The twelve tribes

 Christ in all the scriptures

The blessings of the twelve tribes   Deuteronomy 33v6-25

A few observations:

Talk of "lost tribes" is devoid of wisdom.  Scriptures, to the end, establish the twelve tribes as a permanent entity.  James writes to "the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad"-James 1v1.  Scattered they may be at present, but they will be gathered by Divine power, and they will reign over the earth in the future-Matthew 24v31; Romans 11v12; Deuteronomy 28v1 etc.  They become powerful witnesses in a day yet future-Revelation 7v1-8.  Their names are on the 12 gates of the city, the New Jerusalem-Revelation 21v12.

There are times some names are omitted for disciplinary reasons, and the order in which they appear can change.  The tribe of Simeon is omitted in this chapter.  They were part of the couple of tribes Simeon and Levi, who committed the atrocity against the people of Shechem, one of whom had defiled their sister.  The comment by their father Jacob in Genesis 49 was, "Cursed be their anger for it was fierce, and their wrath that it was cruel".  He described them as "instruments of cruelty in their habitations".  Scripture is clear that "The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God".  Angry men are not used by God. Levi repented and were reinstated for their loyalty to serve as priests, but they were denied land inheritance in Israel.  Simeon remained vengeful and were diminished, ultimately being joined to Judah.  Their numbers declined from 59,300 men of war in Numbers 1, to 22,200 in Numbers 26, almost 40 years later.  However in the future, according to Revelation chapter 7, they are included in the list of tribes witnessing for God.  Earthly failure does not mean ultimate loss.

A comparison between Genesis 49 and Deuteronomy 33 reveals the following:

Genesis 49 is by a father to his sons: Deuteronomy 33 is by a spiritual leader to the tribes.

Genesis 49 is prophetic in nature and predicts good and bad: Deuteronomy 33 is prayerful in nature and promises only good.

The predictions and prayers are, and will be, fulfilled to the letter.  An Omniscient God, knows all things, and He is also Omnipotent to secure their future.  He is the God of Covenant promise, and nothing and no one can alter His decrees.

God's blessing does not assume freedom from problems, nor does it preclude the blessed from personal responsibility.  What it does is overcome problems and inspires holiness.  The failures of men are in contrast to the perfections of Christ the Messiah.

Reuben  v6 "Let Reuben live and not die; and let not his men be few".  Reuben was firstborn in Israel who disgraced his father (Genesis 49).  This gave him authority and influence over the twelve tribes, but he lost that status.  Christ is firstborn in all creation (Colossians 1v15) and in the Church (Colossians 1v18 with Romans 8v29), He glorified His Father.  Reuben will survive, rather than thrive.  Christ presides over numberless saints with unfettered authority....Psalm 89v27, "I will make Him my first born higher than the kings of the earth".  The lesson of Reuben is that past failure does not negate future mercy, for Divine mercy in Christ is complete.  

Judah  v7  "Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands be sufficient for him; and be thou an help to him from his enemies".  

Judah is promoted above Reuben (Genesis 49 and Revelation 7v5) and is given the sceptre and the staff (symbolic of spiritual rule-Genesis 49v10) until Shiloh come (Christ the Messiah-literally "He whose right it is to rule").  It was out of Judah Christ came (Hebrews 7v14) and when He comes again He will reign supreme.  Judah means praise and Moses calls on the Lord to hear the praise of His people, to make provision for their needs and to protect them from their enemies.  Judah will prosper and overcome all enemies.  Christ is the "Lion of Judah, the Root of David" who will open the seven seals of Judgment on a rebellious world-Revelation 5v5

Levi  v8-11  "...Bless, Lord, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again".

Jacob cursed the brutality of Simeon and Levi, and the Lord separated them.  However Levi recovered and stood for God in the matter of the golden calf in Exodus 32v25-28.  This they did in the sight of all Israel and the Lord rewarded them with priestly and support roles.  They alone were in close relationship with God (the Urim and Thummim, God made the "covenant of Levi" as promotion and recognition (refer Malachi2v5/8, "My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.  The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.  For the priests lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts").  The Levites became teachers of God's law, and officiators of the sacrificial offerings, a status of great honour and of responsibility.  This honour points to the priesthood of Christ who is of a superior order (that of Melchisedek) who presides over the teaching and worshipful service of all His people.

Benjamin  v12 "And of Benjamin he said, the beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him, and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between His shoulders".

Benjamin was Jacob's youngest son, born to his beloved  Rachel, who died giving birth.  Before her death, she named him Benoni (son of my sorrow); Jacob named him Benjamin (son of my right hand)  Thus Benjamin always held a special place in Jacob's heart, and the rest of the brothers adored and protected him.  He was beloved of the family, and also beloved of the Lord.  All this points to Christ who was beloved of the Father God-at His baptism, Matthew 3v17; Mark 1v11; Luke 3v22: on the mount of transfiguration, Matthew 17v5; Mark 9v7; Luke 9v35.  Believers today are "accepted in the beloved"-Ephesians 1v6; in Colossians 1v13, we are translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son (the Son of His love).  God loves many people but His special love is for His Son, and we are blessed in Him.  A special Son has a special place, and Christ fulfils the true meaning of Benjamin (Son of the right hand).  

Hebrews 1v3, "...when He had by Himself purged our sins (Benoni son of my sorrow) sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Benjamin, son of my right hand).

Colossians 3v1 "...above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God".

Ephesians 1v20, "Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavens".

Hebrews 8v1, "We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens".

Hebrews 12v2, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of faith; who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God".

The change from his father Jacob's description in Genesis 49v27 is remarkable.  There Jacob characterised him as a predatory wolf, and a relentless operator (day and night activity).  A similar trait is painted of Paul the apostle, who came from Benjamin in his unconverted days.  Acts 9v1 records "And Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord..."; 1st Timothy 1v13, "Who was before a blasphemer and a persecutor, and injurious, but I obtained mercy , because I did it ignorantly and in unbelief". This is the same man who travelled land and sea, giving up a lucrative lifestyle to serve the Lord amongst His people.  Benjamin was the smallest tribe, yet out of them notable characters emerged: like Ehud, the left handed judge of Israel who delivered them from slavery to Eglon king of Moab (Judges 3v12-30; Saul the first king of Israel, strong in military prowess, yet who never seemed able to cast off his family trait (1st Samuel 9 onwards; Esther and Mordecai, who played a prominent role in Israel's release from foreign exile (the book of Esther); and Paul who wrote most of the New Testament epistles, and whose writings are authoritative even now.

The Divine view of Benjamin is given in this chapter; "The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him...".   All God's believing people are beloved of the Lord-refer Romans 1v7; Colossians 3v12; 1st John 3v1.  Intimacy with God and security from God are the twin thoughts here.  "...and the Lord shall cover him all the day long...".  Cover is surrounded, shielded, protected every hour of the day.  Beloved, are we aware of this Divine presence with us daily??  "...and he shall dwell between His shoulders".  The shoulders are symbolic of strength, and we are carried by Him, particularly when our strength is weak.  Remember the cameo in Luke 15v4/5; He found the lost sheep and carried it upon His shoulders.  Those strong shoulders of Christ is the resting place for every saint.  We recall Isaiah 9v6, where it says, "...and the government shall be upon His shoulder!"  The government of the whole world will be on His one shoulder; until then His people shall dwell between His shoulders.

