In Deuteronomy, chapter nine, verse five, Israel’s possession of the land was not a reward for their righteousness. Instead, God gives this gracious gift based on His love and mercy. However, Moses warned the people that continued possession of the land would be contingent upon their perseverance in faith and obedience to God. If the Israelites became wicked in the land of Canaanites, they would dispossess the land. In other words, God’s mercy in giving them this place was not unconditional: if the people turned away from the Lord and forgot His Word, they too would perish.
At the same time, Moses mentions, in addition to righteousness, straightness, or uprightness of heart, to indicate briefly that outward works do not constitute true righteousness but that an upright state of a person’s emotions is indispensable, and then enters more fully into the positive reasons. The wickedness of the Canaanites was no doubt a sufficient reason for destroying them, but not for giving their land to the people of Israel since they could lay no claim to it on account of their righteousness. The reason for giving Canaan to the Israelites was simply the promise of God, the word that the Lord had spoken to the patriarchs on oath back in Deuteronomy seven verse eight. Therefore nothing but the free grace of God, and not any merit on the part of the Israelites who were then living, for they were a people “of a hard neck,” a stubborn, untractable generation. The Lord applies these words to Israel in Exodus thirty-two nine, thirty-three three, and thirty-three five, respectively. Moses prepares the way for passing the reasons for his warning against self-righteous pride, namely, the grievous sins of the Israelites against the Lord.
Today, some believers and religious leaders in Christ dare to believe they have obtained the position where they are now because of their righteousness. However, people faithfully pray in the church for the leaders that lead them and the believers in the congregation.