Moses commissioned Joshua in chapter 31. This chapter introduces the song of Moses – indeed, a strange song it is. However strange it may be, the Word of God is powerful and it gives life.

Imagine the Scene

One of the methods to mediate on the Word of God is to imagining yourself as one of persons in the Bible. The setting of this chapter is simple, comprising only two players, the speaker and the listeners. Moses was speaking, teaching the song, and the Israelites were listening, learning the lyrics and melody of the song. Have you ever had a music lesson? Then, you can imagine yourself as one of the the Israelites. With the exception of Joshua and Caleb, every Israelite was younger than 60. Among the listeners were some non-Israelites who joined the great Exodus and spent the past 40 years of journey with the Israelites.

Moses completed this song and presented this to 600,000 people. What was the melody like? How did the audience, composed of diverse background, life stage, and the knowledge level of God, took this message? The content of the song itself was far from cheerful or exciting. Then, what was the message and purpose of the song? Was this ever played and sung collectively by the assembly of the Israelites after Moses died?

The overall content of the song

First, notice the level of confidence that Moses displayed in the content of the song itself. The first verse shows his confidence very clear as the song started with “Give ear, O heavens, and let me speak; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth [bold emphasis added] (Deut 32:1).” He was very confident that the content was worth the attention from both the heavens (perhaps, even all the angelic beings) and the earth (all men and creation).

Well, then let’s examine the content of the song to find out what made Moses extremely confident.

After the initial claim, Moses continued the song with further proclamation of the goodness and faithfulness of God. Then, soon, the rebuke kicked in against the Isrealites. The corruption of the Israelites was highlighted. The lyrics were too heavy and grievous to be a song. Yet, this was the last public message by Moses to the entire Israelites.

• V1-4: The introduction and the proclamation of the goodness and faithfulness of God

• V5-7: Reminder of their rebellion and sins of the Israelites.

• V8-14: Reminder of the goodness of God to their forefather Jacob and how the LORD led and nurtured him.

• V15-18: How Israelites became arrogant, forsaking and despising the LORD and turning to idols.

• V18-25: How the LORD responded in anger

The proclamation of the goodness of God was followed by the depravity of mankind, represented by the Israelites from their rebellious hearts and actions throughout their 40 years of wilderness.

Ok, then what was so special about the song that Moses called both the heavens and earth to hear the word of his mouth? The next two sections will unfold some of the mystery.

Purpose of the song

The initial purpose of the song was to testify the future evils and troubles that the Israelites would commit as indicated in Deuteronomy 31:19-21. The LORD already knew that the sons of Israelite would fall away in the new land and break the covenant with God.

Duet 31:19- 21: 19 “Now therefore, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it on their lips, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel. 20 For when I bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and are satisfied and become prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and spurn Me and break My covenant. 21 Then it shall come about, when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify before them as a witness (for it shall not be forgotten from the lips of their descendants); for I know their intent which they are developing today, before I have brought them into the land which I swore. [Underline emphasis added]”

However, the ultimate purpose of the song was to warn ahead so that the Israelites would be careful to observe all the words of the Law, which was their life. The ultimate purpose of the song was to have the Israelites repent and come back to the LORD to have LIFE.

Deut 32:46-47: “Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today, which you shall command your sons to observe carefully, even all the words of this law. 47 For it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life. And by this word you will prolong your days in the land, which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess. [bold emphasis added]”

So, this is a song? 

The lyric of the song is very atypical – actually, they are eccentric. The proclamation of the LORD is great. Yet, the rebuke and the anger of the LORD may elicit a variety of responses. Especially from verses 19 to 25, some of the vivid description of the anger of the LORD and how He may respond to the Israelites are scary and shocking. For some, this can be an excellent reminder of their sins, leading them further into repentance. For others, this song may repel them and make their hearts even harden. Remember the good soil parable of Jesus? Good soil listens to the word of God and rejoices. Hard soil simply rejects and remains hardened (refer to Jesus’ parables in Matt 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:4-15). The Gospel does not convey just cheerful, ear-pleasing messages. It also starkly reminds of us of depravity of our sins.

Then what were the purposes of these harsh rebukes and warnings in the song that Moses wrote? The message contained truth – it was a vivid description of the heart of the Israelites and their rebellious and stiff-necked responses to the LORD. Perhaps, one of the function of the song was to weed out the “true” followers from the “fake” ones. The song itself was the testing of the hearts and minds of the Israelites.

Can you imagine playing worship songs that reveal all the past, current and even future sins of the congregation? Even if that worship song ends with the promise and the goodness of God, it is hard to imagine any church community would do it.

Read this until the end: Gospel, sinfulness and faithfulness

Although the majority of content is composed of rebuke of the Israelites and just punishment of the LORD, the latter part of the song accentuates the LORD’s grace. He will not let go of His people to the path of a complete failure. God promises to defeat their enemies and restore them.

This seems to be the pattern throughout the history: Faithfully sinful mankind, and faithfully loving God. Whenever the good news of the Gospel is introduced in the Bible, it is usually accompanied with the rebellious and sinful heart of mankind.

The table below provides a comparison of the song of Moses to other well-known accounts of the introduction of the Gospel.

Perhaps, the reason for Moses’ confidence in the content of the song was that the song itself was an epitome of the Gospel. The song, by highlighting the depravity of mankind, however unpleasant, and accentuating the lovinkindness of the LORD and His promise of vindication, presents the core message of the Gospel, even without necessarily and explicitly mentioning Christ Jesus.

The LORD vindicates us despite our continual sinfulness (with Christ). The LORD continues to chase us to provide us with an opportunity to come back to Him. To those who respond to a persistent love of God will be vindicated by the LORD.

God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.