“… they are your life …”
Moses came with Joshua son of Nun and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people. 45 When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. 47 They are not just idle words for you–they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”
(Deuteronomy 32:44-47; NIV. Please read Deuteronomy 31-34.)
When Moses received the Law from the hand of God, he read it in the hearing of all the people. Now - at the end of his life - he reads it again. (I always thought that a good book title for Deuteronomy would be “The Echo from Sinai”.) He not only reads the Law, but he admonishes his people - God’s people … to love God and to love their neighbor … to remember that they were once slaves and to never forget the Lord, their God … to teach their children the words of God and to show their children the ways of God.
These are “not just idle words”. Do not treat these words like just any other “sermon” … they are “your life”. Crave them like milk and bread, when you are hungry … like light and heat, when you are lost … like life and glory, when you are dead.
ON SECOND THOUGHT: It seems significant to me that Moses sings his final words in a song. How many God-truths do we know - realize - remember, because we hear them in a song? What song speaks truths from God to your heart?
February 8, 2008 at 9:14 am
At different times in my life different songs have spoken to me in a significant way. But one song that has always remained in my heart is taken from Psalm 3 … Thou O Lord are a shield about me … you’re my glory … the lifter of my head.
I love the idea of Him being all around me … shielding me from all attackers. I also know the feeling I had when He lifted my head … and said “welcome home”. I could not look anyone in the eye because I was afraid they would see my hidden shame in them.
He lifted my head and looked … saw … and then shielded me so that I could rest and let Him heal me.
I want to always pass on what has been done for me … the words of life that have been given to me. I know others told them to me long ago … but I failed to hear … failed to take them to heart. I will do all I can to make sure that they are heard … if I have to lift their head and make them look at me … I will. After all … He did.
February 8, 2008 at 8:57 pm
When I was younger I loved to sing “It is well with my soul” I had never had sorrows like sea billows but I loved the song. When my sorrows were billowing, I was not right with God so things weren’t well with my soul and I decided that I didn’t like the song much. Now, I can barely sing it because my tears well up. (my sin…oh the bliss of this glorious thought…..) And of course you know my theme song is now “Step by Step” because I so need God to lead me.
There is a song that we sang when I was in chorus at LCU that is straight from Psalms 46 “God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in times of trouble. Therefore I will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea”. I love the thought….I love the song….but I love the Lord that gave me those words the most.
I have always been intrigued by the verses in chapter 34: “5 And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. 6 He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is.”