Purpose of the Song
One of the keys to
understanding this song is to remember from the last chapter that this song is about
reminding the Hebrew people of their sinfulness. Before I begin, I want to remind us of the
lesson we learned back in chapter 28 about the blessings and curses. Human beings are moved more by
representations of their failures than they are moved by the glory of God. It shouldn’t be that way, but it is. That’s why there are almost four times as
many curses as blessings in chapter 28 and that’s why this song has a much more
negative bent than a positive one. God
knows the truth about human beings.
God
We begin with list of
attributes that God displays.
- He is perfect.
- He is just.
- He is faithful.
Creation: Mankind
Then we see a
commentary on mankind – specifically God’s chosen people.
- They deal corruptly with God.
- They are crooked.
- They are blemished.
- They are twisted.
Just look at that
list there for a second. Yes, I realize
that this list is talking about the generation that came out of Egypt, not the
generation that was going into the Promised Land. But compare those two lists. It’s pretty “night and day” if you ask me.
God’s Work
Now let’s look at
God’s works found in verses 7-14.
- He found them in a desert land.
- He cared for them.
- He kept them.
- He brought them out of their trouble.
- He guided them.
- He gave them food to eat.
- He caused them to be in the high places of the land.
Response to God’s Work
Now let’s look at how
the people reacted to God’s action as found in verses 15-18.
- They kicked.
- They rebelled.
- They forsook God.
- They scoffed at God.
- They sought false gods and other abominations.
- They were unmindful about God and they forgot about Him.
The Point?
I could go on quite a
bit here, but I think God’s point through Moses is pretty clear. God has some reasons to be praised. God has quite a bit of reasons to be praised,
in fact! God has qualities we should
pursue. God has qualities that we should
long for and desire for Him to display through us. There is good reason for us to follow God and
be imitators of Him.
Yet, the wicked do
not see it that way. The wicked only see
their own ways and their own desires.
Rather than longing for God’s righteousness, they lust after the gods of
their own heart. Rather than thirsting for God’s perfection, they twist their
ways to reap their own benefit. Rather
than walking straightly, truly, and justly as God desires, the wicked are
crooked and expose their blemishes.
Rather than confessing their blemishes and repenting, the wicked expose
their blemishes in spite of their true desire to cover them up.
Like those Hebrews
who came into the Promised Land, we have a choice. Are we God’s people? Do we long for His ways and His
character? Or are we like the wicked
generation we take too much comfort in the title of “God’s People” but who
really are not God’s people because our actions show that we lust after the
things of our own heart?
The Lesson
Now we see the power
of lifting up the mistakes of the past.
Just like the long list of curses in Deuteronomy 28, reviewing the
deceit of past generations emphasizes the choice we have before us. Knowing the past helps us from repeating it
in the future, no? So what will it be? Follow God or follow the wicked generation of
Hebrew people who died in the wilderness because they refused to do anything
but pursue the lust found in their own hearts?
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