8:1
The people are reminded yet again of the importance of and reason for being careful to follow all the commands of the Lord. The reason was that they would live in the Promised Land, and increase in numbers there. And prior to that, that they would “enter and possess” the land. This was the land promised to their ancestors. Now we know that the people did enter the land, and the land did belong to Israel. So in that sense the promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was fulfilled. However, we also know that they then repeatedly disobeyed the Lord, and were eventually thrown out of the land. The old covenant was based on Israel obeying the Lord, and so was weakened by this.
8:2
They are then called upon to remember the years spent in the wilderness. They were supposed to learn from them. Likewise, we should consider the things that have happened to us in life, and how the Lord has looked after us at all times. They were led through the desert in order to humble and test them. In refusing to enter the Promised Land at the first time of asking, they looked to themselves instead of looking to God. So they needed to be humbled. Testing them is strange in a way. Abraham was tested when told to sacrifice Isaac, but Abraham passed the test. The Israelites here manifestly failed the test. What happened in the desert showed that they would not obey the Lord’s commands.
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