DBG - March 11 - Deuteronomy 32-34

In this chapter contains the Song of Moses, his final gift to the people.

vs. 1-3 – The Song of Moses begins with a call to hear the life-giving (vs.2) message of the greatness of God (vs. 3)

vs. 4-14 – This section deals with the faithfulness of God.  Here is pictured what Israel aspired to be, faithful serving the faithful God and enjoying His blessings.

vs. 15-18 – Israel rebelled forsook God as they enjoyed the bounty of His blessing.  Jeshurun in vs. 15 means “supremely happy or blessed”.  It is a poetic name for Israel, found only a few times (see Deuteronomy 33:5, 26; Isaiah 44:2).

vs. 19-34 – This is God’s reaction to Israel’s rebellion.  It reveals His heart and mind concerning the judgment upon Israel more than the details of the judgment itself.

vs. 35-42 – Here God shifts from judging Israel to having mercy upon them (vs. 36).  He then turns to judge the Gentile nations, foreshadowing Armageddon.

vs. 43 – The aftermath of God’s judgment is an outpouring of joy from His people.  That is both Jew and Gentile.  We are looking at the Millennial Kingdom of Christ here.

vs. 44-47 – Moses finishes his song and once again exhorting the people to serve the Lord and obey His commandments.

vs. 48-52 – God tells Moses that his time had come.  He is to climb the nearby mount Nebo and see the Promised Land laid out before him.  He is not allowed to enter it because of his sin in Numbers 20. 

In this chapter we have the blessing of the tribes by Moses. 

vs. 1-5 – There are three interpretations to this introduction to the blessing of the tribes.  First, and certainly incorrect, is a claim by Islam that it refers to the coming of Mohammed because Paran is Mecca or something.  I only mention this because searching online turns up a lot of articles on it.  Second, this is looking back at Moses and the Exodus, which is a classic interpretation because it is written in the past tense.  There are some finer points that do not quite match this for me, but thematically it could work.  Third, this could be prophetic.  The more I look at it the more I think it is.  It seems at odds with the general pessimism Moses has been showing toward Israel in the previous couple of chapters.  We see for instance in vs. 2 that God came from Sinai and shone on Seir and Paran.  I think means He is moving northward, while others say this is Him arriving at Sinai to give the Law to Moses.  Also, the thousand “holy ones” and Law in His hand remind me of other prophecies, namely Jude 14 and Revelation 19:15.  Piecing the details together, I think this is talking about the Second Coming of Christ when He rescues Israel and established His Kingdom. 

vs. 6-25 – Here Moses pronounces blessings on the twelve tribes.  By twelve tribes, it is that Levi is included, Manasseh and Ephraim are combined into the tribe of Joseph, and Simeon is excluded.  It is not that Simeon had ceased to exist, as they are mentioned later including in the division of the land in Joshua 19.  The blessings are quite different than when Jacob blessed his sons in Genesis 49.  These are all positive.  I think this passage is prophetic in nature and looks forwards to the blessings of Christ’s Millennial Kingdom.  This explains a lot except for the missing tribe of Simeon.  There are a bunch of theories around this but none that I have found compelling.  There is almost always an inconsistency when the tribes are listed.  Many times, Levi is left out, because they had no territory and had a special role.  Sometimes the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh are combined into the tribe of Joseph.  Sometimes the reasons are apparent, sometimes they aren’t.

vs. 26-29 – The closing of Moses’ blessings looks forward to the establishment of Israel in the land and enjoying the blessings of God.  This could be seen as aspirational, but it is better understood as prophetic with the rest of the passage.

In this chapter Moses is taken to heaven and Joshua takes command.  This chapter is likely written by Joshua or Eleazar.

vs. 1-8 – Moses surveys the Promised Land from the top of Mount Nebo.  After his death God buries his body in a secret place.  Jude 9 mentions that Satan tries to take Moses’ body, but the reason is not given. 

vs. 9-12 – Joshua takes command and Moses is eulogized.

Israel’s journey is almost over and the Promised Land is in sight.  We still have 61 books to get through, but we just crossed a major milestone finishing the five books of Moses, called the Pentateuch.  We enter now into a stretch of historical books that will keep us busy for the next three months.

Our hymn today, “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above”, was originally written in German by Johann Jacob Shultz in 1675.  Frances Elizabeth Cox translated it into English in 1864.  The hymn is based on 32:3.

Sing praise to God who reigns above,
The God of all creation,
The God of power, the God of love,
The God of our salvation.
With healing balm my soul he fills,
And every raging tempest stills;
To God all praise and glory!

The angel host, O King of kings,
Thy praise forever telling,
In earth and sky all living things,
Beneath Thy shadow dwelling,
Adore the wisdom which could span,
And power, which formed creation's plan;
To God all praise and glory!

What God’s almighty power hath made,
His gracious mercy keepeth,
By morning glow or evening shade
His watchful eye ne’er sleepeth:
Within the kingdom of His might,
Lo, all is just and all is right;
To God all praise and glory!

I cried to God in my distress,
His mercy heard me calling;
My Saviour saw my helplessness,
And kept my feet from falling;
For this, Lord, praise and thanks to Thee!
Praise God most High, praise God with me!
To God all praise and glory!

The Lord is never far away,
Forsakes His people never,
His is their refuge and their stay,
Their peace and trust forever;
And with a mother's watchful love,
He guides them, wheresoe'er they rove:
To God all praise and glory!

When ever earthly hope has flown
From sorrow's sons and daughters,
Our Father, from His heavenly throne,
Beholds the troubled waters,
And at His word the storm is stayed
Which made His children's hearts afraid:
To God all praise and glory!

Thus all my gladsome way along,
I sing aloud Thy praises,
That men may hear the grateful song
My voice unwearied raises:
Be joyful in the Lord, my heart!
Both soul and body, bear your part:
To God all praise and glory!

Ye who confess Christ’s holy name,
To God our Lord give glory!
Ye who the Father's power proclaim,
To God our Lord, give glory!
All idols under foot be trod:
The Lord is God, the Lord is God!
To God all praise and glory!

Then come before His presence now,
And banish all your sadness;
Unto the Most High pay your vow,
And sing with joy and gladness:
Though sorrow great our soul befell,
The Lord our God did all things well:
To God all praise and glory!