Deuteronomy 8:18 - But you shall remember Yahweh your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth; that he may establish his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as it is today.
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What does "Deuteronomy 8:18" mean?
Deuteronomy 8:18 is a pivotal verse in understanding the relationship between prosperity, faith, and God's covenant with the Israelites. Let's break it down:
"But you shall remember Yahweh your God...": This is the central command. It serves as a warning against forgetting God once prosperity arrives. The Israelites are being reminded that their success isn't solely due to their own abilities or hard work. Remembering Yahweh implies gratitude, obedience, and recognition of His role in their lives.
"...for it is he who gives you power to get wealth...": This is the crucial point. The verse attributes the ability or power to acquire wealth to God. It acknowledges that God provides the opportunities, skills, resources, and even the good health needed to become prosperous. It's not simply about God magically handing them wealth; rather, He enables them to create it. The Hebrew word for "power" here can also be interpreted as "strength," "ability," or "capacity." It's about empowerment rather than direct provision.
"...that he may establish his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as it is today.": This connects prosperity to God's covenant. The covenant is a binding agreement between God and the Israelites (starting with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). A key aspect of this covenant included blessings of prosperity and land. God wants to fulfill His promise to their ancestors. The prosperity they experience is, in part, a tangible sign of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. The phrase "as it is today" emphasizes the ongoing relevance of the covenant in their present circumstances.
In essence, the verse is saying:
Don't forget God when you become successful.
Acknowledge that your ability to acquire wealth comes from God. He empowers you to do so.
Your prosperity is connected to God fulfilling His covenant promises to your ancestors, which shows His continued faithfulness.
Important Considerations:
Not a Prosperity Gospel Guarantee: This verse isn't a simple formula for instant wealth. It doesn't promise riches to everyone who remembers God. The emphasis is on remembering God amidst prosperity and recognizing His role.
Responsibility: While God gives the power to get wealth, the Israelites (and by extension, us) still have a responsibility to use that power wisely, ethically, and in accordance with God's principles.
Potential for Idolatry: The verse warns against the temptation to become self-reliant and forget God when things are going well. Prosperity can lead to pride and a reliance on one's own strength instead of God.
Context: It's important to read this verse within the broader context of Deuteronomy 8, which warns against forgetting God's deliverance from slavery in Egypt and the challenges they faced in the wilderness. The wilderness experience humbled them and taught them to depend on God.
In conclusion, Deuteronomy 8:18 is a call to remember God as the source of all blessings, particularly the ability to gain wealth, and to understand that prosperity is connected to His covenant and faithfulness. It's a reminder to be grateful, humble, and responsible in how we use the resources God has given us.
Deuteronomy 8:18 - But you shall remember Yahweh your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth; that he may establish his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as it is today.
What does "Deuteronomy 8:18" mean?
Deuteronomy 8:18 is a pivotal verse in understanding the relationship between prosperity, faith, and God's covenant with the Israelites. Let's break it down:
"But you shall remember Yahweh your God...": This is the central command. It serves as a warning against forgetting God once prosperity arrives. The Israelites are being reminded that their success isn't solely due to their own abilities or hard work. Remembering Yahweh implies gratitude, obedience, and recognition of His role in their lives.
"...for it is he who gives you power to get wealth...": This is the crucial point. The verse attributes the ability or power to acquire wealth to God. It acknowledges that God provides the opportunities, skills, resources, and even the good health needed to become prosperous. It's not simply about God magically handing them wealth; rather, He enables them to create it. The Hebrew word for "power" here can also be interpreted as "strength," "ability," or "capacity." It's about empowerment rather than direct provision.
"...that he may establish his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as it is today.": This connects prosperity to God's covenant. The covenant is a binding agreement between God and the Israelites (starting with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). A key aspect of this covenant included blessings of prosperity and land. God wants to fulfill His promise to their ancestors. The prosperity they experience is, in part, a tangible sign of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. The phrase "as it is today" emphasizes the ongoing relevance of the covenant in their present circumstances.
In essence, the verse is saying:
Don't forget God when you become successful.
Acknowledge that your ability to acquire wealth comes from God. He empowers you to do so.
Your prosperity is connected to God fulfilling His covenant promises to your ancestors, which shows His continued faithfulness.
Important Considerations:
Not a Prosperity Gospel Guarantee: This verse isn't a simple formula for instant wealth. It doesn't promise riches to everyone who remembers God. The emphasis is on remembering God amidst prosperity and recognizing His role.
Responsibility: While God gives the power to get wealth, the Israelites (and by extension, us) still have a responsibility to use that power wisely, ethically, and in accordance with God's principles.
Potential for Idolatry: The verse warns against the temptation to become self-reliant and forget God when things are going well. Prosperity can lead to pride and a reliance on one's own strength instead of God.
Context: It's important to read this verse within the broader context of Deuteronomy 8, which warns against forgetting God's deliverance from slavery in Egypt and the challenges they faced in the wilderness. The wilderness experience humbled them and taught them to depend on God.
In conclusion, Deuteronomy 8:18 is a call to remember God as the source of all blessings, particularly the ability to gain wealth, and to understand that prosperity is connected to His covenant and faithfulness. It's a reminder to be grateful, humble, and responsible in how we use the resources God has given us.