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Deuteronomy 32-34
Moses Sings His Swansong
Psalm 32:1-5 Name It and Claim It
1.“Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered.2.Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn't impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit.3.When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.4.For day and night your hand was heavy on me. My strength was sapped in the heat of summer. Selah.5.I acknowledged my sin to You. I didn't hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh, and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah."Observations
32:1.Forgiveness is just one of the many blessings God offers His people.
32:3-5.
Hiding or denying, or covering up our sin just makes it fester, and the guilt saps our strength. The solution is confession, calling it what God calls it. If we acknowledge that what we've done is wrong and harmful, we are on the road to not repeating the same mistakes.
Application
Name it and claim it. Name the sin and claim God's forgiveness (so we can have fellowship with Him and others walking in the light).
1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and don't tell the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Prayer
Gracious Holy God, thank You for wanting fellowship with me, and making it so simple to accept Your provision for my sin so I can walk in Your presence. Amen.
Proverbs 8:22-36 Foundational Wisdom
22.“Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.23.I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.24.When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.25.Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was brought forth;26.while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.27.When he established the heavens, I was there; when he set a circle on the surface of the deep,28.when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,29.when he gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth;30.then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,31.Rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.32.Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.33.Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it.34.Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.35.For whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor from Yahweh.36.But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death."
Observations
8:22-31. Wisdom is personified as the foreman of creation. It is not Jesus (who existed eternally with the Father and wisdom is said to be brought forth in verse 24). Remember that wisdom is choosing the right objectives and the right means of obtaining them. The world in which we live has wisdom as its basic principle, it serves as the ruling principle for life on this planet. You can spot lots of creation facts in this section, from the circle of earth to the underground springs (perhaps of the flood).8:32-36.
In light of wisdom being the foundational principle of our world as we know it, those who follow wisdom every day (as in DailyTruthbase) will be blessed and favored by God. Those who don't learn and apply wisdom daily, wrong themselves, and love death (because that's what they'll get instead of life).
Application
Daily seek and apply God's wisdom to your life (as in every day) having His word determine your objectives for work, play, relationships, etc.
Prayer
My Creator and God, thanks that You make available to me the secrets of the universe, so I can live wisely and experience Your favor and blessing; don't ever let me become dumb and deceived in the way I live, and head down the drain to death. Amen.
Deuteronomy 32-34 Moses Sings His Swansong
These are the last three chapters of the last book of Moses, a man of God without equal. If you were God, what would you want his final words to the people to be? God had Moses write a song, so the words would be remembered. Understand the lyrics and the message God wants His people to not get out of their heads.
Deuteronomy 32 Moses Sings A Rock Song
1.Give ear, you heavens, and I will speak. Let the earth hear the words of my mouth.2.My doctrine/teaching shall drop as the rain. My speech shall condense as the dew, as the small rain on the tender grass, as the showers on the herb.3.For I will proclaim the name of Yahweh. 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, just and right is he.5.They have dealt corruptly with him. They are not his children, because of their defect. They are a perverse and crooked generation.6.Do you thus requite Yahweh, foolish people and unwise? Isn’t he your father who has bought you? He has made you, and established you...10.He found him in a desert land, in the waste howling wilderness. He surrounded him. He cared for him. He kept him as the apple of his eye.11.As an eagle that stirs up her nest, that flutters over her young, he spread abroad his wings, he took them, he bore them on his feathers.12.Yahweh alone led him. There was no foreign god with him.13.He made him ride on the high places of the earth. He ate the increase of the field. He caused him to suck honey out of the rock, oil out of the flinty rock;14.Butter of the herd, and milk of the flock, with fat of lambs, rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the finest of the wheat. Of the blood of the grape you drank wine.15.But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked. You have grown fat. You have grown thick. You have become sleek. Then he forsook God who made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.16.They moved him to jealousy with strange gods. They provoked him to anger with abominations.17.They sacrificed to demons, not God, to gods that they didn’t know, to new gods that came up recently, which your fathers didn’t dread.18.Of the Rock who became your father, you are unmindful, and have forgotten God who gave you birth.
