1 When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;
2 And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them:
3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.
4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.
5 But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.
6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.
11 Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.
12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:
13 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
14 Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.
15 And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.
16 And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.
17 If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them?
18 Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;
19 The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out: so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid.
20 Moreover the LORD thy God will send the hornet among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed.
21 Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.
22 And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.
23 But the LORD thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed.
24 And he shall deliver their kings into thine hand, and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven: there shall no man be able to stand before thee, until thou have destroyed them.
25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.
26 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.
The Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Old Testament and the last book of the Pentateuch. It is a record of the final speeches of Moses, the leader of the Israelites, to the new generation of Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. In chapter 7 of the book, Moses continues his exhortation to the Israelites, reminding them of God's covenant with them and the importance of obeying His commandments. This chapter contains important lessons and themes that are still relevant to us today.
In chapter 7, Moses emphasizes three main themes: the uniqueness of God, the importance of obedience, and the consequences of disobedience. These themes are interrelated and serve as a reminder to the Israelites to remain faithful to God and His covenant.
Moses begins this chapter by reminding the Israelites of the uniqueness of God. He states, "For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth" (Deuteronomy 7:6). This verse highlights the fact that the Israelites were chosen by God to be His people, and they were set apart from all other nations. This was not because of their own merit or greatness, but solely because of God's love and grace.
Moses also emphasizes the greatness of God by describing His power and might. He reminds the Israelites of how God delivered them from Egypt and how He defeated the powerful Pharaoh and his army. This serves as a reminder that God is all-powerful and can conquer any enemy that stands in the way of His people.
This theme of the uniqueness of God serves as a reminder to us today that God is sovereign and above all. He has chosen us to be His people, and it is our duty to honor and worship Him alone.
Moses continues his speech by emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's commandments. He tells the Israelites, "Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations" (Deuteronomy 7:9). This verse highlights the fact that God is faithful to His covenant and His people, but this faithfulness is conditional upon the Israelites' obedience to His commandments.
Moses also warns the Israelites of the consequences of disobedience. He tells them that if they turn away from God and worship other gods, they will face His wrath and punishment. This serves as a reminder that obedience to God's commandments is essential for the Israelites to remain in His favor and receive His blessings.
This theme of obedience is still relevant to us today. As Christians, we are called to obey God's commandments and live a life that is pleasing to Him. Just as the Israelites were warned of the consequences of disobedience, we too must remember that there are consequences for our actions and choices.
Moses concludes this chapter by describing the consequences of disobedience. He warns the Israelites that if they do not drive out the nations from the Promised Land and instead make treaties with them, they will be a snare and a trap to them, causing them to turn away from God and worship other gods. This, in turn, will result in God's anger and punishment upon them.
This serves as a warning to the Israelites to remain faithful to God and not to compromise their beliefs and values. It also serves as a reminder to us today that disobedience to God's commandments can have serious consequences. Just as the Israelites were warned of the dangers of making alliances with other nations, we too must be cautious of the influences and temptations around us that can lead us away from God.
The overarching message of chapter 7 of the book of Deuteronomy is the importance of remaining faithful to God and His commandments. It serves as a reminder that God is sovereign and above all, and He expects His people to be obedient to His will. It also highlights the consequences of disobedience and the dangers of compromising our beliefs and values. This chapter teaches us the importance of having a strong and unwavering faith in God, and the importance of obedience in our relationship with Him.
Furthermore, this chapter also reminds us of God's love and grace towards His people. Despite their shortcomings and failures, God chose the Israelites to be His people and promised to bless and protect them. This serves as a reminder that God's love is unconditional, and He will always be faithful to His covenant with His people.
In addition, this chapter also foreshadows the coming of Jesus Christ, the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. The Israelites were commanded to drive out the nations from the Promised Land and destroy their idols. This foreshadows the need for us to rid ourselves of sin and turn away from false gods in order to have a true and meaningful relationship with God.
In conclusion, chapter 7 of the book of Deuteronomy is a powerful reminder of the importance of remaining faithful to God and His commandments. It highlights the uniqueness of God, the importance of obedience, and the consequences of disobedience. This chapter teaches us valuable lessons that are still relevant to us today, and it serves as a reminder of God's love and grace towards His people. As we reflect on this chapter, may we strive to remain faithful to God and His commandments, and may we always remember the consequences of disobedience.
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