Set to dark modeSet to dark modeDeuteronomy 32 Commentary
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Moses called on all creation to be a witness to a lawsuit the LORD brings against His covenant people. It also contains a proclamation of the name of the LORD.
Moses contrasts God’s justice, steadfast love, and faithfulness with Israel’s foolishness and apostasy.
Moses reminded the Israelites that the Suzerain (Ruler) God elected them and had taken them as His own inheritance.
Moses recounted some of the works of the Suzerain (Ruler) God to His vassals (servants), Israel. God serves as a shepherd, protector, and as father for His often-unfaithful people. The Israelites have every reason to trust and obey their spiritual father because He has always been faithful to them.
The Israelites rejected the Suzerain God because He has blessed them to the point of excess.
The Suzerain (Ruler) God says He will reject His chosen people because they have abandoned Him.
The Suzerain (Ruler) God says He will use various tools such as famine, disease, war, wild beasts, and venomous snakes to carry out His judgment on His disobedient vassals, Israel.
Moses then commented on the LORD’s decision to judge Israel. His covenant people lack wisdom and understanding, leading them to worship the pagan gods of their enemies. This resulted in the LORD’s severe judgment upon His people.
The Suzerain God pronounces judgment on Israel’s enemies because they misinterpret His actions. They think they are powerful because they defeat Israel, but it is God who gives Israel over because of their disobedience. Vengeance belongs to God.
The Suzerain (Ruler) God will judge His covenant people and also show compassion to them when they desperately seek Him.
Moses quoted the Suzerain God who says that He alone is God and that there are no other gods besides Him. Because of this, He will avenge Israel by inflicting punishment on the pagan nations.
Moses now comments on the LORD’s speech as he invites the nations to join in the celebration of God’s gracious acts on Israel’s behalf.
After reciting his song to the Israelites (vv. 1-43), Moses exhorts them to covenant faithfulness, calling them to take everything to heart to live long in the Promised Land.
After Moses’s recitation of the song and final exhortation to Israel, the Suzerain God commands him the same day to go up Mount Nebo to view the Promised Land from afar and to die there on the mountain.
Moses completes the Song of Moses for Israel to sing and remember their covenant with Him. This is just prior to the time when Moses will die, and Joshua will lead the people across the Jordan into the Promised Land.
The song of Moses portrays Israel's God in various ways. As a Rock, God is perfect in all His ways (v. 4). He possesses all exceptional qualities and is unimpaired. He is a just God, one who executes justice with equity (v. 4b). He is faithful in all His dealings with humanity (v. 4c) and is righteous and upright (v. 4d). The rock metaphor also demonstrates that the Suzerain (Ruler) God of Israel is a generous provider (v. 15a). He is the sole creator (v. 15c, 18), the only savior who rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt (v. 15d). He is the ultimate judge of His people (v. 30). He provides full security and protection for Israel (v. 37).
As a father, the LORD cares about His own family. He loves and sustains His people (vv. 6-10). He protects Israel just like an eagle spreads out its wings to help its young (vv. 11-13). The LORD provides abundantly for His people because He cared for them (v. 14).
As a warrior, the LORD must judge sin because He is holy (vv. 22-25). He is unique (v. 39). His people can fellowship with Him in prayer and in worship. God alone creates and sustains everything. He is also a healer, the one who kills and restores to life (vv. 39-42). He is the sole cause of everything that happens in His world. He is the righteous Kinsman-Redeemer who avenges the blood of His servants to make atonement for them (v. 43) and reconcile His people to Himself.
Moses also presented an honest assessment of Israel's condition. Whereas the LORD is faithful, just, and perfect, the Israelites were faithless and rebellious (vv. 4-5). They refused to give undivided allegiance to their Father, the One who created them and provided for them in abundance (vv. 6-14). The Israelites were ungrateful and disloyal (v. 15). Instead of obeying the LORD's covenantal laws, the Israelites abandoned Him and turned to idolatry, thus ascribing to pagan gods distinct qualities belonging exclusively to the LORD their God (vv. 15-18). Such an idolatrous life caused Israel to dishonor God, ignore His covenantal words, and provoke Him to anger and jealousy (vv. 19-22). Therefore, Moses declared that the Israelites were a senseless nation lacking in wisdom (v. 28). They had made wrong choices by forgetting their Father and turning to worthless and demonic gods (v. 21, vv. 28-33, vv. 37-38). Therefore, the Israelites would be severely judged by God. Nevertheless, God's judgment would not be final because God would forgive the sins of His covenant people (Israel) and make atonement for them.
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