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APRIL 5
DAY 4: How is God characterized in the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32?
The Song of Moses is a call to Israel to always “ascribe greatness to our God” (v. 3). This com-
mand refers to the greatness of God revealed in His acts of omnipotence. Read through the song
and note the descriptions of God.
“The Rock” (v. 4).This word, representing the stability and permanence of God, was placed at
the beginning of the verse for emphasis and was followed by a series of phrases which elaborated
the attributes of God as the Rock of Israel. It is one of the principle themes in this song (see vv.
15,18,30,31),stressing the unchanging nature of God in contrast with the fickle nature of the people.
“Your Father” (v. 6).The foolishness and stupidity of Israel would be seen in the fact that they
would rebel against God who as a Father had brought them forth and formed them into a nation.
As Father, He was the progenitor and originator of the nation and the One who had matured and
sustained it.This idea of God as Father of the nation is emphasized in the Old Testament (see 1 Chr.
29:10; Is. 63:16; 64:8; Mal. 2:10) while the idea of God as Father of individual believers is developed
in the New Testament (see Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6).
“The Most High” (vv. 8,9).This title for God emphasized His sovereignty and authority over all
the nations (see Gen. 11:9; 10:32; 14:18; Num. 24:16) with the amazing revelation that, in the whole
plan for the world, God had as His goal the salvation of His chosen people. God ordained a plan
where the number of nations (70, according to Gen. 10) corresponded to the number of the chil-
dren of Israel (70, according to Gen. 46:27). Further, as God gave the nations their lands, He estab-
lished their boundaries, leaving Israel enough land to sustain their expected population.
“Hovers over its young”(v.11).The Lord exercised His loving care for Israel like an eagle caring
for its young, especially as they were taught to fly.As they began to fly and had little strength, they
would start to fall.At that point, an eagle would stop their fall by spreading its wings so they could
land on them. So the Lord has carried Israel and not let the nation fall. He has been training Israel
to fly on His wings of love and omnipotence.

April 5
33:5 King in Jeshurun. Since Moses is
nowhere else in Scripture referred to as king,
Deuteronomy 33:1–34:12 most interpret this as a reference to the Lord as King
over Israel. However, Moses is the closest
Now this is the blessing with which antecedent of the pronoun “he” in this clause,
33 Moses the man of God blessed the and the most natural understanding is that
children of Israel before his death. And he Moses is being referred to as a king.Moses cer-
2
said: tainly exercised kingly authority over Israel
and could be viewed as a prototype of the
“The LORD came from Sinai, coming King. Thus, united in the figure of
And dawned on them from Seir; Moses, the coming Prophet like unto Moses
He shone forth from Mount Paran, (18:15) would be the Prophet-King.
And He came with ten thousands of
saints;
From His right hand 7 And this he said of Judah:
Came a fiery law for them.
3 Yes, He loves the people; “Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah,
And bring him to his people;
All His saints are in Your hand; Let his hands be sufficient for him,
They sit down at Your feet; And may You be a help against his
Everyone receives Your words.
4 Moses commanded a law for us, enemies.”
A heritage of the congregation 8 And of Levi he said:
of Jacob.
5 And He was King in Jeshurun, “Let Your Thummim and Your Urim be
with Your holy one,
When the leaders of the people were Whom You tested at Massah,
gathered,
All the tribes of Israel together. And with whom You contended at the
waters of Meribah,
6 “Let Reuben live, and not die, 9 Who says of his father and mother,
Nor let his men be few.” ‘I have not seen them’;

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