First he begins by praising the God of Israel. "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in His majesty." (Deuteronomy 33:26) The book of Deuteronomy uses the word "Jeshurun" three times in place of the name of "Israel". It is believed to mean something like "the upright one" because it is derived from the same root word as the Hebrew "yesharim" which means "upright, just, straight". Moses is saying, "There is no one like the God of Israel. There is no one like the God of the covenant people. There is no one like the God of those who witnessed His signs and wonders and who have placed their trust in Him."
There is no God like the God of Israel because there is no God but the God of Israel. The God of "the upright ones" is the only God. Because the Israelites believe in Him instead of the false gods of the heathen nations, it can also be said that there is no one like the nation of Israel.
Moses speaks of the Lord coming to help Israel and he uses the imagery of the Lord riding across the heavens in a war chariot to their rescue. David also used this imagery, saying, "Sing to God, sing in praise of His name, extol Him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before Him---His name is the Lord...Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, to Him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens, who thunders with a mighty voice." (Psalm 68:4,32-33) David is believed to also be the author of Psalm 104 in which he said, "He makes the clouds His chariot and rides on the wings of the wind." (Psalm 104:3) In modern times we have a tendency to picture the Lord as being seated on His throne in quietness and dignity but the ancient believers pictured Him on a chariot throne, ready to take action for His people at any moment. I really feel this is a more accurate way to think of Him. Yes, He is Lord of lords and King of kings and therefore is perpetually seated on the throne of heaven and in charge of all things that exist, but He is also a God of action. The writers of the Old Testament thought of Him as a God who charges into the middle of His people's battles and fights for them. They imagined Him immediately riding to the rescue as soon as He heard their cry for help. I dare say our prayers would have more power---and we would have more confidence in them---if we pictured our God as a God who takes physical action on our behalf and fights battles like the great warrior and defender that He is.
Moses continues, "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." (Deuteronomy 33:27a) Since God is the only God there is, it's comforting to know He is the eternal God. He has always existed. He always will exist. We will never be abandoned. The same God who made Himself known to Abraham is the same God who makes Himself known to us and is the same God who will make Himself known to all future generations. As Moses said in Psalm 90:1-2, "Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God." Not only is the Lord's existence everlasting, but His love is too. David said, "But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children's children---with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts." (Psalm 103:17-18) The Lord's existence is everlasting, the Lord's love is everlasting, and the Lord's kingdom is everlasting, "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does." (Psalm 145:13) Because His kingdom lasts forever and will never be replaced by a new administration, He is able to keep every promise He's ever made. He will never leave office and leave anything unfinished; He will do everything He says He's going to do. This is why Moses could say, "The eternal God is your refuge," because He is the only God, the eternal God, the God whose love never fails, and the God whose kingdom never ends. We can find refuge in a God like that---a refuge that cannot be found in anyone else or in anything else.
This God will help Israel gain the promised land and enjoy the promised land. "He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, 'Destroy them!' So Israel will live in safety; Jacob will dwell secure in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens drop dew." (Deuteronomy 33:27b-28) Israel will attain the promised land not because her armies are larger and mightier than those of the tribes of Canaan (they aren't) but because Israel's God fights for her. This is where true security lies---in God. David fought many military battles in his lifetime and he fought many personal battles but he knew his security was in the Lord and he placed his trust nowhere else, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." (Psalm 20:7) If we depend on our own strength, we'll fall short somewhere along the way. If we depend on others, they'll let us down from time to time whether they intend to or not. If our sense of security is in our jobs, our marriages, our physical health, or in our money, we can lose that security in a heartbeat because that's how fast something can be taken from us in this fallen world. But when we place our trust in the everlasting God, we are placing our trust in One who will never change and in One whose kingdom can never be shaken.
Because Israel has placed her trust in this God and because her security is in Him, Moses pronounces the nation blessed. "Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights." (Deuteronomy 33:29) These are the last words we find Moses speaking to the nation, but what a glorious way to end the final speech he makes to the people he's led for so many years. He has completed the work the Lord gave him to do and he finishes strong, saying, "You are blessed, Israel! You are blessed above all people on the earth because you have placed your faith in the one true God. He is the only God, the eternal God, the God who never changes, the God whose love never fails, the God whose kingdom is eternal. He is your refuge. He is your security. He will never forsake you; do not forsake Him."
If you and I have placed our faith in God as the Lord of our lives, we can say to ourselves what Moses said to Israel, "You are blessed! You are saved by the Lord. He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. He will fight your battles. He will trample the enemy under your feet. He will make you stand strong. He will give you the victory."
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