Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.
Don't say to yourself, after the LORD your God has driven them out ahead of you, 'The LORD brought me here to take this land because I'm righteous.' No, the LORD is driving them out because of their wickedness.
God is warning the Israelites not to think they're getting the Promised Land because they're so good, it's because the nations living there are wicked.
📚 Historical Context
In the historical context of Deuteronomy, Moses is addressing the Israelites as they stand on the brink of entering the Promised Land after their 40 years of wandering in the desert due to unbelief and rebellion. He warns them not to mistakenly believe that their conquest is a reward for their own righteousness, as the nation has repeatedly sinned against God. Instead, this verse emphasizes that God is driving out the Canaanite nations because of their wickedness, highlighting God's justice and sovereignty in fulfilling His promises.
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