Humans are naturally selfish and greedy. Left to our own devices, we will feel very entitled. One way these traits can manifest themselves is through ingratitude. In today’s Scripture reading, we will see that a foundational problem with Israel in the Old Testament time period was that they were not loyal to Yahweh despite everything He did for them. This reminds us to make sure we don’t make the same mistake.
At the end of yesterday’s Scripture reading, Yahweh was talking to Moses. He told Moses that the Israelites would rebel against Yahweh. Thus, Yahweh told Moses to write a song which would be evidence that the sons of Israel had heard the truth and the commandments of God.
The following is a continuation of Yahweh’s words to Moses.
Deut. 31:20 For when I bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and are satisfied and become fat, then they will turn to other gods and serve them and spurn Me and break My covenant.
Deut. 31:21 Then it will be, when many evils and troubles have found them, that this song will answer them as a witness (for it shall not be forgotten from the mouths of their seed); for I know their intent which they are developing today, before I have brought them into the land which I swore.”
Take note of the word “witness”. The song Moses was about to write would be evidence that Israel knew what they were supposed to do. After they sinned, they would not be able to plead ignorance.
Ponder the word “intent”.
First, this verse tells us God knew the heart of Israel. He knew their thoughts and their proclivity to rebel and serve other gods.
Second, the word “intent” tells us that, even as Israel was camped on the east side of the Jordan River, about to cross into the Promised Land, they intended to spurn Yahweh and serve other gods. Yahweh had told them to go into Canaan and destroy all the false gods. Apparently, most of the Israelites had no intention of doing that.
Deut. 31:22 So Moses wrote this song the same day and taught it to the sons of Israel.
Deut. 31:23 ¶ Then He commissioned Joshua the son of Nun and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the sons of Israel into the land which I swore to them, and I will be with you.”
Notice the word “commissioned”. This made it official that Joshua was the new leader of Israel.
Deut. 31:24 ¶ And it happened, when Moses finished writing the words of this law in a book until they were complete,
Deut. 31:25 that Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, saying,
Deut. 31:26 “Take this book of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of Yahweh your God, that it may be there as a witness against you.
Once again we see the word “witness”. Moses made sure the Israelites understood that the written law was evidence that the Israelites knew the right thing to do. They knew what Yahweh expected them to do.
Deut. 31:27 For I know your rebellion and your stiff-neck; behold, while I am still alive with you today, you have been rebellious against Yahweh; how much more, then, after my death?
Moses knew how often Israel had rebelled ever since he led them out of Egypt; therefore, Moses knew Israel would rebel against Yahweh after the death of Moses.
Deut. 31:28 Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their hearing and call the heavens and the earth to witness against them.
This is the third time we see the word “witness”. Moses declared that the heavens and earth were witnesses that Israel knew right from wrong.
Deut. 31:29 For I know that after my death you will act corruptly and turn away from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the last days, for you will do that which is evil in the sight of Yahweh, provoking Him to anger with the work of your hands.”
Deut. 31:30 ¶ Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song, until they were complete:
Deut. 32:1 ¶ “Give ear, O heavens, and let me speak;
And let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
Look at the words “ear” and “hear”. Moses asked the heavens and earth to listen to him.
Deut. 32:2 Let what I have learned drop as the rain,
My speech distill as the dew,
As the droplets on the fresh grass
And as the showers on the herb.
Deut. 32:3 For I proclaim the name of Yahweh;
Ascribe greatness to our God!
Moses proclaimed the name Yahweh. The Hebrew word Yahweh is the third person singular of the verb “to be”. In other words, Yahweh means, “He is”. Every living thing on earth today was brought into existence by another living thing. The living things that existed at the end of the six days of Creation were brought into existence by Yahweh. Yahweh is a living being, but He was not brought into existence by a living being. Instead, Yahweh simply exists. Yahweh has always existed. Yahweh is.
Deut. 32:4 The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and upright is He.
Deut. 32:5 They have acted corruptly toward Him,
They are not His children because of their defect;
But are a perverse and crooked generation.
The pronoun “they” refers to Israel. Israel is defective; thus, they are not Yahweh’s children.
Deut. 32:6 Do you thus repay Yahweh,
O people who are wickedly foolish and without wisdom?
Is not He your Father who has bought you?
He has made you and established you.
Take note of the word “repay”. Yahweh brought Israel out of slavery in Egypt. Israel “repaid” Yahweh by rebelling against Him.
Deut. 32:7 Remember the ancient days,
Consider the years from generation to generation.
Ask your father, and he will declare to you,
Your elders, and they will speak to you.
Deut. 32:8 When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance,
When He separated the sons of man,
He set the boundaries of the peoples
According to the number of the sons of Israel.
Deut. 32:9 For Yahweh’s portion is His people;
Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance.
Deut. 32:10 He found him in a desert land,
And in the howling waste of a wilderness;
He encircled him; He cared for him;
He guarded him as the pupil of His eye.
This repeats the concept from verse 6. Yahweh did many wonderful things for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants. The descendants of Jacob who were listening to this song were not slaves in Egypt because Yahweh had delivered their fathers from slavery by performing many signs and wonders in Egypt. The Israelites should have been eternally grateful to Yahweh. Instead, they easily forgot Yahweh and worshipped false gods.
Yahweh did many great things for Israel. He freed them from slavery, provided food and water in the wilderness, and gave them victory over many nations. Despite all that, Israel frequently spurned Yahweh and worshipped false gods. They were very ungrateful to Yahweh.
The New Testament contains many commands about being thankful. Paul told the Ephesians to be thankful to God for everything (see Ephesians 5:20). He told the Philippians not to be anxious, but to instead let their requests be made known to God with thanksgiving (see Philippians 4:6). His command to the Colossians was to do everything in the name of the Lord, giving thanks to God through the Lord (see Colossians 3:15, 17).
It is easy to forget. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the problem that is immediately in front of us and to forget all the times God provided for us. However, we must be diligent to remember what God has done in the past, thank Him for it, and be faithful to Him in the future because of what He has done for us in the past.
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”