We are going to spend several days studying what is called "The Song Of Moses" because it is quite long. This song could more accurately be called "The Song Of Israel", in a way, because it's a song for the Israelites to sing after they have entered the promised land and have turned from the Lord as the Lord predicted they would. But the song was given to Israel by the Lord through Moses. It was taught to them by Moses and it was written down for them by Moses, so it is known as "The Song Of Moses".
"And Moses recited the words of this song from beginning to end in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel: Listen, you heavens, and I will speak; hear, you earth, the words of my mouth. Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants." (Deuteronomy 31:30, Deuteronomy 32:1-2) In yesterday's passage Moses said he would "speak these words" and "call the heavens and the earth to testify". Here we find him calling upon the heavens and the earth to witness the fact that he is faithfully relaying this song to the congregation of Israel, just as the Lord commanded him.
In yesterday's passage the Lord said this song would "be a witness for Me against them". The song will proclaim the goodness of God toward Israel. It will demonstrate that the Lord did everything He possibly could to help the people be spiritually successful in their new lives in the promised land. The song begins by extolling the goodness of the Lord. "I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the goodness of our God! He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He." (Deuteronomy 32:3-4) Things will go wrong in the promised land but not because the Lord is at fault in any way. His ways are perfect. He keeps His promises. No one will have any legitimate complaint about Him and be able to truthfully claim, "God didn't help us. He didn't do what He said He'd do. He didn't give us everything we needed to be successful in our relationship with Him."
As the saying goes, when a person realizes he isn't as close to the Lord as he used to be, it is the person who moved and not the Lord. The Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) He is of perfect character at all times and He does not change. He does not break promises. He does not fail and fall short. In time the people won't be as close to Him as they are now but it will be because they drifted away from Him, not because the Lord drifted away from them. "They are corrupt and not His children; to their shame they are a warped and crooked generation. Is this the way you repay the Lord, you foolish and unwise people? Is He not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?" (Deuteronomy 32:5-6) The song accuses the unfaithful, saying, "The Lord did not forsake you. You forsook Him. The Lord did everything He could possibly have done for you and you repaid Him by rejecting Him."
The song encourages the Israelites to remember how faithful the patriarchs were to the Lord. They are to look back at their forefathers and follow their examples. "Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you." (Deuteronomy 32:7) I am reminded of what the Lord said to the people through the prophet Jeremiah during a time of rebellion. "This is what the Lord says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.' But you said, 'We will not listen.'" (Jeremiah 6:16)
When troubled times come, and when the people wonder, "Why have things turned out so badly for us? Why is the Lord not with us as He was with our fathers? Why isn't He giving victory to our army? Why is He allowing our enemies to persecute us?", the answer is, "Because we have not been faithful to the Lord like our fathers were. We have not clung to Him like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We have not followed His commands like Moses. We have strayed from the good path our fathers forged for us. We must find our way back to it. Then the Lord will forgive us and make His face to shine on us again."
Unpleasant circumstances in our lives aren't always the result of sin but the first thing we should do when hardships come is get alone with the Lord and pray and search our hearts to determine whether or not we have been living in sin. When bad things happen it's natural to wonder, "Why is this happening to me?" and sometimes the answer is, "Because I brought it on myself. Because I've gotten off track. Because the Lord had to allow trouble into my life to get my attention and turn me back to Him."
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