Dt. 8 First Commandment III. The Gods of Death-Materialism

Is. 47:5-11

Ps 10:3-13

Eccl. 2:1, 3:17-18

Three idols which Israel will be tempted by:

7:1-26 Militarism and worship of strength/power

8:1-20 Materialism and worship of wealth

9:1-10:11 Moralism and worship of self-righteousness

7:1-26 Militarism and worship of strength/power

"Do not say in your heart..." 7:17

the nations are mightier and more numerous than you (vv1, 7, 17, 22)

Only Yahweh can defeat your enemies

Unacceptible responses:

1) arrogance: God chose us because we are powerful

2) despair: we'll never defeat them

Instead, trust in God

8:1-20 Materialism and worship of wealth

"Do not say in your heart..." 8:17

Do not trust in your own wealth or ability.

Two parts: 1) Remember; 2) Do not forget!

8:2-10 Remember...

1. the wilderness journey--God's provision

He humbled you and let you hunger.

And then he fed you with manna,

so that you might know that man does not live by bread alone.

Odd.

God gives them bread so that they might know that you do not live by bread alone

Jesus uses this in his response to Satan in the wilderness.

He also uses this in his discourse in John 6 when he refers to himself

as the bread of heaven.

The result of this remembrance should be obedience to God

2. the promised land in the future--echoes of Eden

But Israel's hope is not simply a remembrance of the past, but it is eschatological.

Israel's hope is in what God is going to do in the establishment of his kingdom

in the Promised Land (v7-9).

result, praise of God

8:11-17 Do Not Forget

1. the promised land in the future (starts with their eschatology) (11-13)

result of forgetting, exalt yourself (v14)

2. the wilderness journey in the past (v15-16)

result of forgetting: claim self-sufficiency (v17)

Remember and Live

Forget and Die

Remember that it is God who gives you the ability to get wealth

Materialism is perhaps the most powerful of the gods of death in our own day.

All that you have has been given to you by God,

so that you might use it as his steward over the creation.

And even more,

so that you might embody his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

The kingdom of Christ is to be exhibited to the nations through how YOU

conduct your economic affairs.

Do not say in your heart that you have such wealth because of your wisdom or power.

Your Father has given you this wealth to further his kingdom.

Is that your attitude?