Days 64&65: Deuteronomy 28-34

In chapter 28 Moses lays out the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience. I think it's interesting that there are almost exactly 3 times as many verses devoted to the curses as there are to the blessings. I'm not sure what it means, but I think it's interesting.

I also think it's interesting that when God really wants the people to know and remember something he teaches them a song:

“Now write down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them. When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their ancestors, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant. And when many disasters and calamities come on them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they are disposed to do, even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath.” So Moses wrote down this song that day and taught it to the Israelites. (31:19-22)

The text of this song is basically all of chapter 32...and I have to say it's not real catchy. It's a bit of a downer. It starts off ok...

I will proclaim the name of the LORD.
   Oh, praise the greatness of our God!
He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
   and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
   upright and just is he. (32:3-4)

But the very next 2 verses are...

They are corrupt and not his children;
   to their shame they are a warped and crooked generation.
Is this the way you repay the LORD,
   you foolish and unwise people? (32:5-6)

God's purpose for teaching them this song is intriguing. He says:

Now write down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them.(32:19)

Wow. When we sing together in our worship services we do it for the purpose of giving God pleasure...by expressing our heart's adoration and longing for God. I wonder, though...if what we sing is only a show...if we sing of a commitment that isn't real...if our song expresses worship but our lives don't...I wonder...is our song a witness for God or a witness against us?

Deuteronomy closes with the death of Moses. It's very sad to me. He gets to see the beauty of the promised land with his eyes but he doesn't get to go in. However, Moses was indeed a great man. The closing words of Deuteronomy are amazing to me. Consider that this is written in the Bible...handed down for generations and thousands of years..and consider how many millions of people have read and will read this...

Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. (34:10-12)

Indeed.