Deuteronomy 9:1-6

EXPOSITION

DISSUASIVES FROM SELF - RIGHTEOUSNESS .

Israel might acknowledge that it was of God's free gift that they possessed the land of Canaan, and yet might flatter themselves by thinking it was because of their righteousness and goodness that the gift was bestowed. To guard against this, Moses tells them that not because of their righteousness would God go before them and drive out the mighty peoples that then occupied the land, but because of the wickedness of these peoples themselves were they to be extirpated ( Deuteronomy 9:1-6 ). He further reminds them of their transgressions in the past, and how they thereby came under the Divine displeasure, and were saved from destruction only through his earnest intercession ( Deuteronomy 9:7-24 ).