trusted online casino malaysia
Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.
The Scriptorium

Moses' Witness to the Lord

Moses is never far from the grace and greatness of God. Deuteronomy 33.1-4

The Final Works of Moses: Deuteronomy 33, 34 (1)

Opening Prayer: Deuteronomy 32.3, 4
For I proclaim the name of the LORD:
Ascribe greatness to our God.
He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
For all His ways are justice,
A God of truth and without injustice;
Righteous and upright is He.

Sing Deuteronomy 32.3, 4

(Sagina: And Can It Be)
He is the Rock, His work is sure, and justice defines His every Word:
A God of truth, upright and pure, both just and righteous is our Lord!
Perfect is He in all His ways, without injustice, deserving praise!
Refrain, v. 3
I will proclaim our Savior’s fame, and sing the greatness of His Name.

Today’s Text: Deuteronomy 33.1-4

Preparation
1. How does Moses present God in these verses?

2. How does he present the people of God?

Meditation
Moses is an example for all of us. He served the Lord faithfully all his days, from the time the Lord first called Him to the day of his death. He had some missteps along the way; but overall, Moses was a great man of God.

The final works of Moses are three. First among them is to remind the people, yet again, of the greatness and grace of God. Moses is getting ready to extend a blessing over each of the tribes of Israel. He wants them to understand that these blessings come from the Lord, Who holds them in His hand (v. 3) and has given them His holy and righteous and good Law (v. 2, cf. Rom. 7.12). Moses is “the man of God” – His spokesman and, in many ways, the very embodiment of His Presence. The people should have cherished and fed on his every word.

Moses reminds the people that God came to them, for them, and with a great gift to bestow upon them (vv. 2, 3). The Law of God was intended as a heritage for every generation (v. 4). Like an heirloom to cherish, a tradition to honor, an inheritance to pass on, and a reliable resource for daily living, the Law of God was God’s great gift to His people (v. 4). He gave it to His people as their King, to express His desire for them, hold out His promises of blessing, show them how they must live, and warn them of disobedience.

The first of Moses’ last works is therefore to bear witness to God and remind the people of what He had done to bring them to Himself and gather them in His hands. We, the people of God today, must remember that our relationship with Him includes this precious calling and gift as well.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Ho-hum. That’s how many believers today view the words of Moses and the Word of God. Most assuredly to our great chagrin. “From His right hand came a fiery law for them” (vs. 2). Fiery. Burning. All-consuming. Not futile. Life-giving (Deut. 32.47). These words are serious business. If sin – breaking any one of the Ten Commandments – was not a human proclivity, God would not have bothered to warn against it. He knows our weaknesses. He has nailed succinctly all the areas He knew would tempt us. He made us. He knows us. “Yes, He loves the people…” (vs. 3) And because of this love He leads us in the right paths. He tells us how to please Him. He gives us the power to do it through the Holy Spirit. Then He says, “Gather My saints together to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice” (Psalm 50.5). “…present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12.1, 2). And there we are: covenant-keepers. Definitely not ho-hum.

Reflection
1. What does it mean to regard the Law of God as a “gift” to us, His people?

2. What is the source of our “human proclivity” to turn from God to sin? How can we guard against this? How can God’s Law help in guarding against this proclivity?

3. God was “King in Jeshurun”, ruling according to His Law. Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. Meditate on Matthew 5.17-19. By what Law does He rule all things?

The elect are called God’s right hand. For at God’s right hand there is a fiery law, because by no means do the elect hear the heavenly commands with cold hearts but flame up at these commands like torches of inner love. The word comes to their ears, and their minds burn with the flame of inner sweetness.
Paterius (6th century), Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, Deuteronomy 26

Thank You, Lord, for taking me into Your hands, so that I…

Closing Prayer: Deuteronomy 32.1-4
Praise God for His greatness, and for the love He shows you every day through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sing Deuteronomy 32.1-4
(Sagina: And Can It Be)
Give ear, O heav’ns, I will proclaim, and hear, O earth the words I tell:
Let now my teaching drop as rain, my speech as morning dew distill,
as show’rs that fall on thirsty grass, and rain on tender herbs at last:
Refrain, v. 3
I will proclaim our Savior’s fame, and sing the greatness of His Name.

He is the Rock, His work is sure, and justice defines His every Word:
A God of truth, upright and pure, both just and righteous is our Lord!
Perfect is He in all His ways, without injustice, deserving praise!
Refrain, v. 3

T. M. and Susie Moore

Listen to our summary of last week’s study in Deuteronomy by clicking here. You can download all the studies in the series by clicking here.

If you find Scriptorium helpful in your walk with the Lord, please seek the Lord, asking Him whether you should contribute to the support of this daily ministry with your financial gifts. As the Lord leads, you can use the Contribute button at the website to give with a credit card or through PayPal, or you can send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 360 Zephyr Road, Williston, VT 05495.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy: Ancient Christian Commentary Series III, Joseph T. Lienhard, S. J. ed. in collaboration with Ronnie J. Rombs, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001). All quotations from John Calvin from John Calvin, Commentaries on The Four Last Books of Moses Arranged in the Order of A Harmony, Rev. Charles William Bingham M. A., tr. and ed. (Edinburgh: The Calvin Translation Society, 1863. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

Subscribe to Ailbe Newsletters

Sign up to receive our email newsletters and read columns about revival, renewal, and awakening built upon prayer, sharing, and mutual edification.