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.
Deuteronomy 32 contains what is called the Song of Moses. In the previous chapter, the LORD commanded Moses to write the song and teach it to Israel (31:19). The present chapter contains that song which is laid out in poetic form in verses 1-43.
After the song was written, Moses read it in the presence of the Israelites and exhorted them to remain faithful to the covenant LORD. The purpose of the song was to help Israel remember the lessons they had learned.
Once this was done, Moses climbed to the top of Mount Nebo to gaze upon the Promised Land and prepare for his death.
Deuteronomy 32 can be outlined as follows:
- The Song of Moses (Deuteronomy 32:1-43)
- Invocation of Witnesses (Deuteronomy 32:1-4)
- Indictment against Israel (Deuteronomy 32:5-6)
- Israel – the LORD's Inheritance (Deuteronomy 32:7-9)
- Israel – the LORD's Creation (Deuteronomy 32:10-14)
- Israel – the LORD's Rebellious People (Deuteronomy 32:15-18)
- Israel – the LORD's Judged People (Deuteronomy 32:19-27)
- Israel – the LORD's Ignorant People (Deuteronomy 32:28-33)
- Israel's Enemies Judged (Deuteronomy 32:34-35)
- Israel's People Judged (Deuteronomy 32:36-38)
- Israel's Sovereign Suzerain LORD (Deuteronomy 32:39-42)
- Israel's to Celebrate the LORD' Gracious Acts (Deuteronomy 32:39-42)
- Moses Prepares for His Death (Deuteronomy 32:44-52)
- Moses Gives His Last Charge to Israel (Deuteronomy 32:44-47)
- Moses Ascends Mount Nebo (Deuteronomy 32:47-52)
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