19.Yahweh saw and abhorred, because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters.20.He said, "I will hide my face from them. I will see what their end shall be; for they are a very perverse generation, children in whom is no faithfulness.21.They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God. They have provoked me to anger with their vanities. I will move them to jealousy with those who are not a people. I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.22.For a fire is kindled in my anger, Burns to the lowest Sheol, Devours the earth with its increase, and sets the foundations of the mountains on fire.23."I will heap evils on them. I will spend my arrows on them.24.They shall be wasted with hunger, and devoured with burning heat and bitter destruction. I will send the teeth of animals on them, With the poison of crawling things of the dust.25.Outside the sword shall bereave, and in the rooms, terror; on both young man and virgin, The nursing infant with the gray-haired man.26.I said, I would scatter them afar. I would make their memory to cease from among men;27.were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy, lest their adversaries should judge wrongly, lest they should say, ‘Our hand is exalted, Yahweh has not done all this.’"28.For they are a nation void of counsel. There is no understanding in them.29.Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!30.How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and Yahweh had delivered them up?31.For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves judge.
35.Vengeance is mine, and recompense, at the time when their foot slides; for the day of their calamity is at hand. The things that are to come on them shall make haste."36.For Yahweh will judge his people, and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone, There is none remaining, shut up or left at large.37.He will say, "Where are their gods, The rock in which they took refuge;38.Which ate the fat of their sacrifices, And drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise up and help you! Let them be your protection.39."See now that I, even I, am he, There is no god with me. I kill, and I make alive. I wound, and I heal. There is no one who can deliver out of my hand.40.For I lift up my hand to heaven, And say, As I live forever,41.if I whet my glittering sword, my hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to my adversaries, and will recompense those who hate me."43.Rejoice, you nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants. He will render vengeance to his adversaries, And will make expiation for his land, for his people.
44.Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he and Joshua the son of Nun.46.He said to them, "Set your heart to all the words which I testify to you this day, which you shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.47.For it is no vain thing for you; because it is your life, and through this thing you shall prolong your days in the land, where you go over the Jordan to possess it."48.Yahweh spoke to Moses that same day:49."Go up into this mountain...and see the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel for a possession;50.and die on the mountain as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor,51.because you trespassed against me in the midst of the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah of Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because you didn’t sanctify me in the midst of the children of Israel.52.For you shall see the land before you; but you shall not go there into the land which I give the children of Israel."
Observations
32:3-4.These verses proclaiming the name/nature of God, emphasize God's justice, and are a well known song. If you haven't heard it, check out Don Moen's recording of “Ascribe Greatness” on YouTube. Although a Christian music mogul, Don said “You know, we sometimes make a gross miscalculation that worship equals music and music equals worship. However, nothing could be further from the truth. The songs we offer up in worship are just a part of a lifestyle of worship...” If you've been following this DailyTruthbase, you know that Worship is a Response to Revelation, and Moses is responding to how God has revealed Himself in his life. Note these words in the context of Moses being deprived from entering the promised land; a sanction reiterated in the verses which end this chapter (32:48-52).
32:5-25.
In spite of God's taking Israel from the depths of deprivation to the heights of delight, they foolishly fail to be faithful to Him. Jeshrun is God's pet name for Israel, from a root that means upright. He only uses it in 32:15; 33:5 26 and Isa 44:2. When people become prosperous and fat, they become forgetful and unfaithful, and the fire of God's wrath burns against them. Note the justice: they provoke God; He provokes them.
32:26-27.
God wants to justly and utterly destroy the nation, except He doesn't want the enemies to think that they have triumphed over Israel.
32:28.
God desires and really wants His people to be wise and understanding. So why doesn't He make them that way? Because He won't violate their free will.
32:31.
If you like “Rock songs” there is a modernized “Rock of Ages” also on YouTube.
