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Deuteronomy 31:30-32
We are in the World Stream reading from the Tree of Life Version.
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Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis
Lord, we have come to a great part in the Bible when the Law is complete and the now world has a guide for right living, economics, law, behavior, military, justice, agriculture, family, worship, scheduling, holidays and more. May we be grateful that you have come to guide, to restore and to save us. In Jesus, we give thanks, Amen.
Moses had just finished writing the Law in the Book they are to embrace, study, and live by. This was the centerpiece of their culture. To this day, the True Jewish Nation is called, “The People of the Book.” Moses completing this book was an occasion to be celebrated. And to memoralize this event through singing a song became the perfect benediction. It’s like singing a song at the end of a worship service. The nation sang a song of deliverance in Exodus 15 right after crossing the Red Sea. We see Moses sharing his eloquence in Psalm 90, Deborah singing to celebrate the defeat of a scoundrel in Judges 5, and David breaking out in song numerous times. This was a great way to instill this moment and the import of it all in the minds of the nation and its people of all ages. Everyone knows that the lyrics of a song will go in to young mind perhaps decades before the words can be deciphered for what is being truly said. So Moses has this song for the nation of Israel. They are to sing it together and keep their mind on God’s Word.
31:30 – the occasion is introduced
32 – and the song commences. The highlighted points are as such. ~The Worship of God is to be heard throughout the earth. ~He is true and right. The problems of earth is our flaw, not Him. ~We, as a people, must remember our heritage. ~God has been good to us from the start, calling us to Himself. ~God is our guide and Provider, showering us with bounty. ~Yet in their satisfaction, they became complacent with God. ~and worse, they began sacrificing to idols and serving demons. ~So God turned His face away and left them to themselves, to suffer puzzlement and worse. ~For their sins, God will heap calamity upon them. ~He would have wiped them out, except they are supposed to stand for God – and what would the enemies of Israel say? [God was trying to reach them too eventually] ~Realize, forever, that God is God. ~He rides upon Heaven in all power and will avenge those who are against Him. ~God will also avenge those who pester His Chosen Ones. [end of song]
Moses then presented this song to the people of Israel reminding them to sing it and use it to remember to “do the Law of God”, for this Law is your life! Yes, following this Law will have you living long in the land with the Lord.
Moses is then told to go climb to the top of Mt. Nebo and view the land that he brought the people to – but would not enter himself. The one misdeed of Moses from Numbers 20:10-12 is what bars him from entering Canaan.
In a larger sense, however, Moses had done his job. He was to take them out of Egypt and to the Promised Land. Joshua was to take them in. Samson/Deborah/Barak was to help them through the “Centuries of the Judges”, David was to expand the borders and the worship, Solomon is to build the glorious Temple, Elijah is to be a blazen torch amid the darkness, Josiah is to bring great reform, Nehemiah is to rebuild the Wall of Jerusalem … each has their part. If Moses were to also take them in the land, conquer all the Canaanites, build the Temple, assume all territory between the Nile and the Euphrates – Moses would be a charactre that would loom so large that the matter risks eclipsing Jesus and the need for a permanent Savior. So yes, it is sad to see him come to the edge of destiny, only to be blocked from crossing the Jordan and entering. But in God’s Providence, it is the way it had to happen.
