the punishment due to the sinner. But this glorious fact does not free the Christian from discipline, nor give him the right to live and act as the world lives and acts. One day God will have on earth a na tion which will remember Him and know that He alone is the source of power, a nation which will give Him all the glory for all He does and has done on its be half. In anticipation of that day, indi vidual believers may— and should—like wise give glory continually to “the Lord that bought them.” Points and Problems 1. "Lest when thou hast eaten and art full" (Deut. 8:12). Our greatest moral and spiritual danger comes not when we are hungry, but when we are fu ll; not when we have failed, but when we have been successful. Strange to say, modern religion has reversed this great principle. We are being told by the “ experts” tthat before we can restore religion to the place it should have in the lives of men, we must first correct the social and economic injustices of the nation. Certainly no one would wish to argue that such injustices are good in themselves, but it is neverthe less a fact that when we are in want, very often we begin to give some thought to God and His rights and claims upon us. If we were not sinners, it might be otherwise; but being what we are, we need to be reminded often by hard experience that we are not sufficient in ourselves. 2. "And thou say in thine heart, my power and the might of mine hand hath got ten me this wealth” (v. 17). God knows the exact tendencies of the sinful human heart. Nebuchadnezzar, when he had reached the very pinnacle of his power and glory, fell into this very snare. Listen to him boast: “ Is not this great Babylon, that I have built . . . by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?” (Dan. 4:30). And I am inclined to believe that when our Lord spoke that remarkable par able of the Rich Fool, He had this very Old Testament passage in mind. Read the record in Luke 12:16-20, and notice the
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To Help Us Remember D euteronomy 8:11-20
Memory Verse: “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death” (Psa. 48:14). 'Approach: Last week we talked about how God warned the children of Israel and told them that those who kept His laws
would be blessed and those who did not keep them would be punished. Today we are going to talk about another warn ing which He gave His people. Lesson Story: You remember that this land which God was giving to His people
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was very rich. The children of Israel weren’t going to have to work very hard for the things that they needed to make them live comfortably. And God knew what often happens to people who have an easy life. Do you know what happens to them? Yes, they forget to say, “Thank you.” So God said to the people: “When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.” He told them they must not forget Him nor disobey His commandments. They were not to become proud and say: “My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.” They were to remember that it was God who gave them the power to get riches. And then He told them what sad thing should happen if they did forget. He said:
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