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Moses opens the song with a very powerful vindication of God’s sovereignty,
“Give ear, O heavens, and let me speak; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth. Let my teaching drop as the rain, …. 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. 32:1–2a, 4)
The tone changes in v. 5 when God, through Moses, prophesies against the people of Israel and their descendants. God gave Israel a special place among the nations. He encircled our ancestors — whether by birth or adoption — and went out of His way to protect Israel in a unique and powerful way. He constantly kept watch. God gave them the most pleasant produce of the land and honey and oil from “the Rock.”
He also blessed their herds and gave them a bounty of wine, which God called “the blood of the grape.” Yeshua told His students in John 15:5, “I am the vine.” God takes cares of that vine and prunes the branches. The 12 tribes encircled the Tabernacle in the wilderness as “branches” of the God’s dwelling on Earth.
God warned that “Yeshurun” — יְשֻׁרוּן (Strong’s lexicon No. H3484) is Hebrew for “upright one,” a euphemism for Israel — became “fat, thick, and engorged.” Israel forgot about God then scorned and dishonored the Rock of His salvation. (Deut. 32:15)
God rebukes them for making sacrifices to “demons” (שֵּׁדִים shedim, H7700) that are no אלוהים elohim, “gods” or “powerful ones.” These “demons” have no power yet. People give their lives over to these nonpowers and “worship” them, giving them authority, time and resources they are not due. Whether it’s a statue of a deity, high-ticket items such as TV or homes or long hours and fret over jobs, many have forsaken the true God and given their dignity and power over to these lesser things and are in bondage to them.
God says in v. 20 that He will personally bring such perverse people to their end. He does not leave their fate to chance. Some translations translate this passage in a passive voice but the Hebrew is very active. God will not trust them, just as we don’t trust people who commit sins against us.
God repeats His anger about the people going after idols:
“They have made Me jealous with what is not God; They have provoked Me to anger with their idols.” (Deut. 32:21)
The Hebrew word for idols is הֶבֶל hebel (H1892), which literally means “vapor, breath.” God uses a play on words here when He says that since the people have rejected him to worship and honor vapor and breath, He will make them jealous by honoring a nation that doesn’t even exist.
God also says that since the people fear demons and idols that have no power, He will give them over to all sorts of fears (Deut. 32:25).
He said that He would wipe the memory of Israel off the earth (Deut. 32:26–27). Since the 10 northern tribes of Israel have been in exile for more than 2,000 years, I’d say this prophesy has been fulfilled very well.
Verse 27 is fascinating. In many translations, it implies that God fears the non-Israelite nations. We know that God fears no one. The meaning of these text perplexed me for some time. I had to look through at least four different translations to try to figure it out. I came to a couple of interesting insights.
One is that we know from history that God brought enemies upon the people of Israel to rebuke and punish them from the Assyrians against the 10 northern tribes to the Babylonians against the House of Judah. God actually “sojourned” among these heathen people for a time for them to rebuke the house of Israel for their iniquity.
However, both the Assyrians and the Babylonians went overboard in their punishment on the Israelites and God had to turn around and punish them. God had to punish the Assyrians and the Babylonians and other over-reaching enemies of His people so they would not assume, “Our hand is triumphant, and the Lord has not done all this” (Deut. 32:27).
God goes on to say that he is storing up vengeance and recompense against those who deny Him. God will judge His people and have compassion on His servants.
In their latter days, the people come to realize their powerlessness, He will call them out and tell them to go to their idols to rescue them. He tells them that it is only God who gives life and death, wounds and heals. Even haSatan can’t wound or kill you without God’s permission. No one can stop God from accomplishing His goals.
God uses rain, grasshoppers for a blessing or a curse. Even floods and earthquakes can be a blessing or a curse.
God says that, “Indeed, I lift up My hand to heaven, and say, as I live forever, …” (Deut. 32:40). God swears upon Himself because there is no one higher than Him. No one can hinder or cripple Him.
God, through Moses, concludes this song:
“Rejoice, O nations, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And will render vengeance on His adversaries, And will atone for His land and His people.” (Deut. 32:43)
Reader: Jeff. Speaker: Richard. Summary: Tammy.