The fate of the people on the land promised to them by God depends on their spiritual condition. That is the main message of the hymn we find in the closing part of the Book of Deuteronomy...
The fate of the people on the land promised to them by God depends on their spiritual condition. That is the main message of the hymn we find in the closing part of the Book of Deuteronomy. If the external events of Jewish history always reflected the spiritual condition of the people, they would have lost their land very quickly, which is exactly what the hymn says.
Here we hear a truth well known to us from the New Testament books, and known to the Jews even before the coming of Christ: fallen man, by definition, deserves nothing good. This is not because he must necessarily be punished for sins, but because he is not capable of earning anything. To earn something, one must serve, serve God, and serve Him as He should be served. In other words, one must do what no one in the fallen state can do or knows how to do, and often, deep in the heart, does not especially want to do, although few believers are ready to admit this to themselves.
The people of God are no exception. They are God's people not by virtue of any national characteristics, not because the laws of the fallen world do not apply to them, but because God has a special plan for them, which God carries out despite all obstacles. If the people can remain on their land for any length of time, it is only because God is working with them on that land, trying to make them into the communal people He intended. Without this work, the catastrophe known as the Babylonian captivity could have happened much earlier.
God does not punish the people for their sins; the people punish themselves by coming face to face with the consequences of their choices and their actions. God, on the contrary, slows the arrival of those consequences as much as possible, but only to the extent that such slowing fits into His own plans. In the end the moment will come when the formation of the people as a community will require the people to meet the consequences of their spiritual choice face to face, and then catastrophe will break out.
For now, at the time the hymn mentioned above was written, alternatives are still possible. The catastrophe could perhaps still be avoided altogether, but of course only on the condition of focused and consistent spiritual work, which is what the Book of Deuteronomy, and the whole Torah with it, speaks about.
32 The song of Moses contains the preface, Deu 32:1-2.
A high character of God, Deu 32:3-6.
A recital of the great things God had done for them, and as their carriage toward him, Deu 32:7-18.
A prediction of judgments for their aggravated impieties, Deu 32:19-35.
A promise of vengeance upon their enemies, and deliverance for a remnant, Deu 32:36-43.
An exhortation annext, Deu 32:44-47.
Orders given to Moses, to go up to the mount and die, Deu 32:48-52.
32:27 The wrath - Their rage against me, as it is expressed, Isa 37:28-29, their furious reproaches against my name, as if I werecruel to my people or unable to deliver them. The fear hereof is ascribed to God after the manner of men. Strangely - Insolenty and arrogantly above what they used to do.
32:28 Void of counsel - Their enemies are foolish people, and therefore make so false and foolish a judgment upon things.
32:29 They - Israel. Latter end - What their end will be, and that tho' God spare them long, yet at last judgment will certainly overtake them.
32:30 One - Israelite. Their rock - Their God, who was their refuge and defence. Sold them - Namely, for bond - slaves, had given themselves up into their enemies hands. Shut them up - As it were in the net which their enemies had laid for them.
32:31 Being judges - Who by their dear bought experience have been forced to acknowledge that our God was far stronger than they and their false gods together.
32:32 For - As if he had said, This is the reason why their rock hath shut them up. Their vine is of the vine of Sodom - The people of Israel, which I planted as a choice vine, are now degenerated and become like the vine of Sodom, their principles and practices are all corrupt and abominable. Bitter - Their fruits are loathsome to me, mischievous to others, and at last will be pernicious to themselves.
32:34 This - All their wickedness mentioned before. My long suffering towards them may make them think I have forgotten their sins, but I remember them punctually, they are sealed up as in a bag, Job 14:17, and as men seal up their treasures.
32:35 Their feet shall slide - They who now think they stand fast and unmoveable, shall fall into utter destruction. In due time - Though not so soon as some may expect, yet in that time when it shall be most proper, when they have filled up the measure of their sins. At hand - Heb.is near. So the scripture often speaks of those things which are at many hundred years distance, to signify, that though they may be afar off as to our measures of time, yet in God's account they are near, they are as near as may be, when the measure of their sins is once full, the judgment shall not be deferred.
32:36 For - Or, nevertheless, having spoken of the dreadful calamity which would come upon his people, he now turns his discourse into a more comfortable strain, and begins to shew that after God had sorely chastised his people, he would have mercy upon them and turn their captivity. Judge his people - Shall plead their cause, shall protect and deliver them. Repent - Of the evils he hath brought upon them. None shut up - Either in their strong cities or castles or other hiding places, or in the enemies hands or prisons, whence there might be some hope or possibility of redemption; and none left, as the poor and contemptible people are neglected and usually left by the conquerors in the conquered land, but all seem to be cut off and destroyed.
32:37 He shall say - The Lord, before he deliver his people, will first convince them of their former folly in forsaking him and following idols.
32:38 Which did eat - That is, to whom you offered sacrifices and oblations after the manner of the Gentiles. Help you - If they can.
32:39 See now - Learn by your own sad experience what vain and impotent things idols are. I am he - The only true, omnipotent and irresistible God.
32:40 I lift up my hand - I solemnly swear, that I will do what here follows. I live - As sure as I live.
32:41 If I whet my sword - If once I begin to prepare for war and for the execution of my sentence. Judgment - Of the instruments of judgment, of the weapons of war. A metaphor from warriors, that take their weapons into their hand, when they intend to fight.
32:42 Captives - Whom my sword hath sorely wounded, though not utterly killed. From the beginning - When once I begin to revenge myself and my people upon mine and their enemies, I will go on and make a full end.
32:43 Rejoice - He calls upon the nations to rejoice and bless God for his favours, and especially for the last wonderful deliverance which shall be given to the Jews, when they shall be converted to the gospel in the last days; which they have all reason to do, because of that singular advantage which all nations will have at that time and upon that occasion.
32:44 He and Hoshea - Or Joshua. Probably Moses spoke it to as many as could hear him, while Joshua in another assembly at the same time delivered it to as many as his voice would reach. Thus Joshua, as well as Moses, would be a witness against them, if ever they forsook God.
32:47 Not vain - It is not an unprofitable or contemptible work I advise you to, but well worthy of your most serious care.
32:48 That self - same day - Now he had finished his work, why should he desire to live a day longer? He had indeed formerly desired and prayed, that he might go over Jordan: but now he is entirely satisfied, and saith no more of that matter.
32:49 Nebo - A ridge or top of the mountains of Abarim.
32:51 Because ye trespassed - God reminds him of the sin he had committed long before. It is good for the holiest of men to die repenting, even of their early sins.
32:52 Yet thou shalt see the land - And see it as the earnest of that better country, which is only seen with the eye of faith. What is death to him who has a believing prospect and a steadfast hope of eternal life?