Deuteronomy 32:1-12 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 32:1-12. As promised we’ll also look at Deuteronomy 31:30 as well. Let’s go!
Deuteronomy 31:30 (NIV)
30 And Moses recited the words of this song from beginning to end in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:
On verse 30: Moses is known more as a lawgiver than a songwriter. Still, there are two songs that Moses is credited with in the Bible. One of them is here. Moses’ purpose in presenting this song is to give praise to God as well as to teach the current generation of Israelites some important truths. Let’s take a look in the verses that follow.
Deuteronomy 32:1-2 (NIV)
1 Listen, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
2 Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.
On verses 1-2: Moses prays that the words of this song will be like rain and dew nourishing the ground and the plants that they fall on. Likewise, how can you let the teaching of God’s Word nourish your heart? By watching the condition of your heart whenever you approach God. For example, I recommend that your GAMEtime not just be a time of reading the Bible or writing down what you learned. Otherwise, your GAMEtime will eventually feel like homework and nothing more. Instead, when you have your time with God, take time to be still in God’s presence, to lay down Your burdens, and to worship God from your heart. When you do this, you’ll be so much more ready to receive the teaching of God’s Word, just like rain falling on new grass and tender plants.
Deuteronomy 32:3-4 (NIV)
3 I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!
4 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.
On verses 3 to 4: Like Moses, why don’t you take a moment to praise the greatness of our God. How? You can recite verses 3 and 4 from your heart. You can sing Him a song. You can play your favourite worship song. (For example, here’s a link to a worship song based on verses 3 and 4. It’s old but still quite beautiful I think.) Take a moment just to be still in God’s presence. Speak words to thank and praise Him for who He is.
Deuteronomy 32:5-6 (NIV)
5 They have acted corruptly toward him; to their shame they are no longer his children, but a warped and crooked generation.
6 Is this the way you repay the LORD, O foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?
On verses 5-6: Moses contrasts the uprightness and greatness of God with the corruption and crookedness of people. When we look into God’s Word, it’s like a window through which we see both God’s greatness and our sinfulness. Yet the good news of God’s Word is that God would make a way for a holy God and sinful people to live together. How? Through Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross, paying for our sins so that we can be reconciled to God.
Deuteronomy 32:7-12 (NIV)
7 Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you.
8 When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel.
9 For the LORD’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance.
10 In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye,
11 like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions.
12 The LORD alone led him; no foreign god was with him.
On verses 7-12: What is verse 8 referring to? Verse 8 is referring to how from the beginning God had a special heart for the people of Israel, such that He assigned boundaries to other nations with the people of Israel in mind. When it came to the people of Israel, verse 9 tells us that God decided that He Himself would watch over Israel and treat Israel with special, personal care. That’s why verse 9 describes Jacob (another word of Israel) as God’s “portion” and “allotted inheritance”. God found Israel when Israel was still in a dry, barren wasteland (v10). He guarded Israel like the apple of His eye (v10). Like an eagle hovering over its young, God shielded and cared for Israel (v10-11), personally giving Israel leadership and guidance (v12).
God did the same with us: when we were lost in a dry and barren wasteland, God found you and me. To this day God personally watches over you and me, shielding us and guiding our way. You are cared for by an awesome God! You are the apple of God’s eye!
Heavenly Father, I praise You for being my rock, my God whose works are perfect and whose ways are just. You are a faithful God who does no wrong. You are always upright and just. Thank You for finding me when I was lost. Thank You for calling me the apple of Your eye. Thank You for shielding me and leading me every day. Thank You that I am always safe with You. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.
