Having started the sermon series in Deuteronomy eight months ago, David finished the ‘Devoted’ series on Sunday. He considered the four events that happen at the end of the book (Deuteronomy chapter 32) just before the Children of Israel enter the Promised Land. These events surround Moses, one of the key characters of the book.
Moses:
- teaches the people a song
- prays a blessing
- climbs a mountain
- dies
Moses teaches the people a song, the lyrics of which have come to him directly from God. It was intended to be sung repeatedly and to be taught to the future generations. These were words God wanted to be ringing in the ears of His people. They remind them of who God is.
“HE IS THE ROCK, HIS WORKS ARE PERFECT, AND ALL HIS WAYS ARE JUST. A FAITHFUL GOD WHO DOES NO WRONG, UPRIGHT AND JUST IS HE.”
The song then contrasts God with His people:
“THEY ARE CORRUPT AND NOT HIS CHILDREN; TO THEIR SHAME THEY ARE A WARPED AND CROOKED GENERATION.”
The song continues to contrast God and His people. God is their Father, their Creator, He has shielded them, cared for them, nourished them. Yet His people are going to abandon God, reject Him and forget Him. God will become jealous and angry and He will judge them. This is not the end of the song: there is hope!
“THE LORD WILL VINDICATE HIS PEOPLE AND RELENT CONCERNING HIS SERVANTS.”
After teaching this song to the people, Moses is reminded again that he will not enter the Promised Land. He blesses the people, ending in exuberant praise of his God. Moses climbs the mountain, God shows him the Promised Land and he dies.
Moses, the man of God, knows, loves and trusts His God. God is unique, active, with him, eternal, his refuge, carer, protector, Saviour, shield, helper and defender.
Moses is fully aware of his sin through his exclusion from the Promised Land and he knows his only hope is in his God.
This long journey through Deuteronomy has included many lessons and the close of the book challenges us. It gives us much to think about, especially these 2 points:
- Our sin is serious and will not be ignored;
- However, our God is sovereign and the more we know Him the more we can trust Him.
As we dwell on these things, may we like Moses burst into an exuberant song of praise and know our real hope.