To be continued.....

  

Divine blessings on the tribes of Israel

 Christ in all the scriptures

Blessed is the state of ultimate well being

As a young believer, growing up in a church community, and learning the ways of God, I was frustrated by biblical words which I did not understand, and no one explaining their meaning. Words like justification, redemption, reconciliation, predestination etc. were obviously wonderful words, but they were lost on me for the first decade of my spiritual life.  Knowing church culture as I do, it is no different today, and there is a need to illuminate the minds of believers as to the amazing meaning of these things, and the wonder of what we have been given.  It is fruitless to be parroting words with no understanding.  For this reason I want to preface the study of the blessings upon Israel in Deuteronomy 33v6-25 by considering the marvellous scriptural meaning of the word blessed. 

It is good for us to understand the depth of meaning of a word which is at the centre and circumference of Divine revelation.  We begin by focusing on the root words used, of which there are a number of variations.  The Hebrew word Barak occurs 330 times in O/T scripture and the Greek Makarios at least 50 times in N/T.  Furthermore , the first reference is in Genesis 1, the first chapter of the bible, and the final reference is in Revelation 22, the last chapter.  In the central book of the bible, the Psalms (Psalm 117 is the very centre in terms of chapters), there are over 100 references.  Psalm 1 begins with God blessing man, and Psalm 150 ends with man blessing God.

The root meaning of Barak is to kneel; it is a bestowal of Divine favour which causes us to bow the knee in humble adoration.  

The root meaning of Makarios is to enlarge or lengthen; it describes the favour of God which has increased our persona in the universe.  A kindred word Eulogetes which means "to speak well of" occurs 8 times in N/T.

Taken together, such is the favour of God upon us, it has both humbled us and exalted us to a new position entirely.  Blessing is conferred upon us beyond anything we have or are naturally.  When God blesses us, He extends His benefits to us, He enlarges His mercy toward us.  There is nothing small minded about God's grace to us, He enlarges us, He enriches us, He prospers us spiritually.  When Jesus uttered the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, He was not saying this is what you must do to be blessed, He was saying this is what you are because you are blessed!  Perhaps we should re read these blessings with this new perspective.  The Amplified version, translating Matthew 5v3, in attempting to extract the full meaning of Makarios, puts it like this, "Blessed (Happy, to be envied,, and spiritually prosperous-with life joy and satisfaction in God's favour and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven".   Biblical scholars are agreed that this word can stand the translation, "Congratulations!" 

"Got questions.org" puts this in a lovely way: "the blessedness Jesus speaks of, rather than being a fleeting, transient, happiness, is a deep, abiding, unshakeable joy, rooted in the assurance of God's blessing in the present and in the future.  Life in the kingdom is one of profound joy and inner well being that no person or circumstance can take away.  They represent a counterculture, exhibiting values not welcomed by the world at large, but gladly embraced by every follower of Jesus Christ".

Blessing in scripture means Divine grace and favour bestowed upon mortals.  It is the state of ultimate well being, in contrast to cursing which is the permanent cessation of well being.  It also presumes the return of human blessing to the Divine as the fruit of reconciliation.  To be honoured by an earthly dignitary, or institution is sought after by not a few.  To be honoured by the Majesty of Heaven is the highest dignity we can possess.  This we have by simple and real faith in Christ.  It is important we fully understand how privileged and honoured we are as the recipients of Divine grace.  All this and more is intrinsic to the biblical word blessed.  Congratulations to all reading this who are blessed of God.  You have a status greater than you could ever imagine.  Even the angels of heaven will call you a fellow servant of the great God (Revelation 22v9).

This blessing does not presume the absence of worldly problems as the Beatitudes suggest.  There we read of humility, mourning, hunger and thirst within; also persecution from without in Matthew 5v3-12.  All these may come in abundance, but nothing can diminish the grace of God lavished on us, or the indescribable glory of the future.

The creation took place in the context of Divine blessing.  Everything was made to perfection, and He pronounced all good in Genesis 1v10; v12; v18;and all very good in v31.  In verse 28 He blessed the man and the woman and gave them dominion over all the work of His hands.  It was not until the fall of man in Genesis 3 that God pronounced a curse on the earth and all its inhabitants.   Fellowship with God brings blessing (ultimate well being that lasts forever): rebellion brings Divine curse that is irreversible.  Israel were taught the ways of blessing, and the ways of cursing, and God is the final arbiter. True belief in the Saviour brings God's approval in limitless favour: sham religion brings only the curse of God.  The 8 blessings of Matthew 5 (if we take the two relating to persecution as one) are in sharp contrast to the 8 woes of Matthew 23.  Examples of classic declarations of blessing in scripture are as follows: 

Genesis 12v2/3, God to Abraham, "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great, and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee, and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed".

Ephesians1v3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with (better "in") every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ".

And on a personal level, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile"-Psalm 32v1/2.

Blessing in scripture means Divine favour bestowed on us from above that changes our destiny and character forever.  May we all live in the good of it, and the best is yet to come.

 

God with them

 Christ in all the scriptures

The God who blesses Israel      Deuteronomy 33v1-5

It is no coincidence that the chapter which details the blessings upon Israel (v6-25), begins and ends with God; the presence of God with them (v1-5), and the power of God for them (v26-29).  All blessings flow from God as redeemed people walk step in step with Him.  Moses ends his public service for God with blessings on Israel; Jesus begins His public ministry with blessings on His disciples (the beatitudes of Matthew 5v1-12).   

The Presence of God with them   33v1-5

"And he said, the Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them, He shined forth from mount Paran , and He came with ten thousands of saints...".

The description is amazing, for it likens God's majestic presence with them to the rising of the sun each and every day, as He displays His holy light in their midst.  Notice the progression: He came...He rose up...He shone forth!  From the darkness the sun comes each morning, it rises high at midday, and it shines forth its blazing light until dusk.  This is God's daily care over His people.  They are no longer in the darkness of the fall, they dwell in the brilliant rays of His sunshine.  Each day of their life, and every place they go. He mentions Sinai, Seir, and Paran, each one taking them closer to the promised land, at whose borders they now gathered.

The thought here is of progression; God's people are journeying to a better land.  Each place mentioned reflects the high point of the migration.  Sinai, the place of covenant promise: Seir, the place of Divine comfort and compensation following the rejection by Edom, the land of the descendants of Esau, the brother of their father Jacob: Paran the place of Divine care where He sustained them in wilderness conditions.  He appeared to them first at Sinai. when He descended among them and set a table on the mount.  He remained with them throughout the wilderness journey.  This reminds us of Jesus, who said to His apostles, "Lo, I am with you always (literally all the days), even unto the end of the age" (Matthew 28v20)

He was with them in glorious manifestation.  

"He came with ten thousands of His saints..." (saints is holy ones, the holy angels who dwell in His presence).    All the power of heaven is with them, note the repetition of this in scripture...Exodus 24v9-18; Daniel 7v9/10; Hebrews 12v11; Revelation 5v11.  The number 10,000 is the highest number in Hebrew, according to scholars; it is at least this number , but could be many more.  Myriads, countless, innumerable, are terms used to describe the angels of heaven who protect God's people.  Again this points to Jesus on the throne for His people, "All power (authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth"-Matthew 28v18.

