The Last Song that Moses Sang

One Year Bible
Old Testament passage for Monday, April 8, 2013:  Deuteronomy 32:28-52

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people.”  Deuteronomy 32:43 (NKJV)

Have you ever wondered what songs are going to be sung in heaven?  Perhaps Amazing Grace, or When the Roll is Called Up Yonder!  I love to sing, and I know that heaven will be filled with music and worship.  We get hints here on earth when the presence of God fills our Sunday services.  It is glorious to hear a congregation engaged in whole-hearted praise and worship.  But, good as that is, it really is nothing like what we will know THERE! 

The Bible actually tells us one of the songs that will be sung around the throne.  Revelation 15 gives us a glimpse of angelic activity.  There we read, "They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb..." (Rev. 15:3).

What is this song of Moses?  Interestingly, there are actually two songs that Moses composed and sang.  One is found in Exodus 15 right after the miracle of the Red Sea.  The other is in Deuteronomy 32 (our passage for today).  These two songs are very much alike.  Jewish legend tells us that the song recorded in Dt. 32 became so sacred to Israel that a written copy was place in the Ark of the Covenant along with the jar of manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the Ten Commandments.

This song in Deuteronomy 32 was Moses' swan song.  It might be seen as his final words.  As such, the final verse of the final song becomes significant for us.  If we look closer at this final verse (Dt. 32:43) it holds fantastic, wonderful news for us.

Three things are predicted in Dt. 32:43:

1.  The Gentiles are coming into the Kingdom of God!  Moses is perhaps the single most significant figure in defining the Jewish nation and personality.  We even refer to the "Mosaic Law."  The nations -- the Gentiles -- in many respects are OPPOSITE to this Jewish mentality.  Gentiles are UNCLEAN!  Yet, in Moses final words he utters: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people (the Jews)"  Paul picks up on this in Romans 15:10 quoting this refrain in support of the Gospel of Jesus Christ moving beyond Jewish origins to become the the EXPANDING CHURCH penetrating the nations of the earth.

2.  The unstoppable triumph of the Kingdom of God!  All adversaries will ultimately be overcome.  Again, Paul says it in these terms, "Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!  (Phil 2:11).  In a world that seems bent on self-destruction, Moses gives in his final words are word of encouragement:  truth will prevail.  Justice will triumph.  Evil will not have the last word in this world.

3.  The blackness of sin will find permanent atonement!  "God will provide atonement for His land and His people."  All Old Testament atonement is nothing more than temporary COVERING of sins that then must be covered again by new sacrifices next year.  Moses prophecies that a Lamb will come that will provide a ONCE AND FOR ALL ATONEMENT by His Cross and by His resurrection. 

The Bible says that the angels sing this song.  I think we can sing it too.  One of the beautiful things about the ministry of the Holy Spirit is how He takes the things of Jesus and stirs them up in us.  May He stir up in us today the SONG OF MOSES:  The power of the Gospel to convert the nations -- the inevitable triumph of Christ in our lives -- the forgiveness and acceptance we find in Him.