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Philip Davies
Supporter
Moses is now at the end of his life and he is about to see Israel cross the Jordan into the promised land and he must remain behind. It is at this point that the song of Moses is given to them. It is a combination of rebuke, warning and eventual hope. He rebukes them for being faithless and the cause of his being prevented from entering into the promised land with them. He warns them that they will not remain faithful to the Lord and when they forsake God they will suffer defeat and slavery at the hands of their neighbours. He gives them hope because when they return to God he will vindicate them and save them. The song of Moses is a harsh condemnation of the faithlessness of God's people and declaration of the continued faithfulness of God despite that. It was true of Israel in the old testament and it is true of us today as Christians living under the new testament. For we are no different from them. Time and again we are not faithful as we should be, and time and again God treats us with mercy and vindicates us. We all depend on the underserved mercy of God. Moses saw it all and he wrote it in song so it would be repeated and never forgotten. Philip
Shirley H
Supporter
Think about today's world. Know this, God is God. This is His world. All scripture is for our learning. This song is documented by a "conversation" God had with Moses about the future of the "children of Israel" and the apostasy about to come. Moses passed the "baton" to Joshua. He warned the people about disobeying God. The song is a testimony of God's faithful actions. It contrasts how the people are going to react to God, and the fact that God is still faithful. How are we acting in God's eyes? Do we see Him? Do we care? Will we repent? Do we hear Him? God is still God. He wants all of us.
Tim Maas
Supporter
The cited passages contain multiple applications for believers even down to the present day, garnered from Moses' long and eventful life as God's servant. Among them would be: -- God is a faithful fulfiller of His promises, exemplified by delivering Israel from Egypt, and bringing them to the brink of entry into the promised land of Canaan, despite the multiple times the people rebelled against Him. -- At the same time, God is a holy and righteous judge, who does not allow rebellion or disobedience to go unchecked or without adverse consequences, as shown by His forcing the Israelite nation to wander forty years in the Sinai wilderness. -- God will ultimately triumph over any opposition or hardships as long as His people retain their faith in Him. -- Through His word and guidance, God is the root source of wisdom, counsel, and warning in showing and determining how His followers should act and make important decisions or choices. -- However disobedient His people may be, God is always willing to receive them and restore them to fellowship when they repent.
Donna Williams
Supporter
As noted in the Scriptures these songs were given to Moses the servant of the LORD to teach the children of Israel as a witness against their disobedience and idolatry. I believe what we can learn is not to follow their example. In 1 Corinthians 10:1-11, the Apostle Paul is giving an account of the disobedience of the children of Israel during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Key verse for our admonition is verse 6, "Now these things became our examples to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted." Please know that we are not saved by trying to keep the law, but we are saved by the grace of God! As Jesus stated in the Gospel, "We cannot pour new wine into old wine skins" meaning we can not mix the law with grace! The law was used as a school master to lead us to faith in the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ! See Galatians 3:23-26
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
THE SONG (Deut. 31:16-22, 28-30; 32:1-47) A. The crisis (Deut. 31:16-22, 28-30) 1. The Lord tells Moses (Deut. 31:16-22): The Lord reveals that his people will eventually rebel against him after Moses' death and that he will severely punish them for their sins. "Bad Things Happen as a Result of Sin (Dt 31:18) – God warns that disaster will come upon Israel because of their sin. Their suffering is a direct consequence of abandoning Him. God Gives His Word as a Witness (Dt 31:19-21) – Even though Israel will stray, God commands Moses to write down a song (which follows in Deuteronomy 32) as a witness against them. This means that even in judgment, God provides a way for His people to remember Him and return." chatgpt 2. Moses tells Israel (Deut. 31:28-30): "I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt and will turn from the path I have commanded you to follow. In the days to come, disaster will come down on you, for you will make the LORD very angry by doing what is evil in his sight." Wiersbe says, "Local churches must imitate Israel and have special times when they meet together to read the Scriptures and hear them explained. In my own ministry I’ve been privileged to address large Bible conferences attended by believers who had only one thing in mind: to hear from God’s Word what the Lord wanted them to do. Today, many churches can’t hold Bible conferences because the people won’t attend. Everybody is too busy, and an hour or two on Sunday morning once a week is all the time they can spare for the Lord. The Word isn’t read and taught in homes as once it was, and unless they attend a Christian day school, the children receive Christian education during thirty minutes of Sunday School and perhaps an hour in a midweek club. Is it any wonder that families and churches are drifting farther from the faith?" B. The contents (Deut. 32:1-43) 1. The greatness of God (Deut. 32:1-4, 39-42): Wiersbe says, "the song would indict Israel for turning away from their God and breaking the covenant. This was the most serious offense the people could commit. Everything in creation obeys the Lord except His own people! (See Ps. 119:89-91; 148:5-9; Isa. 1:1-3.)" The Lord is Israel's perfect, just, and faithful Rock! He is the only God, able to kill and to give life, to wound and to heal. Yahweh is upright (Deut. 32:4). "In highly anthropomorphic terms He is transcendent (Deuteronomy 4:12, 35-36)." --https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/deuteronomy-theology-of.html -- 2. The grace of God (Deut. 32:5-14, 43): "Jacob is [the Lord's] special possession. He found them in a desert land, in an empty, howling wasteland. He surrounded them and watched over them; he guarded them as his most precious possession." "He kept him as the apple of His eye,' meaning Israel was precious and closely guarded (Psalm 17:8). Of course, "'the apple of his eye,' refers to the pupil of the eye (Ps. 17:8; Prov. 7:2; Zech. 2:8)." --Wiersbe 3. The grief of God (Deut. 32:15-38) a. What Israel has done (Deut. 32:15-18, 28-29): They have rejected and abandoned God for the gods of the pagan nations. b. What the Lord will do (Deut. 32:19-27, 30-38): The Lord will hide his face from them, bring calamities upon them, and scatter them among the nations. He will bless the Gentiles. C. The challenge (Deut. 32:44-47): Moses commands the Israelites: "Take to heart all the words I have given you today. Pass them on as a command to your children so they will obey every word of this law. These instructions are not mere words-they are your life! By obeying them you will enjoy a long life in the land you are crossing the Jordan River to occupy." (vv. 46-47) Bare-bones outline by Harold Wilmington
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