He gave them holy instruction from His word, 

"...from His right hand went a fiery law for them...they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words".

Jesus said to His apostles, "...teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you"-Matthew 28v20.  Fundamental to fellowship with God is obedience to His word.

He was with them in love, and the power of heaven was for their sanctification and protection

"Yea, He loved the people; all His saints are in thy hand...".  

The angels of heaven, who are "greater in power and might" (2nd Peter 2v11) than man, are at Jesus' disposal from the throne-refer Hebrews 1v13/14; Matthew 18v10; Matthew 26v53.  The love of Christ for His people, together with His protection of them are major themes in the bible.  His love for them is not mere sensual love, but sacrificial love for their eternal good, "Christ loved the church, and gave Himself for it;  that He might sanctify and cleanse it through the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish"-Ephesians 5v25-27.

He was their royal majesty among them

"He was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes were gathered together".

What distinguishes God's people from all others is the majestic, authoritative, and blessed presence of a loving God among us.  This will be the theme at the end of the chapter.  Would that in all our gatherings we could be aware of this!

Moses last words

 Christ in all the scriptures

Moses benediction     Deuteronomy 33

Jacob gave a prophetic prediction of each of his sons in Genesis 49 before his death.  Moses does the same in Deuteronomy 33.  Jacob, as their natural father, declares the good and the bad that would be their earthly lot.   Moses, as their spiritual father, blesses each tribe before his death, previewing only their heavenly blessing.   This benediction of Moses attributes their blessed position to the Lord who loved them (verses 1-5) and who would protect them and give them ultimate victory and satisfaction (verses 26-29).  In verses 6-23 we have the blessing on each tribe.  They are, each and every one of them a blessed people by the power and presence of God among them.  This is a reminder of the Omniscience, and the Omnipresence, and the Omnipotence, of the God of Israel.  Those of us who have come into relationship with God, through the agency of Israel, are similarly blessed.  He knows all about us, He protects us, He saves us, and enriches us with astonishing privilege.

A careful reading of this amazing chapter suggests that it was written by another (possibly Joshua) after Moses death.  The message is that we are a blessed people because of who God is, and what He has done, and what He will do.

The key to this chapter is the title, "Jeshurun" (v5) and "the God of Jeshurun" (v26).  We have studied this word before, but it bears repetition, as it is the greatest theme for all mankind.  Jeshurun is God's term of endearment toward His people.  It means the "upright ones", those whom God has made right in His sight.  The New Testament equivalent is "the justified ones".  It comes from a Hebrew root meaning straight, which is the meaning of justification.  They were anything but straight in practice, but God has justified them and He will finish the work to perfection.  The word appears 4 times in scripture-Deuteronomy 32v15; 33v5; 33v26-27; Isaiah 44v1-2.  Each time it appears in a poetic setting, and always portraying His covenant promises.   He uses this term to describe His judicially perfect, if practically imperfect, people.   Readers should consult these four references.  We must ponder this a little more, as the chapter ends with "a people saved by the Lord".  This is expounded in the New Testament, particularly in Romans chapter 5.  We have to understand that no moral change takes place within us, when first saved.  We are judicially perfect, while still morally imperfect.  The moral change will take place between the point of salvation throughout life until we are glorified.  Consider the wonder of this, that God has declared us righteous, and He will fully sanctify us to live in His presence forever.  The word in Romans 5v19 is that "by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous".  This is "Jeshurun", a people right with God, by Divine love and mercy, and through the one act of obedience of Christ at Calvary.  The word for made is constituted, that is God views them now as saints instead of sinners.  We are constituted righteous before Him, and nothing can alter that position.  Consider what this means, according to Romans chapter 8:

1)  We, with true Israel, will be glorified...Romans 8v30.  Glorified is yet future but it is in the past tense, it has already happened in the mind of God!

2) God is for us and therefore no one can be against us...Romans 8v31.  In our sins God was against us (Romans 1v18), but now He is for us, with all the resources of heaven at His disposal on our behalf!

3) Because He gave His most precious person, His own Son, to save us from our sins, He will also "with Him freely give us all things"! Romans 8v32.  Since He has done the greater, He will also do the lesser, and supply all our material needs.

4) No one will lay any charge against us, not even the arch accuser Satan...Romans 8v33. This is because it is God who justifies and no one can countermand His word!

5) No one can condemn us, in terms of punishment of an eternal nature, because it is Christ who died and rose again, and lives to intercede for us from the throne of heaven...Romans 8v34.

6) No one can separate us from  the love of Christ, not persecution, not anything in life or death, not principalities or powers, not time or eternity, nothing above us or beneath us, nothing in all existence...Romans 8v35-39.

This is Jeshurun, a people loved by the Lord, protected by the Lord, an upright people whom God has made perfect!  May this high honour be reflected in our lives in response to such grace!  This is how Moses saw the people of God, despite their waywardness.  He knew that God would preserve them.

A word of caution.  What we delight to apply to ourselves as righteous people, we must also apply it to every other believer, for they are also right with God.  The practise of this would prevent many grievous situations which can arise.

 

 

Moses blessing on Israel

 Christ in all the scriptures

Moses the man of God   Deuteronomy 33v1

"And this is the blessing wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death".

This is the first occurrence of the term "man of God" in scripture, and it is interesting to consider its meaning.  Abraham was called "the friend of God"-James 2v23 and Isaiah 41v8-and Israel, Moses, and Job and others called "the servant of God".  The Holy Spirit, who inspired the writing of holy scripture, presents Moses as the man of God, at the end of his life.  Many others will be so called throughout, the last mention being in 2nd Timothy 3v17, and we must consider the meaning of this unique title, as a prelude to the blessing of Moses on the tribes of Israel before his death.   Let us discover who were assigned this title, and learn what such a unique term entails.  Clearly it does not apply to every person of faith, but, as we shall see, it is open to all believers, both men and women.  

Moses the man of God.  Deuteronomy 33v1; Joshua 14v6; Ezra 3v2; Psalm 90 in the superscription.  Moses was a reluctant, but powerful leader of God's people who was characterised by his faithfulness to God (Numbers 12v7; Hebrews 3v2 andv5).  He was God's man for the time who established the truth of God and encouraged obedience to Him.

Unnamed man of God.  1st Samuel 2v17.  This man confronted the spiritual leader, Eli the High Priest concerning his abuse of power in high office.  This man is not named, so we don't need to be famous to speak for God.  He delivered the message of God without fear or favour.

Samuel man of God.  1st Samuel 9v6-20.  He is described as "an honourable man: all that he saith cometh surely to pass".  Also in v9, any person who wanted to inquire of God was formerly called a seer or a prophet, a person of wisdom, who could predict the future.  He was a person to whom people came for understanding.  No less than the future king of Israel (Saul) sought out Samuel.

Unnamed man of God from Judah.  1st Kings 13  Condemned the worship of Jeroboam, but entreated  the Lord on his behalf.  Faithful to God, near to God, but compromised with a false prophet and came under Divine discipline.  The best of men are imperfect, and he lost his place on this earth.

