Ver. 6. Understand, therefore, that—not—for thy righteousness— Moses repeats three times, in this and the foregoing verse, the same thing; because he well knew the heart of man so prone to vanity, and the character of the Israelites so self-prepossessed. Nothing was more important than to convince them that God gave them not the land of Canaan for their own righteousness or piety, or for any merit which was in them; so far from it, they are declared to be a very refractory and obstinate people. See Exodus 32:9. But God, of his favour and wisdom, dispenses different privileges to different states and nations: to some riches; to some empire; to some arts and knowledge; to others a purer form of worship; and deals with all of them most equitably, according to the use or abuse they make of their respective talents and opportunities. Houbigant well observes, that Moses here addresses the Israelites in the same manner as St. Paul does the Jews in his Epistle to the Romans; each of them pursuing the same thread of argument.
REFLECTIONS.—With awakening calls to attention, after some pause, Moses renews his discourse. They were shortly to pass over Jordan, and to enter into the land of Canaan, fortified indeed with the greatest art, and defended by the most mighty warriors. But the greater their strength, the more conspicuous would be the power of God in the certain victory to which he led them. They must beware hereupon, not to ascribe their conquests to their own deserts, for they were a stiff-necked people, but to the wickedness of the people on whom God would, by them, execute vengeance, and to the promise made to their fathers, wherein God would have his faithfulness appear. Note; (1.) The greater our enemies are, the more shall the power of God be magnified in our salvation. (2.) The people of God can never have too mean an opinion of themselves, nor too high a one of the riches of God's grace. When we come to the possession of eternal glory, every saint will with delight cast down his crown before the throne of Jesus, and own that all the praise and glory are due to him alone. (3.) God will find instruments to execute his wrath upon a devoted people. Though he bear long, he will not bear always. (4.) However long God's promises may seem delayed, he is faithful, and we shall see them fulfilled at the last. They who patiently wait shall see the salvation of our God.