Do you have a favorite song? Maybe it is a song with a catchy chorus that you like to sing. Or maybe it has a good beat and makes you want to dance. My favorite song to listen to always seems to change. And I definitely have specific songs I like to listen to at certain times – cleaning the house or exercising or relaxing. Some people never really pay attention to the words in a song. For them, it is all about the music. My husband is one of those people. I, on the other hand, dissect the words and look for meaning. There was one song years ago that really left me at odds. The beat of the song was very hypnotic and I loved it, but the words suggested things that were against my Christian beliefs. It was total Human Secularism. I decided not to listen to it, and even when it came on the radio, I would turn the station.
Words matter. They seep into our minds and influence our thinking, our actions, our attitudes. That’s what the Song of Moses was meant to do: help the Israelite’s remember the LORD and follow Him. Moses wrote three songs that are captured in scripture. Exodus 15 celebrates and commemorates the Red Sea crossing and escape from Egypt. Psalm 90 is a prayer to God asking Him to have mercy on frail humans living in a sin-cursed world. Deuteronomy 32 is a prophetic song about the apostasy that will befall Israel, the judgement of God, and their restoration. Remember, God commanded the Israelites to write this song and teach it to their sons so that it would be a witness for God against them.
As you read today, pay attention to the phrase “the Rock” as a reference to God. The Song of Moses is divided into clear sections. We will be giving each section a subtitle or a #comment to summarize it.
Read Deuteronomy 32:1-2.
Who is called to listen?
Give these verses a title or a #comment to summarize them.
Read Deuteronomy 32:3-4.
List the characteristics of God mentioned here.
Give these verses a title or a #comment.
Read Deuteronomy 32:5-6.
Based on these verses, how are the Israelites different from God?
Give this section a title or #comment.
Read Deuteronomy 32: 7-9.
What is God’s portion?
You are His when you are in Christ! Does it surprise you that you are included as part of God’s portion?
Give these verses a title or #comment.
Read Deuteronomy 32:10-13a.
God compares His protection of Israel to an ___________________.
What images does He use to describe this protection?
How has God protected you in a similar way?
Give a title or #comment for this section.
Read Deuteronomy 32:13b-14.
What does God provide for His people?
How has God provided for you?
Give a title or #comment.
If your Bible translation uses the name Jeshurun in these verses, know that it refers to Israel.
Read Deuteronomy 32:15-18.
What is Israel’s response to God?
What causes them to turn away?
In your prosperity, have you neglected the LORD in any way? If so, how?
Give a title or #comment for this section.
Read Deuteronomy 32: 19-25.
How does God respond to Israel’s apostasy?
Is there hope for them even in their sin? If so, what is it?
Read Deuteronomy 32: 26-27.
According to these verses, why does God not totally abandon Israel?
Give a title or #comment.
Read Deuteronomy 32:28-31.
What do the nations lack?
What is it that God wants?
Read Deuteronomy 32:28-33.
Where do the enemies of Israel get their fruit?
Give a title or #comment as a summary for verses 28-33.
Read Deuteronomy 32:34-43.
List the characteristics of God found here.
Why will Israel and the nations rejoice in verse 43?
Who is the atonement? (Think New Testament- Colossians 1:19-20.)
Give a title or #comment.
Give a title or #comment.
The reversal that brings atonement and rejoicing is Jesus. His death on the cross is the atonement for sins, and he will come again to cleanse the earth of evil and rule all the nations during his millennial reign from the seat of Israel, bringing rejoicing for everyone. This officially ends the Song of Moses. He still needs to give his blessings to the tribes. We will see that in Chapter 33. Meanwhile, let’s see what happens after the song is over.
Read Deuteronomy 32:44-52.
This law is not an idle word, it is _______________ to those who listen.
What was Moses instructed to do after he gave this word to the people?
Give a title or #comment for this section.
This song was meant to commemorate what had happened and remind the Israelites what to do. They were to teach their children so they, too, would fear God and obey His commands. What do we do to teach our children about Jesus? Many of us take our young ones to church in hopes that they will learn. This is good but it’s not enough. Like Deuteronomy 6 instructed, we need to be teaching our kids at home. The family is always the first and most prominent teacher in a child’s life, despite what modern educational ideas would make you think. Teach them diligently. Talk to them. Keep God’s word on hand. Keep it in your forethoughts. Let it be how your home functions. That’s what the LORD tells us to do in Deuteronomy 6.