Elijah man of God.  1st Kings 17v24  Elijah secured provision for a widow woman and restored her son to life when he died.

Elisha man of God.  2nd Kings 4 and 5  Acted promptly in the trauma of the Shunamite woman, then cured the Syrian commander of his leprosy.  Positively active in times of need and successful in healing powers for God.  Also active in healing in 2nd Kings 8.5v8   Cured Naaman, captain of Syria's armies of leprosy, when called by the king of Israel for help.  Elisha proved dependable in a time of crisi

David man of God.  Nehemiah 12v24-36  David, the beloved of the Lord, wayward in his youth, talented in music, described as "a man after God's heart"; great prowess in battle for he never lost an external battle and his throne is decreed to be eternal with great David's greater Son, Jesus, to occupy it forever.   

Unnamed man of God,  2nd Chronicles 25v1-10  An unnamed man of God approached the king of Israel and warned him against going to war assisted by Ephraim, with whom the Lord was angry.  Amaziah, the king, heeded the warning, won a great victory but then departed from the Lord personally.  The intervention of the man of God prevented wholesale defeat for the nation.

The term continues into the New Testament

Timothy  man of God.  1st Timothy 6v11-12  "Thou, O man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life. whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses".  The man of God lives by the maxim, FLEE, FOLLOW, FIGHT!  He/she lives for the things of eternity.

Open to all to be a man of God.  2nd Timothy 3v16/17  Regulated by holy scripture, mature, ready for every good work as enabled by God.  This applies to women as to men, for the bible records godly women, some known, some unknown, but all known to God.  Notable examples are Sarai, Hannah, Deborah, Ruth, Abigail, Esther in the Old Testament.  In the New Testament we read of Elizabeth, Mary, Anna, Priscilla, and many others, some known, and some lesser known.. They are all known in heaven.

Thinking of all these men and women of God, we understand what heritage we have.  Taking the broad sweep of them all, it appears the term, "man of God", implies maturity, authority, approachability, loyalty, reliability, activity, bravery, and integrity, and much more.  

The man of God accepts and declares God's authority in a world where His authority is largely ignored.  He/she is not defined by earthly success, or strength, or style.  They are defined by God who owns them, commissions them, and speaks through them.  They are set apart, not perfect; they are devoted not passive.  They are vessels through whom God speaks, and loves, and leads.  They do not require the approval of men, though it is pleasing if it comes.  Instead they seek only God's approval (2nd Timothy 2v15).  When they speak it is as the oracles of God; when they serve, it is of the ability God gives, and with a view to the glory of God who enables them.  They seek not self glory, but the glory of God.  It is the greatest occupation on earth!

As always, there is one perfect man of God, the man Christ Jesus, who spoke the words of God, who demonstrated the character of God, when He was here.  Scripture oozes with superlatives for Him.  Would we aspire to be a little like Him, and deserve, ultimately. the honour of being called a man/woman of God?    

The call to mount Nebo

 Christ in all the scriptures

God calls time on Moses    Deuteronomy 32v44-52

We are slightly saddened, at the end of this song, to find that Moses was denied entrance to the land.  We must consider the issues of the Divine denial in the life of this faithful man.  Deuteronomy ends with a sterling tribute to the man Moses-"And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face"-34v10.  Moses was closer to God than any man before or after his life.  He stands in the course of history as the man who was "Faithful in all God's house" (Hebrews 3v1-5), and is contrasted only with Christ, the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus Himself.

His life was characterised by three periods of 40 years: 1) in the palace of Egypt where he was "learned in all the wisdom of Egypt, and was mighty in words and in deeds" (Acts 7v22).  2) in self imposed exile in the backside of the desert in Midian.  There he learned the benefits of family life, the care of wandering sheep, and, above all, the glory of God.  3) leading the people of God from bondage in Egypt, and through "the waste howling desert", where his patience was tried to the limit.  And now we come to the end, the song, and the blessing, and the final farewell.  So great was Moses, God did not allow Israel to witness his death or burial, he died on mount Nebo and his body was buried by the archangel Michael, away from public view (Jude v9).

He was very close to God;      Exodus 33v11, "And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend"; Numbers 12v7-8, "My servant Moses is not so who is faithful in all mine house.  With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?; Deuteronomy 34v10, "Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face".

He was faithful to instruct God's people in all the ways of God; Deuteronomy 32v44-45, "And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea (Joshua) the son of Nun.  And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to Israel".  Like Paul, the apostle, in the New Testament, who wrote "I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God"-Acts 20v27.

Moses was denied entry to the promised land due to one transgression in the service of God, in an otherwise faultless 40 years of service.  "Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel".  The story is given in Numbers 20v1-17.  This happened at a time when his sister died and was buried.  The unrelenting criticism of God's people troubled him.  The Lord told him to "Speak ye unto the rock before their eyes.   In exasperation, in a fit of anger, he called them rebels and struck the rock with his rod twice.  The water flowed abundantly, but Moses had disgraced himself in public, and he would pay the price.  We might well understand his frustration, but he vented it openly and dishonoured the Lord.  Apart from the obvious display of anger, which never works in Divine service, Moses spoiled the type that pointed to Christ.  He is the Rock (1st Corinthians 10v4) who was struck to save mankind, but God will never strike Him again.  In the words of the hymn, "God will not payment twice demand  Once at my bleeding surety's hand  And the other one at mine!"  We find in the Old Testament God is very protective of the types of Christ, and striking the rock twice was wrong.

There are two issues that spring from this:

1) If a godly man like Moses suffered loss for one uncharacteristic demeanour, where does that leave the rest of us?  Such discipline calls for humility on our part, for there are few (if any) servants of the calibre of Moses among us.

2) Moses' failure points to the One servant who never failed, and who at all times represented the glory of God, even in the midst of treachery and suffering.  Isaiah points us to the perfect servant in chapter 42v1-4, 

"Behold my servant whom I uphold, mine elect in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon Him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.  "He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.  A bruised reed He shall not break, and a smoking flax He will not quench: He shall bring forth judgment unto truth.  He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth, and the isles shall wait for His law".

Even the best of men fail; the Bible points to the only perfect servant of God, by whom all service is measured.  May we read this book to trace the wonders of Christ Jesus, and learn to follow Him as we can.  It amazing to think that one day we will all be conformed to the image of His Son!" (Romans 8v29 with 1st John 3v2).  God speed the day! and in the meantime may we follow His example, for He lived for God in this world, moving amongst sinners. He was sinless, and He overcame horrific injustice against Him, and lives now to intercede on our behalf.  The apostle Peter wrote:

"Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow in His steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth"-1st Peter 2v21/22.

The writer to the Hebrews, in chapter 11,traces the deeds of the great men and women of the past, and we could add to that list from the many worthies of the present age, including those in our time.   He classes them as "so great a cloud of witnesses" in chapter 12v1.  He continues, "Looking unto Jesus...";  I'm told that the force of the word looking, is "looking away, from these great witnesses, UNTO JESUS, the author and finisher of faith (that is all faith).  There have been many great men and women who served God, and many still do.  Yet they all failed in one aspect or another, and they were encouraged to look away from men unto Jesus who began the work and will finish it to perfection.

