Deut. 31:30-32:1-22
Q.1. What was the purpose of the song that Moses was commanded to teach Israel? Who were the witnesses to the message of the song? Why a song? (Dt.31:30-32:1-2 c.f. Dt.31:19, 21-22)
God had commanded Moses – “Now therefore, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it on their lips, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel … Then it shall come about, when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify before them as a witness (for it shall not be forgotten from the lips of their descendants); for I know their intent which they are developing today before I have brought them into the land which I swore.” (Dt.31:19 & 21). The song was a warning, but also a testimony for times of future trouble. God already knew before Israel entered the land, that they would stray and be removed from the Promised Land. Heaven and earth were witnesses to the lessons that the song and the Law of Moses were to convey to God’s people (Dt.32:1; Dt.31:26, 28, & 30). We can worship God without song (Jn.4:23-24). However, Scripture in song makes it easier to remember, and blocks out distractions in a way beyond which words alone can’t do. That is why music was such a blessing to Israel, as it is to the church today (Eph.5:18-20; Col.3:16-17).
Q.2. What was recorded about the character of Israel’s God? How had God treated them, compared with other nations? How had Israel responded to God’s special treatment? – (Dt.32:4-14)
Moses had a high view of the Lord his God – 3 “For I proclaim the name of the Lord; Ascribe greatness to our God! 4 “The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He (Dt.32:3-4). He wanted Israel to be constantly aware of the kindness, and also the severity of God (c.f. Rom.11:22). Moses traced the amazing grace of God and His special treatment of them, compared with all other nations of humanity – 8 “When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He separated the sons of men, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel. 9 “For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance (Dt.32:8-9 c.f. Acts 17:26). God could not have treated Israel with greater care – 10 “He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of a wilderness; He encircled him, He cared for him, He guarded him as the pupil of His eye. 11 “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, He spread His wings and caught them, He carried them on His pinions (Dt.32:10-11). God’s record was perfect faithfulness. This contrasted with the fickle heart of the chosen people – “They have acted corruptly toward Him, they are not His children, because of their defect; But are a perverse and crooked generation (Dt.32:5 c.f. Acts 2:40).
Q.3. When did Israel stray from God? What impact did their infidelity have on God? What strategy involving Gentiles would God use to appeal to Israel? – (Dt.32:15-22 c.f. Rom.10:19; 11:11-15)
Israel continually spurned God after they experienced God’s blessing. Instead of gratitude, they repaid Him with scorn, as they turned to other gods – “You neglected the Rock who begot you and forgot the God who gave you birth (Dt.32:18). God planned to treat them as they had treated Him – `They have made Me jealous with what is not God; They have provoked Me to anger with their idols. So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation (Dt.32:21). God would raise up the Gentiles, in order to provoke His people to jealousy – (Rom.9:25-26; 11:11-14; Eph.2:11-17; 3:3-6).