Read the Bible Quote of the Day – Deuteronomy 32:15 To Strengthen Your Spiritual Journey.
The Context of Deuteronomy 32:15 KJV
The book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Bible. It is part of the Torah, also called the Law of Moses. Deuteronomy is a speech that Moses gave to the people of Israel before they entered the Promised Land. It was his final message before his death.
Deuteronomy 32 is known as the “Song of Moses.” God told Moses to write this song and teach it to the Israelites. The purpose of the song was to remind the people of God’s faithfulness and their need to remain loyal to Him.
In this chapter, Moses sings about God’s goodness and how the people of Israel would turn away from Him after they become comfortable and wealthy. God warns that they would become proud, forget Him, and worship false gods.
Deuteronomy 32:15 is in the middle of this song. It is a powerful verse that describes how Israel would grow fat and turn away from God. The verse uses poetic language to show their ungratefulness.
Deuteronomy 32:15 (KJV)
“But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.”
In this verse, “Jeshurun” is a poetic name for Israel. It means “upright one.” It is used in a loving and affectionate way. But even though the name means “upright,” Israel did not act upright.
The verse says Jeshurun “waxed fat.” This means the people became rich, comfortable, and proud. They had everything they needed. But instead of being thankful to God, they “kicked.” This shows rebellion and rejection.
The verse goes on to say that Jeshurun “forsook God which made him.” This means the people turned their backs on the One who gave them life and blessings. They forgot their Creator.
It also says they “lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.” This means they no longer respected or trusted God, who had saved them many times. They took Him for granted and ignored Him.
Deuteronomy 32:15 Meaning
This verse teaches us an important truth. It shows how success can lead to spiritual downfall. When people are poor or struggling, they often turn to God. But when life gets easy, people forget Him.
The people of Israel had been through many hardships. They had been slaves in Egypt. God delivered them with mighty miracles. He led them through the wilderness. He gave them food and water. He protected them from enemies.
But now, as they were about to enter the Promised Land, God warned them through Moses. He said that when they became prosperous, they would grow fat in body and in pride. They would stop depending on God.
“Waxed fat” is a symbol of wealth and ease. It means they had everything they wanted. But this led them to rebel against God. The more they had, the more they forgot the One who gave it all to them.
They “forsook God which made him.” This shows the deep ingratitude of the people. God had chosen them. He had formed them as a nation. He had loved them. But they turned their backs on Him.
They “lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.” The word “Rock” refers to God’s strength and stability. He had been their protector. He had saved them from danger. But now, they ignored Him. They treated Him as unimportant.
This verse is a warning against pride and forgetfulness. It shows how blessings can become a curse when we stop being thankful to God.
Poetic Imagery in the Verse
The language in Deuteronomy 32:15 is poetic. It uses strong images to describe spiritual truth. “Waxed fat” and “kicked” are images of a spoiled animal. Like an overfed ox, Israel became stubborn and rebellious.
The phrase “lightly esteemed the Rock” uses a picture of a strong rock being ignored. God, who had been their support, was no longer honored.
Jeshurun: A Loving Name with a Sad Message
The name “Jeshurun” appears only a few times in the Bible. It is always a tender name for Israel. It shows how much God loved His people. But here, the name is used in a sad way. Jeshurun became proud. Jeshurun forgot God.
This makes the message even stronger. The people God loved most turned away from Him.
Deuteronomy 32:15 Application in Life
This verse is not only for ancient Israel. It applies to us today. Human nature has not changed. When life is hard, we cry out to God. But when life is good, we often forget Him.
This verse warns us to stay humble and thankful. We must not let comfort and success lead us away from God. Instead, we should use our blessings to serve Him more.
Staying Grateful in Times of Blessing
Many people pray when they are in trouble. But fewer people thank God when things go well. Deuteronomy 32:15 teaches us to stay close to God in good times and in bad.
We should remember that every good thing we have comes from God. Our health, our job, our family, and our safety are all gifts from Him.
Let us not be like Jeshurun. Let us not grow fat and proud. Let us stay thankful and obedient.
Guarding Against Pride
Pride is a danger to our spiritual life. When we think we have succeeded by our own power, we forget God. Pride makes us feel independent. But the truth is, we need God every day.
We must remind ourselves that God is our Rock. He gives us strength. He saves us. He protects us. Without Him, we are nothing.
Honoring the Rock of Our Salvation
God is our Rock. He is strong, faithful, and unchanging. We must never take Him for granted. We must trust Him, honor Him, and worship Him.
To “lightly esteem” God is to treat Him as unimportant. This is a great sin. Let us give Him the honor He deserves.
Personal Reflection
Ask yourself: Am I being like Jeshurun? Have I grown comfortable and forgotten God? Do I spend more time enjoying my blessings than thanking the One who gave them?
If so, it is time to turn back. It is time to repent. God is merciful. He will forgive us and restore us if we humble ourselves.
Helping Others Remember God
We can also help others stay faithful. We can share what we have learned. We can remind our family and friends to be thankful to God. We can be examples of faith and humility.
Conclusion
Deuteronomy 32:15 is a verse full of warning and wisdom. It shows us what happens when people forget God in times of blessing. Israel, called Jeshurun, became proud and rebelled. They forgot the God who made them. They ignored the Rock of their salvation.
We must learn from their mistake. We must stay humble. We must remember that every good thing comes from God. We must honor Him always.
Let us not grow fat and kick. Let us grow in love and obedience. Let us never lightly esteem the Rock of our salvation.
May we live in a way that pleases God, in good times and in hard times. Let us always give Him thanks and follow His ways.
For further reading on this topic, you may want to explore the rest of Deuteronomy 32 to understand the full message of the Song of Moses.
Comments
0 comment