Deuteronomy 31
WE are approaching the close of this deeply impressive book of Deuteronomy, and the aged Moses, now 120 years old, is speaking his last solemn words to that nation which he had led to the border of the promised land. He was not to cross the Jordan, but another would, as his successor in the leadership of the people. To the people, as well as to Joshua, Moses speaks of God’s going before them; they were to be strong and of good courage, with Him to fight their battles: “He will not fail thee nor forsake thee”, is the word both to the people and to their new leader. All power was in their God—but could they follow Him?
Every seven years when the people were called together to celebrate the goodness of God to them, the Word of God, for such it was, was to be read to them, and not to the grown ones only, but to the children too. Notice those important words in verse 12— “hear,”— “learn,”— “fear the Lord,”— “observe to do all the words.” Important indeed, is it to hear the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever, but there is responsibility, too, to “learn”, “to fear the Lord”, and “to observe all His word;” without these, true happiness cannot be known.
God now called Moses to bring Joshua out to the tabernacle to receive his charge. To Moses he tells of the sad future of the people down to the present time. They would take up with the false gods of the people of the land, and give up the true God who had done so much for them, and He would be compelled to turn from them, till they should own their sin. Moses was therefore to write a song, not of the triumph of Israel under God, but as a testimony against them because of their unbelief.
Why should God go on with those whose character naturally, was so very bad, as this chapter plainly sets out? Because He is determined to act as a Saviour. Romans 3 shows that all the world is alike in God’s sight. Has my reader seen his picture in that chapter? There is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. God can tell nothing good of man; all alike need the blood of Jesus to cleanse them, from all sin. Are you under the title of the blood?
ML 03/29/1925