Do you feel you adequately tech the younger people around you? Why or why not?
How could you improve upon this?
Does your own household run according to biblical principles? Why or why not?
What do you do well when it comes to teaching and running your home biblically?
What areas need improvement?
What steps can you take to improve?
I read a book several years ago by Ken Ham titled Already Gone. It gave research on how many young people leave the church as soon as they can and their reasons for leaving. It also outlined some ways you can prevent this from happening in your own family. It is worth the read, if you are interested.
One of the main reasons people leave the church is because they don’t believe the Bible to be true. It is just a book of stories and myths, outrageous tales full of metaphors, and not the truth in their minds. There are myriad reasons for this thinking, but a main reason is the science they’ve been taught in school and in the world that seems to contradict the Bible’s claims. Science is presented as rational, measurable, predictable. It seems safe and more concrete to them, and the Bible doesn’t fit into this predictable world. If your child is in the public school system, the will be taught a worldview based on human secularism from pre-K to 12th grade. If they go to college, this will further their indoctrination. Many young people who walk into college with a sort-of okay view of the Bible, walk out as atheists. If you intend to counter this view, you will need some good arguments that employ reason. You will need logic. The fancy name for this is apologetics. There are many great apologetic ministries out there. Answers in Genesis is one of my favorites. They even have a museum and theme park in Kentucky. Check AIG out here.
One of my favorite sermons on believing the Bible is by Voddie Baucham titled “Why I Choose to Believe the Bible.” Originally from Texas, he is now the Dean of Theology at African Christian University in Zambia. He has a statement of faith that he uses to defend his belief, and he breaks this statement down, explaining each part with logic and historical facts. It is a great explanation, and the statement of faith is worth memorizing. I’ve found it useful on quite a few occasions as an apologetic tool. Here is the link to the sermon.
Having some apologetic reasoning in your tool kit is important because another reason people walk away from the church is the lack of answers. They have questions that don’t get answered at church. Maybe they don’t feel they can ask. Maybe folks don’t know how to answer, and “just have faith” is not enough. When the world seems to have answers and the church doesn’t, then why stay? Can you blame them?
I’ve worked with young people for over 28 years in many capacities. Most of my time has been with middle school children. They are curious creatures. They have questions, really good ones. And I’ve found that when you open the door to conversation, they will usually ask them. My open Q and A sessions at FCA meetings and summer camp discussions have sometimes challenged me. I’ve had to be willing to study and have answers readily available. I’ve had to be willing to do some research and thinking when I don’t have the answers. I’ve had to have courage to answer questions biblically, even when the answer differs from the world and isn’t what they wanted to hear. Even when these answers are seasoned with salt and delivered with compassion, they aren’t always well received. It’s hard when the world says one thing and God says another. It takes courage and strength for both the asker and the answer giver.
Over and over, the book of Deuteronomy has commanded listeners to teach the next generation. It is important that we do this. It is our obligation. We must teach in wisdom and with compassion remembering that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,” knowing that apostasy is always one generation away (Proverbs 1:7). Start while they are young. By the time children reach 8th grade, their minds are usually already set, maybe not firmly, but pretty congealed in one way of thinking.
Don’t let Moses’ song of apostasy be a witness against them. Teach them so they can sing the victory song of Moses and be included with the overcomers. Teach them so they too will love the LORD and know that “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Deuteronomy 32:29 says, “Would that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would discern their future.” This is what God desires – that we know and understand, that we have His wisdom.
It is increasingly difficult for anyone to follow the Lord if they do not have a good understanding of what they believe and why they believe it. Young people can’t stand strong if all they get is an hour or two of teaching at church each week, but the rest of their time is filled with the ideals of the world. It will create a divided heart, and divided hearts are easily conquered. As parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, and just friends of young people, we must do our part to renew their minds so that they know the good, pleasing, perfect will of God.
Lesson to Remember: God gives wisdom that brings life.
A Way to Walk: Find ways to reach out to the young people in your life. Kindle those relationships with respect and compassion as you help them work through the smoke created by the burning untruths of the world. Love them. Teach them.
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