32:35-43.
These verses present a rather scary portrait of the God who executes vengeance (emphasis on execute) on those who hate Him (refuse covenantal relations), and judges His people. He judges harshly (the definition of judgmental) because sin warrants it, especially in light of the grace He's extended. (See Digging Deeper for resource). Those who understand justice and that God shows extreme grace and patience, but promises to punish the perverse, will rejoice at God fulfilling His promises and displaying His full character. To my knowledge, no one has turned all these words into a modern song. Yet in the previous chapter and 32:44 God mandates that people know it and sing it to remind them of the consequences of choosing stupidly.
32:47.
One cannot have a relationship with God apart from His word (John 15), although it's easy to hook up with a demon, without any revelation.
32:48-52.
Moses, who sings of God's justice, gets to see, but not enter the land as a consequence of his actions.
Question
Do you view God's words as your life, or just some transient meaningless fluff (32:47)? What do your actions say?
Application
God wants His people to keep mindful of the devastating judgment awaiting the disobedient, because it will occur. You've been warned.Prayer
God of justice and faithfulness, thanks for Your grace and patience, Your blessings and warnings of judgment. May I fully and wholeheartedly follow You, and be found faithful. Amen.
Deuteronomy 33 Tribal Blessings and Happiness
1.This is the blessing, with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.2.He said, "Yahweh came from Sinai, And rose from Seir to them. He shone forth from Mount Paran. He came from the ten thousands of holy ones. At his right hand was a fiery/glorious law for them.3.Yes, he loves the people. All his saints are in your hand. They sat down at your feet; each receives your words.4.Moses commanded us a law, An inheritance for the assembly of Jacob.5.He was king in Jeshurun, When the heads of the people were gathered, All the tribes of Israel together.6."Let Reuben live, and not die; Nor let his men be few."7.This is for Judah. He said, "Hear, Yahweh, the voice of Judah. Bring him in to his people. With his hands he contended for himself. You shall be a help against his adversaries."
8.Of Levi he said, "Your Thummim and your Urim are with your godly one, whom you proved at Massah, with whom you strove at the waters of Meribah;9.who said of his father, and of his mother, ‘I have not seen him’; Neither did he acknowledge his brothers, Nor did he know his own children: For they have observed your word, and keep your covenant.10.They shall teach Jacob your ordinances, and Israel your law. They shall put incense before you, and whole burnt offering on your altar.11.Yahweh, bless his substance. Accept the work of his hands. Strike through the hips of those who rise up against him, of those who hate him, that they not rise again."
12.Of Benjamin he said, "The beloved of Yahweh shall dwell in safety by him. He covers him all the day long. He dwells between his shoulders."13.Of Joseph he said, "His land is blessed by Yahweh, for the precious things...16.let this come on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.18.Of Zebulun he said, "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out; and Issachar, in your tents.19.They shall call the peoples to the mountain. There they will offer sacrifices of righteousness, for they shall draw out the abundance of the seas, the hidden treasures of the sand."20.Of Gad he said, "He who enlarges Gad is blessed. He dwells as a lioness, and tears the arm, yes, the crown of the head.21.He provided the first part for himself, for there was the lawgiver’s portion reserved. He came with the heads of the people. He executed the righteousness of Yahweh, his ordinances with Israel."22.Of Dan he said, "Dan is a lion’s cub that leaps out of Bashan."23.Of Naphtali he said, "Naphtali, satisfied with favor, full of the blessing of Yahweh, Possess the west and the south."24.Of Asher he said, "Asher is blessed with children. Let him be acceptable to his brothers. Let him dip his foot in oil.25.our bars shall be iron and brass. As your days, so your strength will be.
26."There is none like God, Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens for your help, In his excellency on the skies.27.The eternal God is your dwelling place. Underneath are the everlasting arms. He thrust out the enemy from before you, and said, ‘Destroy!’28.Israel dwells in safety; the fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine. Yes, his heavens drop down dew.29.You are happy, Israel. Who is like you, a people saved by Yahweh, the shield of your help, the sword of your excellency! Your enemies shall submit themselves to you. You shall tread on their high places."
