Deuteronomy 32

Deuteronomy 32 is known as the "Song of Moses." In this chapter, Moses delivers a poetic message from God to the people of Israel. The song reflects on God's faithfulness and justice, Israel's rebelliousness, and the consequences of turning away from God. It also looks forward to God's ultimate deliverance and vindication of His people. This song serves as both a warning and a reminder of God’s steadfast love and righteousness.

Deuteronomy 32:1-3 (NKJV)
1 “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak;
And hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
2 Let my teaching drop as the rain,
My speech distill as the dew,
As raindrops on the tender herb,
And as showers on the grass.
3 For I proclaim the name of the Lord:
Ascribe greatness to our God."

Moses begins by calling upon both heaven and earth to listen to the words he is about to deliver, emphasizing their importance. He compares his teaching to refreshing rain and dew, indicating that his words should bring nourishment and growth to the listeners. Moses then declares the greatness of God, setting the tone for the rest of the song. This opening emphasizes that what follows is a message of profound importance, rooted in God’s majesty and power.

Deuteronomy 32:4 (NKJV)
4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
For all His ways are justice,
A God of truth and without injustice;
Righteous and upright is He.

Moses describes God as the Rock, a symbol of strength, stability, and reliability. God's works are flawless, and all His ways are just. There is no injustice in Him; He is faithful, true, and righteous in all His dealings. This verse establishes God’s moral perfection and serves as a contrast to the disobedience and unfaithfulness of the people, which will be addressed later in the song.

Deuteronomy 32:5 (NKJV)
5 “They have corrupted themselves;
They are not His children,
Because of their blemish:
A perverse and crooked generation."

Here, Moses points out the corruption and waywardness of the people. Despite God's faithfulness, the Israelites have marred themselves with sin and become spiritually flawed. They are called a "perverse and crooked generation," highlighting their disobedience and deviation from God's ways. This verse marks a shift in the song from praising God’s perfection to acknowledging Israel’s failure to live up to His standards.

Deuteronomy 32:6 (NKJV)
6 Do you thus deal with the Lord,
O foolish and unwise people?
Is He not your Father, who bought you?
Has He not made you and established you?

Moses rebukes Israel for their ingratitude and foolishness. Despite all that God has done for them, including creating and establishing them as a nation, they have turned away from Him. God is portrayed as a Father who redeemed His people, yet they respond with rebellion and disobedience. This verse underscores the irrationality of their behavior, given all that God has done for them.

Deuteronomy 32:7-9 (NKJV)
7 “Remember the days of old,
Consider the years of many generations.
Ask your father, and he will show you;
Your elders, and they will tell you:
8 When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations,
When He separated the sons of Adam,
He set the boundaries of the peoples
According to the number of the children of Israel.
9 For the Lord’s portion is His people;
Jacob is the place of His inheritance."

Moses urges the people to reflect on their history and the lessons passed down through generations. God’s sovereignty over the nations is emphasized, particularly in how He established boundaries and chose Israel as His special inheritance. Despite Israel’s rebelliousness, they hold a unique place in God's heart, being His chosen people. This serves as a reminder of Israel’s privileged position and the responsibilities that come with it.

Deuteronomy 32:10-12 (NKJV)
10 “He found him in a desert land
And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness;
He encircled him, He instructed him,
He kept him as the apple of His eye.
11 As an eagle stirs up its nest,
Hovers over its young,
Spreading out its wings, taking them up,
Carrying them on its wings,
12 So the Lord alone led him,
And there was no foreign god with him."

Moses recounts how God cared for Israel in the wilderness, likening God's protection to an eagle caring for its young. God instructed and guarded Israel with great care, treating them as the "apple of His eye." This imagery emphasizes God’s personal and nurturing involvement with His people. Israel’s deliverance was solely by God’s hand, without the involvement of any foreign god, emphasizing His unique relationship with them.

Deuteronomy 32:13-14 (NKJV)
13 “He made him ride in the heights of the earth,
That he might eat the produce of the fields;
He made him draw honey from the rock,
And oil from the flinty rock;
14 Curds from the cattle, and milk of the flock,
With fat of lambs;
And rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats,
With the choicest wheat;
And you drank wine, the blood of the grapes."

Moses describes the abundant blessings that God gave Israel after delivering them. He provided them with the best of the land, from produce to livestock. The imagery of drawing honey from the rock and oil from flinty stone symbolizes God’s miraculous provision. This verse highlights the richness and prosperity that Israel enjoyed because of God’s favor.

