Deuteronomy 32:1-4
Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto 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.
Most of us might not know that Moses was more than the person who wrote the first five books of the Bible, and leader of Israel during the exodus of Egypt and their forty years in the wilderness, he was a song writer. Deuteronomy 32:1-4 is a song that Moses wrote about Jehovah God. Moses began this majestic and powerful song about our wonderful God by calling attention to the song and giving this song enormous importance. He called the entire creation, not just the Jews but everyone that has breath, to “give ear…and hear” the words that flowed from his mouth.
Moses did not sing this song for his benefit only. He believed this song would become a difference-maker in the lives of others. Notice how he described the quality and effect this song would have in the lives of others: as rain that drops from the clouds; as dew that rests on the grass; as small rain that nourishes a tender herb; and as showers upon the grass. Moses had assurances that his song about God would penetrate, refresh, grow and develop others in their faith
However, the only way this song could ever be a blessing to others was if he never forgot the theme of the song and publish the song. He made very clear to all that would read this song that his theme was “the name of the LORD,” and with this great burden, he would publish this song ascribing greatness to God. This is especially important to remember in our culture. We have become a self-serving society, whose theme is ourselves, and we have changed greatness from God to movements inferior to God (women’s right for an abortion, the constitution, politics, sexual identification, wealth, civil rights, etc.). Please God, help us to have the spirit and motivation of Moses in proclaiming you as the LORD because your greatness infinitely outshines everything else.
In this song, Moses gave several reasons why he wanted to publish “the name of the LORD” and ascribe greatness unto Him. The first reason is “He is the Rock.” He is a one of a kind Rock and there is none else like Him. The usage of the word “Rock” declares our God’s strength and might are second to none. Yet, in the New Testament, Jesus used the word “rock” in describing a foundation. In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus gave a parable of the wise man who built his house upon the rock and the foolish man who built his house upon the sand. The only house that was left standing after the storms of life was the man who built his house on the rock. The lesson in the parable is we must build our lives upon the foundation of Jesus Christ as our Rock. Later in Matthew, Jesus would use the term “rock” in describing the foundation upon which His church must be built upon. Jesus’ church must not to be built upon the foundation of the philosophies of the world, trends, movements; instead, we must establish our churches on Jesus Christ and Him only. He is Great and worthy to publish because He is the only Rock worth building our lives upon and standing.
Second, “His work is perfect.” Every work God has done is perfect. The word “perfect” means “complete and sound.” There was nothing lacking when He created the heavens and earth, and there was nothing lacking when He created us! And praise God, there is nothing lacking when He provided grace through His Son, Jesus Christ. Third, we should desire to publish the name of our LORD because “all His ways are judgment.” God is righteous in all His ways. The Psalmist wrote in Psalms 145:17, “The Lord is righteous in all His ways and holy in all His works.” Jesus said about Himself that He is the Way, Truth and Life (John 14:6). No matter how God is viewed or which angle He is seen, He is perfect and true. As Moses continued, He is “a God of truth and without any iniquity, just and right is he.”.
Why did Moses believe this song would be impactful for his hearers? God is unlike anything and everything else. Society in its best state is corrupt, perverse and crooked (Deuteronomy 32:5); yet, God is a sure foundation, whose works are perfectly sound and in Him is truth.