John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness , etc.] For this was now the fortieth year of their coming out of Egypt into the wilderness, into which they quickly came after their departure from thence, and had been in one wilderness or another ever since, in which God went before them in a pillar of cloud and fire, and directed their way; and now they are called upon to remember all the occurrences in the way, what favours and mercies had been bestowed upon them, what provisions had been made for them, what enemies they had been delivered from or overcome, as well as what afflictions and chastisements had attended them: and so the people of God should call to mind how they were brought to see their wilderness state and condition by nature; how they were brought out of it, and stopped in their career of sin, and turned from their evil ways, and led to Christ; what gracious promises have been made to them; what light has been afforded them; what communion they have had with God; what pleasure in his ordinances; what food they have been fed with; what temptations have befallen them, and how delivered out of them; and what afflictions have been laid upon them, and how supported under them, and freed from them: to humble thee ; under the mighty hand of God, to bring down the pride of their hearts and hide it from them; to lay them low in their own eyes, and clothe them with humility, that the Lord alone might be exalted: and to prove thee ; whether they would be obedient to his laws, or how they would behave towards him both in prosperity and adversity, and to try their graces, their faith and patience, fear and love: to know what was in thine heart ; that is, to make it known to themselves and others; for God knew all that was in it, the wickedness of it, the unbelief, rebellion, and frowardness of it, and needed not any ways and means to get into the knowledge of it; (see 2 Chronicles 32:31), whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no ; which they had in such a solemn manner promised to do; ( Deuteronomy 5:27-29).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - Obedience must be, 1. Careful, observe to do; 2. Universal, to do all the commandments; and 3. From a good principle, with a regard to God a the Lord, and their God, and with a holy fear of him. To engage them to this obedience. Moses directs them to look back. It is good to remembe all the ways, both of God's providence and grace, by which he has le us through this wilderness, that we may cheerfully serve him and trus in him. They must remember the straits they were sometimes brough into, for mortifying their pride, and manifesting their perverseness to prove them, that they and others might know all that was in their heart, and that all might see that God chose them, not for any thing in them which might recommend them to his favour. They must remember the miraculous supplies of food and raiment granted them. Let none of God' children distrust their Father, nor take any sinful course for the supply of their necessities. Some way or other, God will provide for them in the way of duty and honest diligence, and verily they shall be fed. It may be applied spiritually; the word of God is the food of the soul. Christ is the word of God; by him we live. They must als remember the rebukes they had been under, and not without need. Thi use we should make of all our afflictions; by them let us be quickene to our duty. Moses also directs them to look forward to Canaan. Loo which way we will, both to look back and to look forward, to Canaan Look which way we will, both to look back and to look forward wil furnish us with arguments for obedience. Moses saw in that land a typ of the better country. The gospel church is the New Testament Canaan watered with the Spirit in his gifts and graces, planted with trees of righteousness, bearing fruits of righteousness. Heaven is the goo land, in which nothing is wanting, and where is fulness of joy.
Original Hebrew וזכרת2142 את853 כל3605 הדרך1870 אשׁר834 הוליכך1980 יהוה3068 אלהיך430 זה2088 ארבעים705 שׁנה8141 במדבר4057 למען4616 ענתך6031 לנסתך5254 לדעת3045 את853 אשׁר834 בלבבך3824 התשׁמר8104 מצותו4687 אם518 לא׃3808
