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)
Israel forsakes God (v15-18)
15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
God hides His face from Israel (v19-26)
19 And when the Lord saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters. And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith. 21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.23 I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them.24 They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.25 The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.26 I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:
Israel lacks counsel and understanding (v27-33)
27 Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the Lord hath not done all this.28 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them. 29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!30 How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up?31 For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:33 Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.
God’s judgment on Israel’s enemies (v34-38)
34 Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures?35 To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.36 For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.37 And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,38 Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.
“The possibility of compassion is implied as the poet turns his attention to the “impending doom” which would come upon those enemies of Israel whom God would employ as His instruments of judgment (v34-35). God could use the foreign nations to execute judgment on His own people (Is. 10:5; 39:6; 44:28); yet they would remain responsible for their acts. Verse 35 is quoted in Romans 12:18 and Hebrews 10:30. (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1975, pg. 351)
Vindication and vengeance of God (v39-43)
39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.40 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.41 If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.42 I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.43 Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.
“These verses contain the vindication and vengeance of God. There is no god with me (beside Me). The false gods are impotent; only Yahweh can kill, and . . . make alive . . . wound and . . . heal. I lift up my hand to heaven symbolizes the making of an oath, which is introduced by the formula that follows. God declares that He will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. Even though Israel’s enemies had been instrumental in the execution of God’s judgment on Israel, they themselves would eventually experience the wrath of God for their evil acts. (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1975, pg. 351)
CHALLENGE
Remember 2023
Plan 2024
Trust God always
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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