Song of Moses
Introduction: The song of Moses contained in the first 43 verses of Deuteronomy chapter 32 is not replicated in the book of Psalms, so it has a unique place as a song, or psalm, of the Old Testament. This was written and taught to the children of Israel by Moses on his last day with them. After that he pronounced blessings on 11 of the twelve tribes (excluding Simeon), before he ascended mount Nebo to be gathered to his people by the LORD, on that very same day. What follows is a paraphrase of Deuteronomy 32:1–43 developed from comparison of the KJV with up to six other translations, along with lexicon and dictionary consultation.
A — He Is the Rock, His Work Is Perfect
Deuteronomy 32 “3 Because I will proclaim the name of the LORD: and ascribe greatness to our God. 4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are just: a God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. 5 They have corrupted themselves, they are not his sons; it is their blemish; they are a perverse and crooked generation. 6 Is this how you repay the LORD you foolish and unwise people? Is he not your father who bought you?”
Comments: The song opens by calling heaven and earth to witness, for Moses knew Israel would corrupt themselves after his death. The message is worthy to be heard by all in heaven and earth, because it is the proclamation of the name of the LORD. The contrast between the perfection of the LORD and the corruption of Israel sets the theme: he is the Rock, his work is perfect, all his ways are just — a God of faithfulness and without iniquity. And yet the people he purchased have repaid him with perverseness and crookedness.
B — For the LORD’s Portion Is His People
Deuteronomy 32 “9 For the LORD’S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. 10 He visited him in a desert land, and in the waste, a howling wilderness. He led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. 11 As an eagle stirs up her nest, flutters over her young, spreads broad her wings, takes them, bears them on her wings, 12 So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no foreign god with him.”
Comments: The LORD set the bounds of the nations according to the number of the children of Israel, for his portion is his people. He visited Israel in the desert wasteland and led him about, instructed him, and kept him as the apple of his eye — as an eagle bearing its young on its wings. He alone led Israel and there was no foreign god with him. He provided abundantly from unlikely sources: honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock.
C — But Jeshurun Gradually Grew Fat and Kicked
Deuteronomy 32 “15 But Jeshurun gradually grew fat, and kicked: you are grown fat, you are grown thick, you are covered with fatness; then he abandoned God who made him, and fell away from the Rock of his salvation. 17 They sacrificed to demons, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came lately, whom your fathers had not dreaded. 18 You forgot the rock that brought you into being, and ceased to care for God that formed you.”
Comments: In prosperity Israel abandoned God who made him and fell away from the Rock of his salvation. With foreign gods they moved the LORD to jealousy, and the worship of those foreign gods was actually the worship of demons. Moses warned them ahead of time what would result from their inevitable disobedience, because the LORD knows the hearts of all men. The LORD would heap evils upon them, send enemies from without, and terrors from within, to destroy the vibrant young men and women, with no exclusion from infants to the elderly.
D — The LORD Shall Plead for His People
Deuteronomy 32 “36 For Jehovah shall plead for his people, and He shall have compassion on His servants; for He sees that their power is gone, and there is none remaining, shut up or at large. 39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god besides me: I kill, and I make alive; I have wounded and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. 40 For I lift up my hand to heaven and say, I live for ever! 43 Rejoice, O you nations with his people: for he does avenge the blood of his servants, and does render vengeance to his adversaries, and does make atonement for his land, and his people.”
Comments: The LORD would not have scattered Israel entirely lest the enemies boast that their own hand was high, and the LORD had not done this. In due time the LORD will plead for his people and have compassion on his servants when their power is gone. He alone is the self-existent God — he kills and makes alive, wounds and heals, and none can deliver out of his hand. He lives for ever. All nations are called to rejoice with his people, for he does avenge the blood of his servants, renders vengeance to his adversaries, and makes atonement for his land and his people.
Reflections in Prayer
My LORD, when I speak of you, or hear others speaking in clear doctrine, those words are like the renewing power of a gentle rain or mist on the thirsty plants. The message is worthy to be heard by all in heaven and earth, because it is the proclamation of the name of the LORD: to ascribe greatness to our God. You are the Rock, your work is perfect: for all your ways are just! Just as Jeshurun gradually grew fat and fell away from the Rock of his salvation: so could this easily happen to me. You provide all their trespass in mind, and will deliver your own vengeance in due time. Therefore will I rejoice, as part of your family, now sharing in the blessings first given to Israel, because the LORD does avenge the blood of his servants and does make atonement for his land and his people. Hallelujah for the atonement you provide! Amen.
Published 1 June 2004; first issued 19 March 2001