Deuteronomy 32:15 (NKJV)
15 “But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked;
You grew fat, you grew thick,
You are obese!
Then he forsook God who made him,
And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation."

Despite all the blessings, Israel, referred to as "Jeshurun" (a poetic name for the nation), became complacent and rebellious. The people grew prosperous and self-sufficient, leading them to forget and forsake God. Instead of showing gratitude, they turned away from the very One who had saved and sustained them. This verse points to the danger of prosperity leading to spiritual pride and neglect.

Deuteronomy 32:16-18 (NKJV)
16 They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods;
With abominations they provoked Him to anger.
17 They sacrificed to demons, not to God,
To gods they did not know,
To new gods, new arrivals
That your fathers did not fear.
18 Of the Rock who begot you, you are unmindful,
And have forgotten the God who fathered you.

The Israelites’ turning to idolatry is further emphasized. By worshiping foreign gods, they provoked God’s jealousy and anger. These new gods were no gods at all but demons, representing a complete rejection of the true God who had fathered and sustained them. This betrayal is at the heart of Israel's sin, showing how they forgot their foundational relationship with God.

Deuteronomy 32:19-21 (NKJV)
19 “And when the Lord saw it, He spurned them,
Because of the provocation of His sons and His daughters.
20 And He said: ‘I will hide My face from them,
I will see what their end will be,
For they are a perverse generation,
Children in whom is no faith.
21 They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God;
They have moved Me to anger by their foolish idols.
But I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation;
I will move them to anger by a foolish nation.'"

God responds to Israel’s rebellion by withdrawing His presence, allowing them to face the consequences of their faithlessness. God’s disappointment is evident as He calls them a "perverse generation" lacking in faith. To punish them, God declares He will make them jealous by blessing other nations that are not His people, turning Israel’s own actions against them. This passage shows God’s justice and how He uses other nations to bring correction to His people.

Deuteronomy 32:22 (NKJV)
22 For a fire is kindled in My anger,
And shall burn to the lowest hell;
It shall consume the earth with her increase,
And set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

Here, God's anger is compared to a consuming fire that will reach even the deepest places. His wrath will have devastating consequences, affecting not only the people but the very earth itself. This intense imagery reveals the depth of God's judgment and the seriousness of Israel’s sin.

Deuteronomy 32:23-25 (NKJV)
23 I will heap disasters on them;
I will spend My arrows on them.
24 They shall be wasted with hunger,
Devoured by pestilence and bitter destruction;
I will also send against them the teeth of beasts,
With the poison of serpents of the dust.
25 The sword shall destroy outside;
There shall be terror within
For the young man and virgin,
The nursing child with the man of gray hairs.

God promises a series of calamities upon Israel as consequences for their disobedience. These include famine, pestilence, and attacks by wild animals, as well as warfare and internal terror. No one will be spared, from the young to the old. This vividly portrays the total devastation that will come upon the nation if they persist in rebellion.

Deuteronomy 32:26-27 (NKJV)
26 I would have said, “I will dash them in pieces,
I will make the memory of them to cease from among men,”
27 Had I not feared the wrath of the enemy,
Lest their adversaries should misunderstand,
Lest they should say, ‘Our hand is high;
And it is not the Lord who has done all this.’”

God reflects that He could have completely destroyed Israel, wiping them from memory. However, He restrains His judgment to prevent their enemies from taking credit for Israel’s downfall. God is concerned that the nations might misunderstand, thinking that their power, not God's, brought Israel low. This demonstrates God’s sovereignty and His concern for His own reputation among the nations.

Deuteronomy 32:28-29 (NKJV)
28 “For they are a nation void of counsel,
Nor is there any understanding in them.
29 Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this,
That they would consider their latter end!"

Moses laments Israel’s lack of wisdom and understanding. They are blind to the consequences of their actions and fail to consider their future if they continue down this path of disobedience. Moses wishes they would reflect on their situation and choose a wiser course, one that would lead to restoration instead of destruction.

Deuteronomy 32:30-31 (NKJV)
30 How could one chase a thousand,
And two put ten thousand to flight,
Unless their Rock had sold them,
And the Lord had surrendered them?
31 For their rock is not like our Rock,
Even our enemies themselves being judges.

Moses reflects on Israel’s past victories, recognizing that it was only by God’s strength that they were able to defeat much larger enemies. However, now that they have abandoned God, they are vulnerable. The enemies Israel faces may have their own gods, but none are like Israel’s God, the true Rock. Even the enemies acknowledge that their gods do not compare to the Lord.