This is the perspective of the bible, to fix our gaze on Christ, God's perfect servant, who never failed, and who will bring the work to its glorious conclusion.

Rejoice O ye nations with His people

 Christ in all the scriptures

The Glory of God      Deuteronomy 32v26-43

The song reaches its crescendo with the glory of God.  The conclusion is in verse 43:

"Rejoice O ye nations with His people: for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and will render vengeance to His adversaries, and will be merciful to His land, and to His people".

This is quoted in Romans 15v10, "Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with His people", and linked with Psalm 117v1,"Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and laud Him all ye people".   Thus the warnings and the blessings of this song apply way beyond the time of Moses, to the present day and beyond.  Out of a seemingly impossible situation, where Gentile apathy was rife, and Jewish apostasy had reached the lowest level, God will, in glorious mercy, blend together a truly worshipping people, from Jew and Gentile, for His glory.  This wonder is fully expounded in Romans 9-11, particularly in chapter 11v30-36, which is quoted below: writing to Gentiles he says, 

"For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy, through their unbelief: even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy (the mercy shown by God to you) they also might obtain mercy.  For God hath concluded all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all.  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor? or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?  For of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things: to whom be glory forever.  Amen."

God's glory is His mercy, and abundant grace dispensed toward Jew and Gentile, creating "one new man"-one new humanity-to the praise of His glory.  The depths to which His chosen nation had sunk (which is outlined in these verses) serve to magnify the heights of God's glory, who overcomes all in astonishing power.  The apathy of Gentiles is met with Divine mercy; the apostasy of His people is turned with Divine 

Such was their departure, that the Lord considered abandoning them altogether (32v26/27), and it was only the reputation of His name amongst infidels that caused Him to have mercy.  Exodus 33v7-14 reveals that it was only on the intercession of Moses the people were spared from annihilation.  Since this is the song of Moses he did not want to exalt himself before the Lord, so he passes over his role in this and said the Lord changed His mind.

Perspective for the future should regulate present actions  

"For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.  O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!"-v28/29

As Jesus said, "Wisdom is justified of her children"-Matthew 11v19.  It is defined by what we are, not what we profess to be.  At this stage Israel was devoid of wisdom.

They will be victorious against overwhelming odds in the power of God

"How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their rock had sold them. and the Lord had shut them up?-v30

Paul wrote in Romans 8v31, "If God be for us, who can be against us?"  He has powers over every human institution, and works everything for our good.  Defeat comes when we forsake Him and He withdraws His favour.  There is a difference between relationship with God, and fellowship with God.  Relationship never changes but fellowship can.  This important distinction is discussed in John's 1st epistle.

Verses 31-36 are difficult to interpret, where He is comparing His people to the heathen worshippers.  Note, from v31 He speaks of "them" and "us"-"For their rock is not our Rock...our enemies...their vine...their grapes...their wine...".  He reveals the character of heathen worship as corrupt, and corrupting.  Also in v34 He is speaking of terminal judgment, when the "treasures of the Lord" will be vented upon the ungodly (refer Romans 2v5) where rejecters are said to "treasure up wrath against the day of wrath".  Is it possible that God's people will be judged with the heathen? for remember they have followed other gods.  The only answer seems to be that not all of God's ethnic people are His spiritual people, and this is made clear in Romans 9v6, "They are not all Israel which are of Israel".  Those born into that chosen nation will perish with all the heathen who reject the true God. Solemn as all this is, we are faced with the God who will judge the world in righteousness, and that judgment begins with His people.  The corruption of the heathen is applied to Israel in scriptures like Isaiah 1, which reveal the remnant only will be saved, also Isaiah 6, and many others.  The reality is that in any community of God's professing people there will be real and unreal.  God will judge all sinners whether Jew or Gentile, but will have mercy on all His people who repent.  

Vengeance and vindication      32v35-43

These twin truths stand side by side in these verses and proclaim the awesome glory of God. Vengeance and reward is repeated twice in v35 and 41; unmitigated vengeance on evil and righteous reward for good.  This is the very essence of His glory.  He will avenge His enemies, and vindicate His people.

"To me belongeth vengeance, and recompense; their foot shall slide in due course: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them shall make haste.  For the Lord shall judge His people, and repent Himself for His servants, when He seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up or left"-v35/36.

Glory to the God of matchless power and blessing   32v37-43   

He stands alone as the only God of the universe, He is without a rival in all existence.  He reigns supreme for all eternity, and He will destroy all enemies.  He will create a truly worshipping people from the nations and from His people Israel, whom He used to bring salvation to the world.  The hymn by James Allen (1761), now sung in many churches, captures the theme, and my prayer is that this will be our song from this day forward.

"Glory to God on high  Let heaven and earth reply! Praise praise His name! Angels His love adore  Who all our sorrows bore  And saints cry evermore  Worthy the Lamb!

All those around the throne Cheerfully join in one  Praising His name  We who have felt His blood  Sealing our peace with God  Sound His dear fame fame abroad  Worthy the Lamb!

Join all the ransomed race  Our Lord and God to bless  Praise praise His name  In Him we will rejoice  Making a cheerful noise  Shouting with heart and voice  Worthy the Lamb!

Though we must change our place  Yet we will never cease  Praising His name  To Him our tribute bring  Hail Him our gracious King  And without ceasing sing  Worthy the Lamb!"

Divine retribution

 Christ in all the scriptures

God's government   Deuteronomy 32v19-26

The song declares the greatness of God (v1-4); the goodness of God (v5-18); the government of God (v19-26); and the glory of God (v27-44).

The government of God in this world is a truly awesome subject. and, within that, the government of His people is a solemn reality.  Before we consider the verses before us, because of the severity of the language, we must understand that sin amongst His people is particularly odious to Him.  God is angry with the sins of the lawless every day (Psalm 7v11), and the same verse says He judges the righteous.  The sins of God's people are singularly hurtful to Him.  Israel, a righteous people, whom God had made right with Himself, (as implicit in the title Jeshurun-32v15), have sinned grievously, and moved God to anger against them.  This is a solemn principle, that we can be judiciously right with God, but morally delinquent.  The character of God is such that He must act, in such circumstances, in ways that can be severe in the extreme.

The apostle Peter, citing Ezekiel 9v6, revealed that "Judgment must begin at the house of God"-1st Peter 4v17.  The God who will judge the world in righteousness, must judge His own in this life.  As we have said before, He cannot condone in the church what He will condemn in the world.  Sin, in all its forms, if practised by His people will be met with chastisement.  This subject is explained in Hebrews 12v5-13.  The sanctions will be proportionate to the evil committed, they will be administered out of love for us, and with a view to our eternal profit.  Understanding all this prepares us to properly interpret the solemn verses that follow, and enable us better to live in the reverential fear of the Lord.

"And when the Lord saw it He abhorred them, because of the provoking of His sons and of His daughters"-32v19 Such was the nature of their sin, it provoked the Lord to anger.  Note that sons and daughters were complicit in the departure.  The word abhorred suggests, not only the feeling aroused by the actions, but the resolve to act against them.

