Good morning,
This year is almost over. For some this was a year of joy and contentment, but for others of loss and hardship. For some a combination of both. Whatever situation you are in, this would be a good time to reflect on what God has done during this past year. When we reflect on God’s all knowing, ever-present, all-powerful character, then the events of the year may have a clearer meaning. Then we need to ask ourselves, “How did we deal with these events?” How did we glorify God this year? What could we have done better? Then we set some goals for next year.
The Song of Moses will be our text for this week. Moses is getting ready to die. He writes this song to remind Israel of their past and what they will do in the future. Our goal is to take lessons from Moses’ teaching and apply it to our lives.
Song of Moses
Deuteronomy 32:1-43
Introduction (v1-3)
Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.2 My
doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the
tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:3 Because I will publish the name of the
LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
“The introduction to the song. Heavens, and… earth (See 4:26; 3:19; 31:28.): The song
functions as a part of the witness to the renewal of the covenant. My doctrine…my speech:
This refers to the content of the song, which follows. Doctrine is one of several words in the
song that is also used in wisdom literature (Prov. 1:5) Name of the Lord has various
implications in Deuteronomy (5:11; 12:5), and here it gathers together the various
attributes of God indicated by His name, which will be set forth in the in the verses that
follow.” (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1975, pg. 349)
Faithful God, faithless people (v4-9)
4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and
without iniquity, just and right is he.5 They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not
the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.6 Do ye thus requite
the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he
not made thee, and established thee?7 Remember the days of old, consider the years of
many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.8
When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the
sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of
Israel.9 For the LORD’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
“A faithful God and a faithless people are pictured. The Rock: The word is placed first in
the Hebrew for emphasis. It emphasizes the stability and permanence of the God of Israel.
His unchanging nature is contrasted with the fickleness of the covenant people. Most High
is a title that emphasizes God’s sovereignty and authority over all nations, whereas in
relation to His own people He is called the Lord (Yahweh) as in Exodus 3 and 6. In Genesis
10, He allotted to the nations their inheritance (portion) of the earth as their home, and
fixed the boundaries of peoples in relation to Israel’s numbers.” (Liberty Annotated Study
Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1975, pg. 349-350)
The goodness of God (v10-14)
10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he
instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest,
fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her
wings:12 So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.
13 He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields;
and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock; 14 Butter of
kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with
the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.
“The goodness of God is depicted. He is pictured as a Father-figure, caring for His people in
every dimension of their lives, bringing them out of the land, and guiding and providing for
them during their travels.” (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers,
1975, pg. 350)
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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