Deuteronomy 6:10-19: a reflection

10It shall be, when the LORD your God brings you into the land which he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you, great and goodly cities which you didn’t build, 11and houses full of all good things which you didn’t fill, and cisterns dug out which you didn’t dig, vineyards and olive trees which you didn’t plant, and you shall eat and be full; 12then beware lest you forget the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 13You shall fear the LORD your God; and you shall serve him, and shall swear by his name. 14You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples who are around you, 15for the LORD your God among you is a jealous God, lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth. 16You shall not tempt the LORD your God, as you tempted him in Massah. 17You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he has commanded you. 18You shall do that which is right and good in the LORD’s sight, that it may be well with you and that you may go in and possess the good land which the LORD swore to your fathers, 19to thrust out all your enemies from before you, as the LORD has spoken.

Moses warns Israel about a danger they will face not in hardship, but in prosperity. When the LORD brings you into the land, he says, with great cities you did not build, houses full of good things you did not fill, wells you did not dig, vineyards you did not plant, and you eat and are full, then beware lest you forget the LORD who brought you out of Egypt. The danger was that, once comfortable and full, they would forget the God who had given them everything.

Notice when the danger of forgetting God comes: in prosperity and comfort, not in hardship. When they were enslaved and needy, they cried out to God; but once they were full, settled, and comfortable, enjoying good things they had not even worked for, the temptation would be to forget the God who gave it all, to take the blessings for granted and lose sight of the Giver. Comfort and plenty, Moses warns, make us prone to forgetfulness.

That is a warning we need, for it runs against our assumptions. We tend to think that hardship is the great spiritual danger, and comfort a blessing; but Moses warns that comfort and plenty carry their own danger, the danger of forgetting God when we are full and have no felt need. It is often in prosperity, not adversity, that we drift from God. When things are going well and you are comfortable and full, be especially watchful against forgetting God. Do not let your blessings crowd out the Giver, or your comfort make you forget your need of him. Remember God most deliberately when you are full, when you least feel your need, for that is when forgetting comes most easily. Beware, when you are full, lest you forget the LORD.

Lord, Moses warned Israel that when they were brought into the good land, full of houses they did not build and vineyards they did not plant, and were comfortable and full, they would be prone to forget you, the God who gave it all. Give me that warning, for it runs against my assumptions. I tend to think that hardship is the great spiritual danger, and comfort a blessing; but you warn that comfort and plenty carry their own danger, the danger of forgetting you when I am full and have no felt need. It is often in prosperity, not adversity, that I drift from you. When things are going well and I am comfortable and full, make me especially watchful against forgetting you. Keep my blessings from crowding out you, the Giver, or my comfort from making me forget my need of you. Help me remember you most deliberately when I am full, when I least feel my need, for that is when forgetting comes most easily. Keep me from forgetting you in my plenty.