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 3:2020For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (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 10:19,19But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. (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.
Moses’ marvelous song ends. It begins and ends with God, and takes in the history of His earthly people Israel—past, present and future.
When Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel, he said, unto them, “Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life; and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.” (Verses 46, 47).
Thus we find Moses urging upon the people the solemn duty of implicit, hearty obedience to the Word of God. In this lay the precious secret of life, peace, prosperity—all. They had nothing else to do but to obey. Blessed business! Happy, holy duty! May we find it so, dear children, in these days when there is so little of the fear of God and obedience to His Word.
Moses is now called to climb the mountain opposite Jericho, there to die on account of his failure at Kadesh (Numbers 20). This was God’s discipline on His servant; Moses did not, by this solemn dispensation, lose his eternal portion with Christ, but we—believers and unsaved shall appear — though not together before the judgment seat of Christ.
O, sinner, flee from the wrath to come! Now is the day of salvation!