Because Deuteronomy 6:10–12 essentially forms one long sentence, it makes sense to combine these verses in the explanation. (The ESV does the same.) Moses emphasizes that the people will soon be entering the land the Lord had sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob some centuries ago. And that land will be completely different from the years spent in the wilderness. A splendid land awaits them, with large and beautiful cities and lavishly furnished houses, wells everywhere, and neatly maintained vineyards and olive groves surrounding the houses. A stronger contrast to the barren and inhospitable wilderness is hard to imagine. All that beauty falls into their laps. It is simply theirs for the taking. Recent excavations in the Promised Land show that—except for Jericho, Ai, and Hazor (Joshua 6:18; Joshua 8:19; and Joshua 11:13)—there was no destruction during the conquest. It is touching how wonderfully the Lord provided for his people at that time!
And yet, a danger looms here. Abundance may lead a person to forget God. In the wilderness they were dependent on the Lord. He gave them clear water from the rock (Numbers 20:8), and there was manna, the bread from heaven, every day (Exodus 16:15). Along the way, they experienced God's providence in remarkable ways. But once in the Promised Land, there were no such special acts of the Lord. Food was readily available.
Prosperity can be dangerous. A wise man, Agur, recognized this: For if I were full, I might deny you and say, 'Who is the Lord?'
(Proverbs 30:9a). Prosperity quickly leads to self-sufficiency: we can handle it ourselves. Why do we still need God's help?
This danger threatens in times of prosperity. Thus, it is of great worth that our confession, in the explanation of the fourth petition that Jesus taught us, Give us this day our daily bread,
states: Provide us all our bodily needs so that we may acknowledge that you are the only fountain of all good and that our care and labour, and also your gifts, cannot do us any good without your blessing. Grant therefore that we may withdraw our trust from all creatures and place it only in you
(Heidelberg Catechism, LD 50 QA 125).
10 L'Eternel, ton Dieu, te fera entrer dans le pays qu'il a juré à tes pères, à Abraham, à Isaac et à Jacob, de te donner. Tu posséderas de grandes et bonnes villes que tu n'as point bâties,