Deuteronomy 32:40 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.
41 If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.
42 I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.
43 Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.
44 And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.
45 And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel:
46 And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.
47 For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.
God continued His communication with Moses and all those who would read this account. God had been reminding Moses that He is the only true God. He also warned him of the trouble that lay ahead for the nation of Israel because they would reject the Rock that they needed. They would exchange that Rock for a rock that was worthless.
I remember years ago, when there was a fad about “pet rocks”. There have been many fads over time. I remember when I heard about this pet rock fad, how strange that seemed to me. However it was a real thing for many people. It seems when people cannot have a good relationship with some person, or more importantly with God, they need something else they can use as an imaginary friend. Many people have a pet animal that they treat better than they would a child.
When we know the Lord, we can learn to relate to others as well. We can learn to be honest with them and we can have a genuine love for others.
In our text God spoke of Himself as having human features. We call that: Anthropomorphism.
God spoke here of lifting up His hand to heaven and saying, “I live for ever.” God does not have hands, and yet in John 10:29 Jesus spoke of those who are saved being held in His Father’s hand.
God does live for ever. He is the eternal God.
Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
It is a blessing to know this everlasting God. Those who put their trust in false gods are missing out on a real blessing.
In verse 41 God spoke of “whetting” His glittering sword. The word “whet” there speaks of “sharpen”. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that God’s word is sharper than any two edged sword. God’s sword is very precise in its work. He knows how to avenge His enemies. He slices through the wicked and is able to protect the righteous. He did that when the Babylonians captured Jerusalem. They killed many Jews, but they kept Daniel and his three friends alive. They also kept Ezekiel alive at that time. Jeremiah was also protected and given options as to where he wanted to live. He was treated worse by his fellow Jews, than by the king of Babylon.
Earlier, God was able to protect David, while Saul was killed in battle along with his sons. There are many examples of God’s precise justice in the Bible.
In verse 42 God continued to speak of His judgment that was coming. His arrows would be drunk with blood and His sword would devour flesh. The Bible records some gruesome battles that had been fought. Some where Israel was the victor and others where some enemy nation was the victor. The book of the Revelation speaks of a future battle where the blood will reach to the horses’ bridles.
In verse 43 God calls His people to rejoice. The rejoicing is not in seeing wicked people destroyed. The rejoicing is in being protected by a loving and merciful and just God.
Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
God would rather see people repent and be saved. However, the wicked must face His wrath because they refuse His love.
In verse 44 we read that Moses spoke all these words in the ears of the people. It was in the form of a song. Songs often tell a message. The world’s songs are sad or imaginary. God’s songs have real meaning to them. The hymns that we sing in our church need to be sound in theology. We are not trying to pull on the emotions of people. We want to exalt God with the hymns that we sing. Music is not for our fleshly gratification. It should be for our spiritual life and it should be to glorify God.
We come here to the end of Moses’ life. He would soon die and the leadership would pass over to Joshua/Hoshea. Moses challenged the people to set their hearts to pay close attention to all the words that he had spoken to them. We should never make light of God’s Word. God never spoke an idle word. Every word of God is pure.
Notice as well, that once again Moses reminded the fathers that they needed to “command’ their children to observe all the words of this law. Observing includes doing. Parents are to be in charge. They are to set the tone for the family. Too often the tone being set is a secular, materialistic tone. Moses has already stated that the parents need to set their hearts to God’s words.
We are reminded once again why a true local church is so important. Children and adults need to be in Sunday School and in the preaching services. Daily Bible reading is also very important for the family.
In verse 47 we are reminded that teaching God’s Word and making that the central cog in the family is not vain. Sitting in front of the T.V. is vain. Playing video games is vain. Sitting down and reading and studying God’s Word is profitable. Showing the children how God needs to be central in all things is profitable. Strong relationships are built when God has His rightful place in the home and in the heart.
Pastor Bartel