AM Bible Study Group; February 8, 2012
Deuteronomy 31:14-29
Theme: God establishes testimonies for His people to remind them of Himself when they’re tempted go astray.
The apostle Peter once wrote to his believing Jewish kinsmen of the importance of staying true to, and building faithfully upon, their faith in Jesus. And as he himself was nearing the time of his departure from them, he told them, “For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease” (2 Peter 1:12-15).
This is very similar to the burden that Moses had on his heart with respect to the people of Israel. He too was about to depart from them. But in his case, God clearly told him that the people would indeed wander away. And so, in the second half of Chapter 31 of Deuteronomy, we find that God gave Moses certain “reminders” to the people—to ensure them of a testimony of God’s ways after he was taken bodily from them.
Note how provided a reminder to the people through . . .
I. THE INAUGURATION OF JOSUAH (vv. 14-18).
A. The story that this passage tells us is the story of what we might call a very public “private meeting”. It involved Moses and Joshua coming to stand before the Lord for private instructions at the tabernacle. Moses was told by the Lord that the day was approaching when he must die (v. 14). He himself would not be permitted to enter the promised land because of his rash act at Kadesh—or “Meribah” (see Numbers 20:1- 13). And so, because Moses could go no further, God commanded him to call Joshua, and for them to present themselves before Him at “the tabernacle of meeting” (that is, the tent within the tabernacle court; within which was the lampstand, the table of showbread and the altar of incense; and behind the veil of which was the Holy of Holies). This was so that the Lord could publically “inaugurate” Joshua for leadership (see vv. 7-8). It may have been a “private meeting”; but it would have been clear that everyone would have seen the meeting occur—and even seen the Lord’s presence represented by the pillar of cloud at the door of the tabernacle (v. 15). The effect of it would have been to make it clear to all that the leadership that God had placed on Moses was now being placed on Joshua.
B. What a sad meeting this must have been! It’s hard to imagine how it must have felt for Moses to be told by the Lord that, after he rested with his fathers, “this people will rise and play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them. Then My anger shall be aroused against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them, and they shall be devoured. And many evils and troubles shall befall them . . .” (vv. 16-17). God was essentially telling the story of what was ahead for Israel—not merely as a potentiality; but as a pre- history! This is a bit like what Paul told the pastors from Ephesus in Acts 20:29-31. Paul spoke with tears when he warned of what was to come; and no doubt Moses also heard with tears. God was saying to him that the curses described in chapter 28 would come upon his people; and that they would recognize it (vv. 17-18).
C. It’s important to note, then, that Joshua was there to hear every word of this! He was not only there to affirm his leadership to the people, but also so that the needs of his people would be impressed upon his heart. His leadership would be one of the reminders that God provided to His people! How important it is that we heed the spiritual leaders God gives to us (see Hebrews 13:17)!
II. THE TEACHING OF A SONG (vv. 19-23).
A. Not only did God provide a leader, but He also provided a song. The full ‘lyrics’ of this song are given to us in chapter 32. It is—in the truest sense—an ‘inspired’ song; because it was given by God with the command—to both Moses and Joshua—”Now therefore, write down this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel” (v. 19).
B. The reason God gave for this song was because God promised that, when the people entered the land and enjoyed the blessings of it, they would eat, and grow fat, and turn to other gods; “and they will provoke Me and break My covenant” (v. 20). This song would then be a reminder to them, when the evils of the curse had come upon them; and it would testify against them—no doubt to help bring to pass the repentance that was described in 30:1-10. Perhaps it was put in the form of a song; because a song tends to be memorable and could not be easily forgotten (v. 21).
C. Verse 21 tells us something startling in all this: God knew “the inclination” of the people’s behavior “even before I have brought them to the land of which I swore to give them” (v. 21). Therefore, this song is a great act of grace from God. The song was written that very day; and immediately taught to the children of Israel (v. 22). Again, the fact that Joshua was involved helped to further affirm his role of leadership to the people; and was accompanied with clear instructions and encouragement to him from the lips of God Himself (v. 23).
III. THE WRITTEN COPY OF THE LAW (vv. 24-29).
A. With the inclusion of the song, the writings of “the words of this law in a book” were completed (v. 24). Moses then commanded one more act to the Levites in order to secure a reminder to his people—“Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there as a witness against you; for I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lord, then how much more after my death?” (vv. 25-27). Note that the book was not placed inside the ark; because only the two tablets of the Ten Commandments were to be placed there (Exodus 25:16; Deuteronomy 10:1-5). The Ten Commandments are the foundation, and the Book of the Law is a practical expression of those commandments.
B. Moses’ words to the people may sound harsh and discouraging; but the motive of Moses in speaking them was love. He meant by them to protect his people and prolong their life in the land (see 32:47). He not only passed this written record of God’s will on to the Levites; but he also passed it on to the elders and officers of the people—reciting it to them “in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them. For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands” (vv. 28-29).
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Godly spiritual leadership; sacred music; the written word of God . . . Why, it almost sounds like church, doesn’t it? This passage helps us to appreciate how much we need the spiritual nurturing of God’s provision of a good church family! It’s a very large part of what God has given us to keep us from wandering away from Him.
But how sad that even with the leadership of Joshua, the instruction of a song, and the written copy of the word, the people still fell. And yet, even so, God promised atonement. The closing lines of the song that God gave to Moses reads: ““Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and render vengeance to His adversaries;
He will provide atonement for His land and His people.” (32:43). Praise God for our Savior!