Deuteronomy chapter 7

vs 1

Seven nations. All larger than Israel. All marked for death. That may not be entirely true - some of these nations might have had land borders that overlapped God's proposed borders for Israel. Nevertheless, seven nations are marked for destruction of some sort by God, and Israel is his weapon of choice. It would have been a scary, or at least terrible, prospect. Even to think it could be done in one generation so that your kids could live peacefully would have been generous.

vs 2

It sounds harsh. You can't read that, especially knowing that destroy them totally means "often with fire", and not think that this is harsh. And this is so rare an occurrence that to think God requires such an act is all the more unbearable. But it reveals a full picture of God. You cannot understand the willingness of God to allow people to spend eternity without him, if you do not see his willingness to judge the unrighteous in this world too. That doesn't make it a pretty picture, but it is expressive.

vs 3

If you can't make a pact with them, you certainly can't intermarry! But God knows what is coming, and therefore he makes every step clear, so that Israel knows full well when they have crossed the line, and they can see it in black and white.

vs 4

Because God knows full well that people will turn their backs on his decrees for a bit of tail. I know that's making light of it, and I know full well that it's not just a sexual thing, but a family pressure thing and an immediate devotion thing and so on. But the fact is that whether tail, family, whatever - they are easy distractions from God and his laws and obedience to them. The marriage connection is just that strong - it can pull someone away from God.

vs 5

In other words, don't just leave them there to remind you, "Oooh, so that's what they used to do. I wonder what that's like." Idolatry might be more subtle in the west, but thankfully we can look at Israel and see just how crazy stupid it is - I mean, why go worship at an Asherah pole or a foreign altar when you've seen God give you victory?

That is of course ignoring the whole practice that surrounded the religion too. You simply have to factor in the enjoyment of sacrifices and shrine prostitution, I think. Although it doesn't get mentioned often,

vs 6

This was God's plan - a people for himself. And as such, God takes a risk in allowing himself be represented by them. It is an important role. God wants them to understand it, value it, and do it.

vs 7

See, God as always has a perfect plan. He wants himself glorified, so in the very picking he chooses a people who can do that simply by something so mundane as their numbers.

vs 8

God's faithfulness is what brought them out of Egypt. Nothing else, certainly nothing to do with Israel as a nation. They did not, after all, pick their ancestors.

vs 9

I think a thousand generations is a fair way of saying "forever". God rewards faithfulness, possibly because it is a mirror of his own ideals and perfection.

vs 10

That this is recorded in a song or poem means it was either a common saying, or it was meant to be remembered and repeated.

Slowness, of course, is always relative. I think you could safely say that the nations that are scheduled for removal fit into this category, but 400 years at least have gone past with little action from God. And while you could say, "Well, when God has made a decision to do something, and when the mercy has run long, then his action is swift." But that seems a bit of a truism, doesn't it?

vs 11

But this reminds us that this isn't a warning to people far off. It is a warning to his own people, Israel! Whom he will have no less compassion for, but judge no less harshly for disobedience.

vs 12

Covenant of love! What a description! This is what keeps it so apart from the other covenants of its day.

vs 13

A good life all around. Today he would bless your shares, your petrol prices, and your market share or something similar. He does this out of love, though, not in a buyback scheme for obedience.