"And He said I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward (perverse) generation, children in whom is no faith"-32v20.  At first reading this seems to be contradictory to the oft repeated statement, that God will never leave or forsake them-refer Deuteronomy 31v6v8; Joshua 1v5; 1st Samuel 12v22; 1st Kings 6v13; Psalm 94v14; Hebrews 13v5.  The meaning of that is different to what is here; this is a temporary withdrawal because of offending sin.  He will never leave us in the sense of abandoning us, but He must withdraw His favour when we wilfully sin.  Not only will He withdraw His nearness, He will act against them, by setting them aside and turning to the Gentiles, which He has done in the present time.

"They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God (by following other gods): they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: : and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation"-32v21.

This verse is cited in Romans 10 v19, in the context of God temporarily setting aside His people, and blessing Gentile nations, which is happening right now!  This setting aside of Israel is not permanent, but remedial, and only the true Israel will repent.  he set them aside because they set Him aside.  The law of retribution is clearly stated in scripture, that we suffer the same as we give out.

"Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap"-Galatians 6v7.

"Judge not that ye be not judged.  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again"-Matthew 7v1-2.

The same for a community as for an individual: the same toward God as toward men.

The strong language in verses 22-25 reflects God's abhorrence of sin, particularly in the lives of those He has blessed.  God is utterly opposed to sin, particularly the sin of idolatry.  He will rid the universe of all sin, He will oppose it in all its horrors, He will destroy the sinners who continue in it, and there will be no respect of persons.

The early Church was plagued with the doctrine of Antinomianism, which supposes that because of the grace of God, there is no longer any moral standard.  Paul referred to this in Romans 6v1-2 "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?  God forbid!"  Jude said there were professing believers practising sin openly, in his words, "turning the grace of God into lasciviousness" (the liberty to practice any evil)-Jude v4.  These were people in churches who had perverted the doctrine of grace, holding that the grace of God allowed license to sin.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

This section serves as a warning to all believers today.  God will oppose sin in our lives with measures of restraint known only to Him.  Those measures can be severe, as witness of the history of Israel in the present age proclaims.  This is the product of lightly esteeming the grace of God.  He put away sin at great cost to Himself; He did not do so to enable us to continue in it.

  

  

 

The kindness of God our Saviour

 Christ in all the scriptures

The goodness of God   Deuteronomy 32v5-18

Moses, having established the greatness of God, proceeds to declare His goodness.  It is fair to say that greatness and goodness don't always go together.  With God, however, His goodness is part of His greatness, and is worthy of our praise.  Goodness could be defined in relation to the unworthiness of the object, and the magnitude of the grace bestowed.  The scriptures establish the goodness of God amidst the ingratitude of men.  Paul spoke, in Romans 2v4, of the riches of His goodness "Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness, and forbearance, and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"  Scriptures abound with references to His goodness:  some examples...

Exodus 34v6  "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth".

Psalm 23v6  "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever".

Psalm 34v8 "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him".

Psalm 145v9  "The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works".

Matthew 7v11  "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good gifts to them that ask Him?"

James 1v17  "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow cast by turning".

Indeed, Jesus said that God is the very essence of good, that "...there is none good but one, that is God"-Mark 10v18.  He is the standard of goodness in contrast to which the relative goodness of man is vastly inferior.  We could say that the term "good" and the title God are synonymous.  

Nowhere is this principle illustrated more than with His dealings with Israel.  The perfection and excellency of God are in sharp contrast to the perversity and treachery of Israel.  These are the redeemed people of God, but they have forsaken Him, pursuing other gods.  This song is prophetic in character and declares the propensity of a redeemed people to forsake the Lord; the present church is no different if we read the New Testament warnings correctly.  The seven churches in Revelation 2/3 prophesy that the history of Israel will be repeated in the churches.  Note what is said about Israel in these verses Deuteronomy 32v5-18, in the light of God's grace toward them:

They have gone astray   "They have corrupted themselves, their spot (blemish) is not that of His children: a perverse and crooked generation"32v5

Their behaviour is such they do not act as the children of God, rendering them corrupt, perverse and crooked.  This is a withering condemnation of a people who have been the object of His grace.  Paul paints the picture of what should be in Philippians 2v15, "That ye might be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world".  There the crooked and perverse nation is the world; the sons of God should be the opposite, not following the ways of the world.  These are strong words indeed, and are a warning to the people of God in every generation.

They were ungrateful    "Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise?  is not He thy father that hath bought thee? hath He not made thee, and established thee?"-32v6

Requite just means to pay back.  God, as a Father, bought them out of slavery, at great cost to Himself, and this is how they pay Him back?  Before we condemn them, what are we doing to, in some small way, repay His blessings?  The Psalmist asks the question that should be the watchword of all the redeemed, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?"-Psalm 116v12.  The New Testament adds weight to this, "Ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's"-1st Cor. 6v20. Redemption means much more than deliverance from sin's bondage; it also means we are His possession

They became self-centred instead of God centred    "Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered (surrounded with material benefits); then he forsook God who made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation"-32v15

Jeshurun is God's term of endearment toward His people.  It means the "upright ones", those whom God has made right in His sight.  The New Testament equivalent is "the justified ones".  It comes from a Hebrew root meaning straight, which is the meaning of justification.  They were anything but straight in practice, but God has justified them and He will finish the work to perfection.  The word appears 4 times in scripture-Deuteronomy 32v15; 33v5; 33v26-27; Isaiah 44v1-2.  Each time it appears in a poetic setting, and always portraying His covenant promises.   He uses uses this term to describe His judicially perfect, if practically imperfect people.   Readers should consult these four references.  They had plentiful food and clothing, but they did not ascribe it to the Lord, and they forgot Him and lightly esteemed their salvation.  This led to idolatry, substituting the God of glory for lesser objects of worship.  The seventh church at Laodicea fell the same way, when they pursued material riches instead of the Lord.  It is an ever present danger, that we forget the Giver and focus on the gifts, and we are living in similar conditions today.  It is a day of material prosperity, and of spiritual poverty.  The call is to overcome even in that situation, and return to the Lord.

In contrast to the folly of His people, God's faithfulness to them remains undiminished: in the words of Paul, "If we are unfaithful, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself!"-2 Timothy 2v13.  Consider His ways with them:

"Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations..."  32v7.

At this point Israel's relationship with God now spans many centuries,  From Abraham to Isaac to Jacob to Joseph, and beyond, a family of seventy persons has become a nation with several millions, even through turbulent times,  God's faithfulness to them, and prosperity of them is now historical.  Preservation through slavery, deliverance from Egypt's bondage, sustenance through 40 years of desert conditions, and victory over strong enemies, has been their portion.

"When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel" 32v8.

This is an astonishing revelation, that when God divided the habitation of nations (Genesis chapters 10/11), He first allocated the land to Israel, knowing their number, then gave others their portion beyond that!  This land that they were about to inhabit, was allocated to them after the scattering from Babel, and the allocation was "according to the number of the children of Israel".  This land, which is being disputed to this present day, is, in biblical terms, "the glory of all lands"-Exodus 3v8v17; Ezekiel 20v6v15.  The land given by the Most High to Israel, is the best real estate on earth in its splendour and its abundance.  Perhaps this is why it is the subject of so much contention.  The Most High will have the last word on this issue.

