Moses was calling “heaven and earth to witness against them” in their future corrupt actions and turning aside from the way that he had commanded them (v. 31:28-29) Yet he wanted his “teaching to drop as the rain, (his) speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the earth.” What image does that convey? Refreshing, satisfying, life-giving words. How can that message possibly be refreshing? Don’t you want your witness of Jesus to be gentle and refreshing? This is a wonderful prayer to memorize so that we can pray it as we are preparing to share what we fear may be an unwelcome message. It is a truly life-giving message; isn’t it worthy of this lovely presentation?
Jeshurun is another name for Israel that you will see again in poetry. Remember this reference so that you aren’t confused when you see it again!
Realize how sad Israel’s treatment of God was. We will read in the upcoming history books that Israel did just as Moses said they would do. God cherished them like a father cherishes his children. He found them in a barren place where nothing was happening and there was no hope of anything changing, and He encircled them, cared for them, made something of them, and established them. He transformed their barren existence into a life of abundance. That should have inspired their devotion, but instead in their abundance they grew fat and satisfied and unmindful of God. Their corrupt dealing with Him resulted in their forsaking Him and then forgetting Him. Look at what we are capable of.
In Moses’ closing of his final words he cautioned the Israelites that these words were not empty words, but their life. How can words be life? Think about it. Moses was presenting the people with a choice to believe what God said about their covenant with Him and the warnings about what would happen if they failed to be faithful to Him. Isn’t it sobering to think that today’s choices, insignificant as they may seem, ultimately become one’s life?
Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” We are faced with the same choice the Israelites had. Aren’t you glad that you are in His word daily, and hopefully cultivating the lifetime habit of being in His word, so that you will know it? Hopefully you are also choosing daily to live by His revealed word, and then choosing again as the need arises in moments of crisis to put into practice what you know to do.
The very day Moses delivered his final words to the Israelites, God told him to go up the mountain to die. I am blessed by this. I want to go like Moses, ministering up to the day I leave this world, and not remaining here a minute longer than God wants to use me. Although he didn’t get to enter the land, God showed it to him from that mountaintop. How satisfying it must have been to him to realize the legacy he left to the Israelites, leading them to the place of God’s promise. Don’t you want to leave such a legacy? That is determined by the choices you are making today!