Definition: Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou [art] a stiffnecked people.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down Deuteronomy 9:6. It's a really important verse about how we should handle our relationship with God and the land He gives us. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is saying that God isn’t giving us this land because we deserve it based on our good deeds or being righteous. It’s a warning to us – as a people, we need to be careful and humble. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “Understand therefore…” : This is like saying "Let me explain this." It’s inviting you to really think about what the verse is saying. “…that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land…” : This refers to the land God gives us – it's a gift, but it's not something we can just take for ourselves as a reward. It’s a gift of life and provision. “to possess it for thy righteousness” : This is where the key part comes in. “Righteousness” means being good and doing what is morally correct. God isn't giving this land because we are good. It’s because He wants to help us, but he also wants us to be careful and responsible. “for thou [art] a stiffnecked people.” : This is the crucial part – it points out that we (as a community or as individuals) are not ready for this responsibility. “Stiffnecked” means lacking wisdom, being foolish, and not understanding what’s best for everyone. We're too proud or focused on our own desires to be wise enough to handle this land properly. In short: God is giving us the land, but he wants us to understand that we need to be cautious, humble, and responsible enough to take care of it, not just for our own benefit, but for the good of everyone. Why is this important? It’s a reminder that true blessing comes from God, not from our own efforts. It emphasizes humility and responsibility – recognizing that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. --- Do you want me to: Explain it further with an analogy? Discuss the historical context (why might this verse be important in biblical history)?