God's portion   "For the Lord's portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance" 32v9   Israel are a very special people, and through them God will have an elect people vfrom all the nations on earth.  We often major on our inheritance but the bible speaks of God's inheritance through us.  A major biblical subject-refer Psalm 33v12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance"; Ephesians 1v18, "...the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints".  We think of inheritance in terms of money or land, God's inheritance is the saints, all of them for His glory.

God's pity   "He found them in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; He led them about, He instructed them, He kept him as the apple of His eye"  32v10. 

He bypasses the deliverance from Egypt to focus on His preservation of them in a wasteland over many years.   He led them, taught them, and kept them as His special people.  The term "apple of His eye" is well known to mean those cherished, and deeply regarded above others.  The human eye is most sensitive to the touch, and the apple of the eye is the most sensitive of all.  The Lord of hosts says through the prophet Zechariah, "After the glory hath He sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye"-Zechariah 2v8.

God's protection   "As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him"  32v11/12

Witness the total care and protection over her young, so the Lord preserves His own.  This care will continue well into the future, as in a day yet to come, when Israel is under threat, scripture uses the same language, "And to the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time. and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent"-Revelation 12v14.  The eagle is a powerful biblical principle, portraying God's protection, and swift deliverance from danger. References are: Exodus 19v4; Job 39v27-30; Isaiah 40v31; Jeremiah 48v40; Ezekiel 17v3.

God's provision  "He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and He made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock; butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan (the best of meat), and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape"   32v13-14

They FEASTED IN A WILDERNESS at the hand of a God whose goodness knew no bounds!  What could they expect in the land?!  This is what God did with an erring, ungrateful people; what will He do with a sanctified, glorified people?  Let our song be to the goodness of the God we adore.

 

  

The perfection of God Almighty

 Christ in all the scriptures

The perfection of God   Deuteronomy 32v4

The primary purpose in studying God's word is to increase our knowledge of Him.  This verse proclaims the integrity of the God who has saved us.  Moses opens the song with a reminder of His perfect attributes.  Present day songs like "Rock of ages", and "The Solid rock! immortalise the metaphor.

"His work is perfect".  Perfect (tamim) is "complete". comprehensive, all-sided so as to cover all aspects.  Everything He does is crafted to perfection, taking into account the purpose of its creation.  Genesis 2v2, "On the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made".   Again in Psalm 8v3/4 David ponders the wonder of creation, "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visitest him?"  From the precision of the natural world, we move to the realm of the spiritual world.  There we see the perfection of the new creation, as Isaiah pens it, "And the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever"-Isaiah 32v17.  What about the work of God in transforming individual lives, as Paul writes in Philippians 1v6, "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ".   Jesus defined the work of God today as the saving faith of believers, mas in John 6v29 "This is the work of God, that ye believe in Him whom He hath sent".  The great work of world evangelisation will go on to perfection when believers are glorified in His presence.  His work in turning rogue regimes around to begin to worship Him and befriend His people is also stated in scripture: Isaiah 19v24-25, "Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance".  The point of the song is this; why would you seek any lesser gods, when your God's work is perfect?

"All His ways are judgment".   Not only are the deeds of His work perfect, but the manner in which He performs everything is perfect.  His ways are not our ways, because they are higher than our ways.  Judgment is mishpat in Hebrew and refers to decisions, verdicts pronounced in given situations.  Every act and decision made by God is fair to man and just in accordance with His infallible knowledge.  He does not show favouritism, and treats all individuals equitably.  He judges people according to their works (a repeated phrase in the bible-Psalm 62v12; Proverbs 24v12; Matthew 16v27; Romans 2v6; 1st Corinthians 3v8; 2nd Corinthians 5v10; Colossians 3v25; 1st Peter 1v17; Revelation 20v12-13).  For good or bad, we will all be rewarded according to our works.  The believer can rely on God's guidance to lead them through life's complexities on their pathway to glory.  The onus is on us to honour His ways.

"A God of truth and without iniquity".   His words are truth, unmixed with error or any form of deceit.  He never utters half-truths, He speaks the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth (as we humans are to declare in a court of law).  There is no double meaning in His words, there is no hidden agenda.  He never utters idle words, all that He says will come to pass.  In a world full of untruths, and deceit, marked by malicious slander, it is refreshing to know there is One whose word is absolute and trust worthy, and whose intentions toward us are good.  He does not use prevarication, when He speaks, nor change His words with time, as is rife in our present world.  "Forever O Lord thy word is settled in heaven"-Psalm 119v89 is the biblical description of God's truth, which, like Himself, never changes.  The Bible Hub translates this as "Your word , O Lord is everlasting, it is firmly fixed in the heavens".  Complex, at times, it is, but it is never devious, and we can rely on it as truth that will never alter.

"Just and right is He".   In a shifting world, morally and culturally speaking, is there a standard we can all depend upon?  We hear the constant cry that "he or she is always right", in a derogatory sense, to minimise personal embarrassment.  God sets the standard for right and wrong, and He spells out the consequences for both.  The course of time proves, without exception, that God is right all the time, and if we follow His way we will be blessed.  The essence of this is to be found in the real meaning of the biblical word "righteousness".  This is a word of massive proportions, and is the state of moral perfection to which the universe is heading.  Righteousness means that God will make everything right that is wrong in His sight.  He will compensate for loss in this life, that was suffered through human prejudice and malice.  He will judge infidels according to their works  Peter sums it up in 2nd Peter 3v10-13, which says that the day of God is coming when everything on earth and heaven will pass away, and the new heavens and new earth will be characterised by permanent righteousness, the exact opposite of the unrighteousness that prevails today.  Scriptures have their say:

"For the word of the Lord is right; and all His works are done in truth.  He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord"-Psalm 33v4.

"And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; salvation and glory and honour, and power unto the Lord our God: for true and righteous are His judgments..."-Revelation 19v1-2.

He is right, for everything is measured according to His own perfect standard.  He is just, for we will all receive what is fair, what we deserve. 

His work, His ways, His words, His wisdom...all perfection; and this will be universally accepted, this will be our eternal song.  He will make everything right, let the wonder of this inspire us all.  I recall an exchange with a work colleague, who was the grandmaster in a local Masonic order.  We had our differences, but we engaged in regular discussions about God.  One day he said to me, "George, why do you believe in God?"  I replied, "Because I believe in justice, and only God can make that a reality".  Is my friend a believer?  I don't know, as we have lost contact, but now he knows the truth.  Will I meet him in glory?  I hope so, as I hope to meet all of you reading these words.

Christ the Rock

                                               Christ in all the scriptures

He is the Rock         Deuteronomy 32.

This significant title of Deity is repeated 5 times in the song (v4, v15, v18, v30-31).  In total it appears more than 30 times throughout scripture, and compels us to understand its meaning. What a rock is in contrast to the shifting sands of the desert, God is to His people.  It promotes thoughts of His majesty, His stability, His dependability, His surety, His consistency, His integrity  It says more, for the picture is of a spiritual rock that followed them throughout their wilderness journey.  He sent them refreshing life-giving water from the rock as well as sweet honey, and it became a refuge from the storms and from their enemies.  We can do no better than quote the many scriptures illustrating the intriguing study of God our Rock.