Deuteronomy 32:32-33 (NKJV)
32 “For their vine is of the vine of Sodom
And of the fields of Gomorrah;
Their grapes are grapes of gall,
Their clusters are bitter.
33 Their wine is the poison of serpents,
And the cruel venom of cobras."

Moses compares Israel’s current spiritual state to the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah. The fruit they produce is bitter and poisonous, symbolizing the corruption and evil that has taken root in their hearts. This vivid imagery reflects the depth of their moral decay and the destructive consequences of their actions.

Deuteronomy 32:34-35 (NKJV)
34 “Is this not laid up in store with Me,
Sealed up among My treasures?
35 Vengeance is Mine, and recompense;
Their foot shall slip in due time;
For the day of their calamity is at hand,
And the things to come hasten upon them."

God assures that judgment is coming, though it may seem delayed. His vengeance is stored up, and the time will come when the people will face the consequences of their rebellion. Their downfall is inevitable, and calamity will come swiftly. This passage highlights God's patience, but also His certainty in bringing justice.

Deuteronomy 32:36 (NKJV)
36 “For the Lord will judge His people
And have compassion on His servants,
When He sees that their power is gone,
And there is no one remaining, bond or free."

Even though God brings judgment, He will ultimately have compassion on His people. When Israel reaches its lowest point, powerless and broken, God will show mercy. This verse speaks to God’s faithfulness to His covenant, even when His people have failed Him, demonstrating both justice and mercy.

Deuteronomy 32:37-38 (NKJV)
37 He will say: ‘Where are their gods,
The rock in which they sought refuge?
38 Who ate the fat of their sacrifices,
And drank the wine of their drink offering?
Let them rise and help you,
And be your refuge.'"

God will challenge Israel in their moment of despair, pointing out the futility of the false gods they turned to. These idols, to which they offered sacrifices, are powerless to save them. God sarcastically asks where these gods are in their time of need, showing the emptiness of trusting in anything other than the true God.

Deuteronomy 32:39 (NKJV)
39 “Now see that I, even I, am He,
And there is no God besides Me;
I kill and I make alive;
I wound and I heal;
Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand."

God declares His sovereignty and uniqueness. He alone has the power over life and death, to wound and to heal. No other god can compare, and no one can escape His judgment. This verse reaffirms the supremacy of God, underscoring that Israel’s only hope lies in returning to Him.

Deuteronomy 32:40-42 (NKJV)
40 For I raise My hand to heaven,
And say, “As I live forever,
41 If I whet My glittering sword,
And My hand takes hold on judgment,
I will render vengeance to My enemies,
And repay those who hate Me.
42 I will make My arrows drunk with blood,
And My sword shall devour flesh,
With the blood of the slain and the captives,
From the heads of the leaders of the enemy.""

God swears by Himself that He will bring judgment upon His enemies. The imagery of a sword and arrows represents the sure and devastating nature of His vengeance. This judgment will be comprehensive, reaching even the leaders of Israel’s enemies. God’s justice is inevitable and fierce, emphasizing the consequences for those who oppose Him.

Deuteronomy 32:43 (NKJV)
43 “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people;
For He will avenge the blood of His servants,
And render vengeance to His adversaries;
He will provide atonement for His land and His people."

The song concludes on a hopeful note, calling the nations to rejoice with Israel because God will ultimately avenge His people and atone for their sins. Despite the warnings of judgment, God promises restoration and reconciliation, not only for Israel but for all who align with His purpose. This verse highlights God's plan for justice and redemption, offering hope to the faithful.

Deuteronomy 32:44-47 (NKJV)
44 So Moses came with Joshua the son of Nun and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people.
45 Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel,
46 and He said to them: “Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe—all the words of this law.
47 For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess.”

Moses and Joshua deliver the song to the people, urging them to take it seriously. Moses tells the Israelites to pass on these teachings to their children and warns them to observe all the laws of God. This is not just a warning but a source of life itself, as obedience to God’s word will ensure long and prosperous lives in the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy 32:48-52 (NKJV)
48 Then the Lord spoke to Moses that very same day, saying:
49 “Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho; view the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession;
50 and die on the mountain which you ascend, and be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people;
51 because you trespassed against Me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin, because you did not hallow Me in the midst of the children of Israel.
52 Yet you shall see the land before you, though you shall not go there, into the land which I am giving to the children of Israel.”

God instructs Moses to ascend Mount Nebo, where he will view the Promised Land but not enter it. Moses' inability to enter is due to his past disobedience at Meribah. Although he will die without entering Canaan, God still allows him to see the land, signifying both God’s justice and His mercy. Moses' story will soon come to an end, but the journey of the people continues under Joshua’s leadership.