FOR HE DELIGHTED IN THEM

NOT BY THEIR OWN POWER, Righteousness or Merit

Israel did not conquer the land of Canaan by their own power (see. Jos. 24:12-13).

Israelites were apt to attribute things to their own righteousness, merit and power; the Lord takes great measures as to prevent such attributions (see. Deut. 8:16, 17; 9:3-6).

It is not by our own righteousness and merit that we are saved.

It is not by our own power that we are saved from our enemies.

The cause of all prosperity is the favour of God.

John Calvin

By God’s Power and Will

The arm of God is a symbol His strength and judgment as well as salvation (see. Exod 6:6; Isa 52:10).

The right hand, specially, represents the hand of special blessing according to Hebrew thought (Gen. 48:17-20).

Metaphor to God’s protection (Ps 119:173).

Powerful acts of salvation (Ps. 98:1; 109:27; 118:15-16).

Creation (Ps. 95:5; 102:25).

God’s grace and favor

The Hebrew word used here, paneh (often translated as “face”), is used in this context and elsewhere in the OT to describe both the face and the presence of God: Adam and Eve hid from the presence of God in the garden of Eden (Gen 3:8); Yahweh spoke face to face with Moses (Exod 33:11). In the Psalms, Yahweh’s presence is accompanied by joy (Ps. 16:11; 21:6). The righteous behold the face of God (11:7; 17:15) while the wicked are punished or rebuked by it (34:16; 80:16). GNB: Your people did not conquer the land with their swords; they did not win it by their own power; it was by your power and your strength, by the assurance of your presence, which showed that you loved them

He had favor towards them. “Delighted” (Heb.râtsâh, raw, tsaw), means to take pleasure in; be favorable to someone; be well disposed; accept with pleasure; become friends. LTW: conveys the notion of accepting, taking pleasure in, or having a favorable disposition toward someone or something. NET: For they did not conquer the land by their swords, and they did not prevail by their strength, but rather by your power, strength and good favor, for you were partial to them.

Israel took possession of the land because God had been well pleased and took delight in them; He was partial to them; chosen them to be a special people among the peoples of the earth (see. Deut. 4:37; 7:7,8; 10:15).

We were saved from the enemy of sin and death because God had favor toward us.

Yahweh will continue to save us from our enemies because He is partial toward us.

With respect to justification, faith is a merely passive thing, bringing nothing of our own to win the favor of God, but receiving what we need from Christ.

John Calvin

The preservation of the church depends on the mere favour of God.

John Calvin

CONCLUSION

Israel did NOT take possession of the land, nor were they saved from their enemies by their own weaponry and strategy, but by God’s own power, grace and favor.

Likewise, we were not saved according to our own power, righteouness or merit, but by God’s free grace and power.

May we praise God for His saving power and having favor toward us.