Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Deuteronomy 6:16-19
They Must Not Put Yahweh To The Test For He Requires A Loving and Righteous Response (Deuteronomy 6:16).
Analysis.
a They are not to put Yahweh to the test as they did at Massah (Deuteronomy 6:16).
b They must diligently keep the commandments of Yahweh their God, and His testimonies, and His statutes, which he has commanded them (Deuteronomy 6:17).
b They must do what is right and good in the sight of Yahweh, that it may be well with them, and that they may go in and possess the good land which Yahweh swore to their fathers (Deuteronomy 6:18).
a They must thrust out all their enemies from before them, as Yahweh has spoken (Deuteronomy 6:19).
Note that in ‘a' they are not to test out Yahweh and in the parallel they are therefore to thrust out their enemies from the land (so that they will not be a test to them and cause them to test Yahweh). In ‘b' they must keep all His covenant stipulations, and in the parallel do what He requires.
‘ You (ye) shall not test out Yahweh your God, as you tested him out in Massah.'
Let them remember the lesson of Massah (‘place of testing'). There as a group they had tested out Yahweh when there was a shortage of water and they had been ready to kill Moses because of their deep anger, for they had blamed him for their predicament. But then Yahweh had provided them with water from a rock (Exodus 17:1). Thus should they recognise that He can and will always provide water, and indeed, anything that they really need, if they but trust Him and obey Him. They must therefore look to Him in faith and not test Him out. They do not need to turn to anyone else for their sustenance.
In Deuteronomy 6:19 he will point out that that is why the Canaanites must be driven out. Otherwise they will be a snare and a trap to them causing them to ‘test Yahweh'.
These words were utilised by Jesus when He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. They speak to us all. ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test'. To do that is to lack true faith.
‘ You (ye) shall diligently keep the commandments of Yahweh your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he has commanded you (thee), and you (thou) shall do that which is right and good in the sight of Yahweh, that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land which Yahweh swore to your fathers.'
What they must each (thou) and all of them (ye) rather do is diligently keep Yahweh's covenant stipulations, the commandments of Yahweh their God, and His testimonies and statutes which He has commanded each of them (or has commanded Israel as a nation), and do what is right and good in His sight. Then it will be well with them, and then they will be able to go in and possess the good land that Yahweh swore to their fathers. Such possession of the land constantly demanded righteousness (see Deuteronomy 6:25), because the land belonged to the Righteous One. Indeed Yahweh had promised it to their fathers so that He might establish a righteous land. While they would receive it because of the faith and faithfulness of others, they must fit into what it was, His land, the land of the Righteous One, and demonstrate that they deserved it by doing what was right and good in His sight (as we also must).
“Thou” is used from here to the end of the chapter.
‘ To thrust out all your enemies from before you (thee), as Yahweh has spoken.'
And one of the ways in which they would do this was by thrusting out all their enemies from before them, as Yahweh has commanded. In order that the land may be righteous it was essential that the evil inhabitants were driven out. Otherwise they would only test out Israel and cause them harm and would continue to defile the land with their idolatries and perversions, and would in the end make them test Yahweh. If the kingdom of Yahweh was ever to be set up the land must be cleared of those who would do evil and would not respond to the covenant. In the same way can none enter Heaven who have not been prepared for it by God. ‘Thee' here clearly means the whole nation as one.
The lesson for us of this constant repetition of the need to clear the land of Canaanites is that we too must clear our lives of all that could lead us astray. Whatever might lead us to lessen our devotion and dedication to Jesus Christ must be thrust from us. We must show it no mercy. We must not put the Lord to the test. We should also take heed that our hearts are set, not on the land, but on the Kingly Rule of God. We have a greater land on which to set our hearts.