An Old Song That Needs Singing!

"Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He." (Deuteronomy 32:2-4 NIV)

For those who believe God is not speaking to us today, read His Word. This first stanza of a song, sang by Moses just before his death is yet relevant. In fact the entire song is relevant, but too lengthy to re-write for my purposes--today. The stanzas following the focus passage remind the children of Israel of their wrong doing, how they have forgotten God and all He had done for them, what was going to happen to them, and they needed to turn back to Him. 

The message of the song is yet true, today--right now--for all who think they belong to God, yet will not obey and live according to His Word.

We look at the violence and foolishness of the world and complain, wondering why things are happening the way they are. We only have to look into God's Word to get understanding.  And within His Word, He has reminded us, "with all of our getting, get understanding." To say there is nothing new under the sun would be redundant since I've already expounded on that recently, but let me reiterate this one point. Nothing that happens in our universe is a surprise to God since He knows our nature and we--as human beings--have not changed.

We witness His greatness in going marvelous things for us and forget as quickly as He did it. We cry unto the Lord when things are going bad and we are in despair and He hears and delivers us--always making a way for us to do better and as soon as we get out of one rut, we create another when we turn away from Him--again.

How many times must we repeat the lesson in order to pass the test? From looking at this passage of the song, we will repeat the lesson until Jesus returns, since we don't have the wisdom or at least don't exercise the wisdom God has given us. We cannot live any way we want to live and expect God to bless us individually or as a nation. We cannot receive His blessings and then turn away from Him, expecting Him to overlook our contrary ways. Yes, we are saved by grace--the unmerited favor He showers us with, but His grace is not an excuse for us to live in opposition to His Word.

It is because of His grace that we should desire more than ever to want to please Him, living our lives in alignment with His Word--not in opposition to it. We--who Believe--know we cannot adhere to the dictates of mere mortals and turn away from God's Word for we know--He will avenge Himself and nations upon nations will see what He does--withholding His protection from an unbelieving, unworthy nation of people who dare to defy Him.

The prediction of what happens to rebellious people given then in this song is still relevant to those who refuse to turn back to God. Their end has been established--destruction by nations that were never intended to rule over those who Believe God. "It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them" (v. 35).

"Listen, you heavens, and I will speak; hear, you earth, the words of my mouth" (v.1) It's time we proclaim the name of the Lord and acknowledge that He does no wrong, but He will allow wrong to happen to us when we are living wrong lives. His works are perfect, even when we don't understand, He is still God--our God--who is wonderful in all His ways!