Deuteronomy 32:1-43
THIS is Moses’ song. The heavens and the earth are called to hear its solemn words God is extolled: He is the Rock; a God of truth and without iniquity. As for the people they have corrupted themselves, a perverse and crooked generation.
Verse 8 is an important one, it tells that God, in dividing the world among the nations after the flood in Noah’s day, set the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel— a fact the world does not know. This marks a contrast with the Christian’s position; his commonwealth or citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20; Ephesians 1), while Israel’s hopes are earthly.
Verses 11 and 12 Compare God’s dealings with His people to the mother-eagle’s habit of tearing up her nest, driving out her young ones to try to fly, then spreading her wings. When they are about to fall, she catches them, and bears them safely to the nest again. Yet Israel “waxed fat, and kicked”; forsook God; became an idol-worshiping people, and God will move them to jealously with those that are not a people. (This passage, quoted in Romans 10:19, is referred to the Gentiles, in connection with the gospel of God’s grace.) Judgment then must fall, for God will not endure to have sin allowed in those who bear any relationship to Him. At last, however, the Gentiles will provoke Him, by their treatment of His earthly people, to act again on behalf of Israel. Yet this is followed by (verse 13) “Rejoice, O ye nations with His people”, —Jew and Gentile considered together among the redeemed in a coming day.
ML 04/05/1925