Deuteronomy 32 MOSES' SONG The last words we hear someone close to us speak, are usually remembered as being quite special if they are some kind of blessing. Moses' was not fading away in weakness this last day of his life and leadership. He was giving a final benediction and passing on from God, important instructions and lessons from which they should learn. Remarkably this was not given as a speech but sung like a historical ballad. Maybe this was a more impressive way to give these truths so they would remember them better and sing them over themselves. They were reminded of the past, given warnings in relation to their behavior and offered hope even when they failed. When our trust is in God and we commit ourselves to following Him, God is like a shepherd to us - guarding, guiding and leading us and then by His gracious hand guiding us through the difficulties of life we face.
Moses' song began with reminders of the doctrine of God and all that His teaching does for us. The word of God when received and applied produces life and freshness in the souls of His people like no other source can. The human spirit is borne witness to by the Holy Spirit when we read, heed and act upon the precepts, statutes, commandments and laws of God that are contained in the scriptures. God is the subject of the Bible and His name is the authority by which we live and move and have our being.
The greatness of God in all His power and wisdom; the greatness of His love, grace and mercy are themes by which believers in Him live. God's works are perfect and His ways with us are in the interests of guiding us into all truth. We are not left to speculate about life and death. God has given plain teaching to direct us into the ways of truth, righteousness and holiness. When we follow what God teaches, we have confidence, and when we step out of the path of truth revealed in His word, we are convicted.
Moses also sang about the nature and character of God as he gave these historical reminders of how God dealt with His people in the past. God is the truth, both inwardly and outwardly in all of His being and doing. "I am the way, the truth and the life." Moses knew who the Lord Jesus Christ was and what He was like. He urged the people of God to gladly submit to divine authority. In all God's ways with us, God is fair and righteous because that is His nature. God desires holiness in His people because He is holy. Fellowship is established and maintained when both parties have the same characteristics and the same nature. We have been made "partakers of the divine nature."
The contrast between Israel and God was a major part of Moses' song because he knew those people well and knew they were unlike God. God desires His children to bear and exemplify the characteristics of their Father. But instead, far too often, like the Israelites, we have corrupted ourselves and instead of being trustworthy, we have become obstinate and perverse, wanting our own way. That happens when we get taken up with our present life in the world and forget all the blessings we have received, and the Source of those blessings. It is a positive and important thing to do to stop and remember how we came into this place of blessing in the first place. We are who we are, and have what we have entirely because of God's grace to us.
The young people behind us often take for granted what they have without considering how all this came about. The Israelites of the new generation were to ask those who were older to tell them how they got their land and the circumstances surrounding their national history. Young people need to learn the value of what they have is not measured by money. The work of God has been done by people who stepped out in faith to act upon the mandate the Lord gave His disciples at the beginning of this age and has been acted upon all down through the generations of God's people until this time. God's portion as a result of the labors of His people is not only a proportionate amount of your weekly income. God's portion is His people. God can easily make gold and silver. He makes diamonds out of coal. But He doesn't make the hearts of men and women grateful. He doesn't create thanksgiving for Himself. There are things that only come from people. We are God's inheritance, not the land we own or the portfolio we might hold. We are what God claims for Himself, even when we were lost and ready to die.
By His divine mercy and grace God has led, guided, guarded, taught and safely kept His people. He had protected them as a man instinctively protects his eye when something threatens its safety. God trained, protected and motivated His people in Moses' day according to the words of his song. He connected Himself to His people. The same happens today. As God's people for His possession, He does the same for us as He did for the Israelites. He has committed Himself to us in a holy relationship and has the right to expect our true commitment to Him.
God brought His people into a place of prosperity and plenty, but when they got all they wanted, they rebelled and turned away from God. There is more to Christianity than being saved by God's grace. Love for God should lead us to seek His interests above our own interests, whether it be His people or His work. The Israelis turned to other gods and other religious forms because it appealed to their own fleshly interests. There will always be an appeal available to our religious flesh the same as sensual flesh. However, we must remember there are consequences to endure when one caters to the flesh of whatever nature it is. Idolatry appeals to those who like religious forms mixed with sinful desires. Worldliness appeals to pleasure seekers who live for the moment no matter what future consequences may be. Opposition, fears and defeat are consequences that follow a willful turning away from God.
It is sad but true that the people of God will often practice the same things as those who are not believers, thinking that there is something they are missing out on by following the Lord whole-heartedly. In spite of all our failures, sins and shortcomings, the Lord still wants us for His portion and is ready to receive again those who have repented and turned again to Him in confession and faith. To know what God says and wants should stir us to observe His words and follow Him. On Moses' final day as the leader of the nation, he impressed the Lord's people with the blessings of obedience and the consequences of disobedience. The Lord told His faithful servant what he was to do and then when to go to mount Nebo. The final song, on the final day and his final blessing of the people would have left the people of God with a strong impression regarding who God is and what He expected of them. Final words have a valuable impact when God uses His servants right to the end of life.