Deuteronomy 7: A chosen people

Deuteronomy 7: A Chosen People / Blessings for Obedience

Yesterday we learned that the greatest commandment the Israelites have to follow is that YHWH alone should be worshiped as God. The Israelites are to live their lives as a constant reminder that YHWH is their God. The Israelites are a holy (that is, separate) people. Below Moses' recitation of the word of God is analyzed.

A Chosen People: Deuteronomy 7.1-11
Being the chosen people means a complete separation from the rest of the world, but it also means that God is on your side. The Lord will drive out seven nations that inhabit the promised land: Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, Jebusites. But the way God drives out the inhabitants is by having the Israelites defeat them. The Israelites may make no covenant with them, not intermarry, and show them no mercy in battle (which won't be a problem if in fact these populations are completely destroyed).

The Israelites must destroy all the altars and objects of worship of the foreign peoples. This is seemingly so that there is no temptation to worship foreign Gods - just as the law against intermarriage prevents the children from worshiping foreign gods.

The Lord did not choose the Israelites because they were numerous and strong. It was in fulfillment of the covenant to the ancestors. The Lord's loyalty to the covenant therefore must be matched by the Israelites' obedience to him.

Blessings for Obedience: Deuteronomy 7.12-26
Loyalty to the covenant is rewarded with progeny, bountiful harvests, and no barrenness among the people or livestock. The people will not become ill and will be able to devour the people of the promised land - showing them no mercy.

The Lord tells the Israelites that they should not fear the great nations that inhabit the promised land. They will be saved as they were from Egypt. The Lord will send pestilence against them and destroy them little by little - destroying them to quickly would result in wild animals taking over the promised land in the absence of the Israelites before they make it to the cities and fields and vineyards.

The Lord will deliver Israel's enemies into their hands. The Israelites should in turn destroy all the idols they find and not be tempted to take their precious metals or other possessions. If the Israelites take these into their house, the Lord will destroy them. Such is the importance of separation between the Israelites and other peoples. The Israelites are a people apart.