Observations
33:1-4.God greatest blessing was His fiery/bright/glorious law (Hab 3:3), because it was the key to all other blessings. Saints (holy ones) are those who are set apart by their acceptance of God's law.
33:6-25.
Moses blesses each of the tribes (with the exception of Simeon) just like Jacob blessed their progenitors in Gen 49. See comments there. The tribe of Levi reversed the curse of Jacob by their obedience and allegiance to God above their families at the molten calf incident. They changed their destiny. In contrast to the previous chapter of warning, the blessings are very positive.
33:26-29.
God offers unparalleled blessings to the nation, both temporal and spiritual. There is no one like Yahweh, and none like Israel, but they still had the responsibility to destroy the people God was judging and tread on their high-places (where pagan/demonic worship occurred).
Application
The best way to the best blessings is to know and go God's way.
Prayer
God who loves and blesses His people with innumerable delights, may my chief delight be to dwell with You. Amen.
Deuteronomy 34 R.I.P. Moses (until the Kingdom)
1.Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. Yahweh showed him all the land of Gilead, to Dan,2.and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, to the hinder sea,3.and the South, and the Plain of the valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, to Zoar.4.Yahweh said to him, "This is the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your seed.’ I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there."5.So Moses the servant of Yahweh died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of Yahweh.6.He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab over against Beth Peor: but no man knows of his tomb to this day.7.Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.8.The children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping in the mourning for Moses were ended.
9.Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands on him: and the children of Israel listened to him, and did as Yahweh commanded Moses.10.There has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom Yahweh knew face to face,11.in all the signs and the wonders, which Yahweh sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,12.and in all the mighty hand, and in all the great terror/fear, which Moses worked in the sight of all Israel.
Observations
34:4.The last words of God to the Mighty Humble Moses, the one-of-a-kind prophet and miracle worker, are the consequence of his sin. God fulfilled His promise to let him see the land, but not go in. Our just God doesn't play favorites, nor let sin slide. Yet Moses was not washed out of service because of his sin, God continued to use him and bless him. Moses will see the land again when the Israel is regathered, OT saints are resurrected, the New Covenant is enacted, and God fulfills every promise in the coming Kingdom.
34:9.
This verse sets up our next eponymous hero, who probably recorded this last paragraph, and the next book. Thus ends the Books of Moses.
Question
If Moses could do it over again, would he have struck or spoke to the rock?
Application
In order to live with no regrets, we need to live according to God's revealed will.
Prayer
Eternal God, there is none like You, tender in love, and terrifying in judgment. May I dwell obediently and dependently with You all of my days, to serve Your purposes and experience Your best plans for me. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God is awesome in blessing and terrifying in judging, justly fulfilling His promises to do what our responses to His revelation warrant. He uses people to bring about His will in glorifying Himself above all gods (demons). He graciously bears with their failings, forgiving and training them, even though He is tempted to give up on them. He clearly lays out His doable expectations in ways we can understand, because He not only requires our understanding and performance, but sanctions us for failing to know and obey. (“What about 'speak to the rock' did you not understand, Moses?”) He is knowable, and desires an intimate relation with His creatures, and is clearly involved in their lives.
Us in a nutshell: We are given the choice to obey or disobey God's revelation and experience corresponding consequences. Knowing and following God's law sets apart God's people from the rest of the earth, so He can distinctly bless them, and it can be seen that He is blessing them because of their holiness. We have the option to give God grief or glory. If we give Him grief, we can expect the same back. If we give Him glory, we can expect the same back. Those who don't experience God at work in their lives need to reason out why He has hidden His face from them (Hint: It probably has something to do with rebellion and sin).
Where to go for more
Truthbase.net
Responding to Carnal Christians