Deuteronomy 32v4  He is the God of integrity. and moral perfection; "He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He".  Each one of those attributes deserves separate study.

Deuteronomy 32v15 "He is the Rock of our salvation" and, although Israel departed from Him and lightly esteemed Him, yet He is the Rock of ages upon whom we can all depend . The Church of Christ, in the present day, is built upon the Rock which is Christ.  The sum total of the might of Satan and evil will not prevail against it- Matthew 16v18.

Deuteronomy 32v18  He is Creator of all "Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee".  We are all the creatures of His hand and do well to remember that.

Deuteronomy 32v30-31  He is "Our Rock", enabling His people to achieve remarkable victories.  However when they forsake Him, He actively allows them to fail.  He is the indispensable basis for a victorious life.  All other so-called rocks are as nothing in comparison to Him.

2nd Samuel 22v2-3  He is our refuge in the midst of enemies,  "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; the God of my rock; in whom I will trust: He is my shield, and the horn (the power) of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour..."

Refer also 2nd Samuel 22v32 and v47; 23v3.  Psalm 18v2 and v31 and v46;  Psalm 19v14 (translated strength); Psalm 28v1; 31v2-3; Psalm 61v2; Psalm 62v2 and v7; Psalm 71v3; Psalm 78v35; Psalm 89v26; Psalm 92v15; Psalm 94v22; Psalm 144v1-2; Isaiah 17v10; Isaiah 26v4 (everlasting strength); Isaiah 30v29 (translated mighty-"the mighty one of Israel).

We turn over to the New Testament, and in 1st Corinthians 10v4 we read, "And did all drink the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them.....

..AND THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST!"

Powerful, stable, majestic, dependable, generous, loyal, merciful, holy.  This is our God.

Publish the name of the Lord

 Christ in all the scriptures

Ascribe ye greatness unto our God       Deuteronomy 32v3

"Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.  Our God He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment, a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He"-Deuteronomy 32v3/4.

It has been well said, that the community which loses the sense of the greatness of God, is a community on the slide.  Scripture abounds with the unparalleled, unrivalled, supremacy of the Lord.  The regular call is to magnify Him, not that we can make Him any greater, but we can magnify Him in our hearts and lives, and in the community where we are.  This is why Moses is so careful to communicate these sacred things in a positive way.  His mission is to "publish the name of the Lord", to accurately, and winsomely declare the name of God.  His name is His character and His reputation, and what follows is an exposition of that.  In present exaltation He has a name that is above every name, and in that name every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father; all this on earth, and in heaven, and under the earth-Philippians 2v9-11.  

Moses says, "I will publish the name of the Lord..."

Then he says "Ascribe ye the greatness unto our God".  His ministry was all about publishing the Lord's name, he says, you do the same!  The chapter is replete with Divine titles proclaiming the wonders of His name.  These titles are repeated throughout scripture, and have been enshrined in this song:

32v3 Lord=Jehovah (Heb. Yahweh, YHWH for short). Occurs 6519 times in scripture.  He is the eternal self-existing God who spans all time (translated in N/T "Who is, who was, and who is to come"-Revelation 1v4; 1v8; 4v8; 11v17; 16v5).  There is no time period when He is not Lord, and He is blessed for ever (Romans 1v25; 9v5), untarnished by the folly and failure of man.  This title is repeated in the song in 32v6, v9, v12, v19, v27v30, v36, as well as many thousands of times throughout scripture. 

32v3 God=Elohim (plural of Eloah) the supreme object of worship; later defined in N/T as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  God the three in one in absolute unity in essence, and harmony in action.  Occurs 2606 times.  First appears in Genesis 1v1, in which chapter the plurality is established, "Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness"-Genesis 1v26.  Confirmed in Genesis 11v7, "Let us go down..." and Isaiah 6v8, "...Who will go for us...?".  Diversity in unity is illustrated in the first verse of scripture, "In the beginning God (Elohim-plural) created (a singular act) the heaven and the earth".  We begin to understand the greatness of God, who made the heavens for the planets, the air for the birds, the seas for the fish, and the land for animals and a habitation for man and woman.  This He has sustained for thousands of years, and we are compelled to worship Him who has created, and who sustains such wonders.

32v4 The Rock=Tsur.  It is possible this gave rise to our word sure, which aptly describes the function of a rock...steady, stable, strong, dependable.  It is a title given to God over 30 times in the O/T and applied to Christ several times in the N/T (Matthew 16v18 and 21v42;  Acts 4v11; Romans 9v33; 1st Corinthians 10v4; 1st Peter 2v4, 6, and 7).  A modern expression is "He/she is my rock", and we all know what it means; in a treacherous world there are those on whom we can depend.  We can all depend on the Lord, in the words of Psalm 18v2, "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower".

32v8 The Most High=Elyon.  Occurs 53 times in O/T. and refers to God's superior rank over everyone and every thing, and that for ever.  The first occurrence in Genesis 14v19 and 22, refers to Him as "the Possessor of heaven and earth".   Even Satan acknowledges Him as the Most High; in his arrogance, when he exalted himself above everything, including the earth, the stars, the clouds, the mount of the congregation, yet when he came to God, he said, "I will be like the Most High"-Isaiah 14v13-4.  There is no one higher than God.

God=Eloah, singular form of Elohim.  Occurs 52 times and twice in the chapter (v15 and 17).  While Elohim represents the majestic intensity and diversity in the Godhead, Eloah speaks of the unity and individuality of each member.  The emphasis is on monotheism and views the Godhead acting as one.  It is found mostly in the wisdom books of scripture, namely Job, Psalms, and Proverbs, and personalises God in times of suffering.  Elohim is concerned more with majesty and power.

God=El The diminutive form of Elohim and Eloah.  Occurs 245 times, and refers to the concentrated might and power of God.  The modern translations, including the KJV miss the riches of the Hebrew original of the titles of God.  Notable hybrids are EL Shaddai (Almighty God) and Immanuel (God with us).  This occurs 32v4, v12, v18, and v21.  Best translated as "the Strong One", in each context it appears.  There are no half measures with God.

The song bristles with the beautiful titles of God, and many more are revealed in scripture.  In song, in sermon, in worship, we publish the sacred name.  In His infinite greatness, He speaks of His people as being His portion, in a godless world.  In the desert, which is this world, He found them and He led them.  What the rocks are to the desert amid the shifting sands, He is to His people.  They are the apple of His eye, and He stirs them up as an eagle does her young (32v8-12).  Above everything else the greatness of our God should be our song for life, no matter the struggles of the way.  The study of the Bible is the study of God, and must be no less than that.  The apostle Paul said he "suffered the loss of all things for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord"-Philippians 3v8.  It is when we see this world as a spiritual desert that we learn His greatness and ascribe it to Him.

No doubt it was this chapter which inspired the hymn by the late John Nelson Darby, which aptly describes the thoughts of the song of Moses.  There are nine verses, (it begins with "Rise my soul thy God directs thee") we can quote one to illustrate:

"In the desert God will teach thee what the God that thou hast found.  Patient gracious, powerful, holy, all His grace shall there abound".