Deuteronomy 9:6
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. 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.
Moses was charged to repeat the lessons of Deuteronomy 9-12 to Israel so that no member of the congregation would be left ignorant of this duty. This verse belongs to those lessons. It means that God did not give Israel the good land to possess as a reward for its righteousness, for the people were stiffnecked.
The same principle explains continued prosperity despite failure to act on light received: it comes from God's great mercy, not from righteousness. God shows such mercy so that His name will not be dishonored among the nations. The same requirement rests on individuals today to learn the importance of this lesson, to live by every word of God, and to express its heavenly principles in all they do and say.