Deuteronomy 9:5 - Not for your righteousness, or for the uprightness of your heart, do you go in to possess their land; but for the wickedness of these nations Yahweh your God does drive them out from before you, and that he may establish the word which Yahweh swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
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What does "Deuteronomy 9:5" mean?
Deuteronomy 9:5 essentially says this:
God is not giving the Israelites the land of Canaan because they are morally superior or more deserving than the people already living there. Their righteousness or uprightness has nothing to do with it.
Instead, God is driving out the current inhabitants of Canaan for two primary reasons:
1. The wickedness of the Canaanite nations: The people living in Canaan were morally corrupt and engaged in practices that God found abominable (Deuteronomy 12:29-31 details some of these practices). God is acting as a righteous judge, punishing them for their sins. It's important to remember that, in the ancient Near East, land conquest was often seen as evidence of divine judgment.
2. Fulfillment of God's covenant promise: God had promised the land of Canaan to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as part of His covenant with them. This verse emphasizes that God is keeping His promise to their ancestors. The conquest is therefore a fulfillment of a long-standing commitment.
Key takeaways:
Emphasis on God's Grace: The verse is a stark reminder that the Israelites did not earn the land through their own merit. It was an act of God's grace and faithfulness.
Divine Justice: While emphasizing God's grace toward Israel, the verse also underscores God's justice toward the Canaanites. Their expulsion was a consequence of their wickedness.
Covenantal Theology: The verse highlights the importance of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants. The land promise is a central element of that covenant.
Warning Against Pride: By stating that the conquest is not due to Israel's righteousness, the verse implicitly warns them against pride and self-righteousness. They must remain humble and grateful for God's favor.
In summary, Deuteronomy 9:5 is a powerful declaration that God's actions are motivated by both justice and covenant faithfulness, and that the Israelites should attribute their success to God's grace rather than their own virtue. It underscores the complexities of God's character – both loving and just – as seen in the context of the Israelite conquest of Canaan.
Deuteronomy 9:5 - Not for your righteousness, or for the uprightness of your heart, do you go in to possess their land; but for the wickedness of these nations Yahweh your God does drive them out from before you, and that he may establish the word which Yahweh swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
What does "Deuteronomy 9:5" mean?
Deuteronomy 9:5 essentially says this:
God is not giving the Israelites the land of Canaan because they are morally superior or more deserving than the people already living there. Their righteousness or uprightness has nothing to do with it.
Instead, God is driving out the current inhabitants of Canaan for two primary reasons:
1. The wickedness of the Canaanite nations: The people living in Canaan were morally corrupt and engaged in practices that God found abominable (Deuteronomy 12:29-31 details some of these practices). God is acting as a righteous judge, punishing them for their sins. It's important to remember that, in the ancient Near East, land conquest was often seen as evidence of divine judgment.
2. Fulfillment of God's covenant promise: God had promised the land of Canaan to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as part of His covenant with them. This verse emphasizes that God is keeping His promise to their ancestors. The conquest is therefore a fulfillment of a long-standing commitment.
Key takeaways:
Emphasis on God's Grace: The verse is a stark reminder that the Israelites did not earn the land through their own merit. It was an act of God's grace and faithfulness.
Divine Justice: While emphasizing God's grace toward Israel, the verse also underscores God's justice toward the Canaanites. Their expulsion was a consequence of their wickedness.
Covenantal Theology: The verse highlights the importance of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants. The land promise is a central element of that covenant.
Warning Against Pride: By stating that the conquest is not due to Israel's righteousness, the verse implicitly warns them against pride and self-righteousness. They must remain humble and grateful for God's favor.
In summary, Deuteronomy 9:5 is a powerful declaration that God's actions are motivated by both justice and covenant faithfulness, and that the Israelites should attribute their success to God's grace rather than their own virtue. It underscores the complexities of God's character – both loving and just – as seen in the context of the Israelite conquest of Canaan.