Deuteronomio 32

1 Oíd, oh cielos, y dejadme hablar; y escuche la tierra las palabras de mi boca.

2 Caiga como la lluvia mi enseñanza, y destile como el rocío mi discurso, como llovizna sobre el verde prado y como aguacero sobre la hierba.

3 Porque yo proclamo el nombre del SEÑOR; atribuid grandeza a nuestro Dios.

4 ¡La Roca! Su obra es perfecta, porque todos sus caminos son justos; Dios de fidelidad y sin injusticia, justo y recto es El.

5 Corrompidamente se han portado con El. No son sus hijos, debido a la falta de ellos; sino una generación perversa y torcida.

6 ¿Así pagáis al SEÑOR, oh pueblo insensato e ignorante? ¿No es El tu padre que te compró? El te hizo y te estableció.

7 Acuérdate de los días de antaño; considera los años de todas las generaciones. Pregunta a tu padre, y él te lo hará saber; a tus ancianos, y ellos te lo dirán.

8 Cuando el Altísimo dio a las naciones su herencia, cuando separó los hijos del hombre, fijó los límites de los pueblos según el número de los hijos de Israel.

9 Pues la porción del SEÑOR es su pueblo; Jacob es la parte de su heredad.

10 Lo encontró en tierra desierta, en la horrenda soledad de un desierto; lo rodeó, cuidó de él, lo guardó como a la niña de sus ojos.

11 Como un águila que despierta su nidada, que revolotea sobre sus polluelos, extendió sus alas y los tomó, los llevó sobre su plumaje.

12 El SEÑOR solo lo guió, y con él no hubo dios extranjero.

13 Lo hizo cabalgar sobre las alturas de la tierra, y comió el producto del campo; le hizo gustar miel de la peña, y aceite del pedernal,

14 cuajada de vacas y leche de ovejas, con grosura de corderos, y carneros de raza de Basán y machos cabríos, con lo mejor del trigo; y de la sangre de uvas bebiste vino.

15 Pero Jesurún engordó y dio coces (has engordado, estás cebado y rollizo); entonces abandonó a Dios que lo hizo, y menospreció a la Roca de su salvación.

16 Le provocaron a celos con dioses extraños, con abominaciones le provocaron a ira.

17 Ofrecieron sacrificios a demonios, no a Dios, a dioses que no habían conocido, dioses nuevos que vinieron recientemente, a los que vuestros padres no temieron.

18 Despreciaste la Roca que te engendró, y olvidaste al Dios que te dio a luz.

19 Y el SEÑOR vio esto, y se llenó de ira a causa de la provocación de sus hijos y de sus hijas.

20 Entonces El dijo: "Esconderé de ellos mi rostro, veré cuál será su fin; porque son una generación perversa, hijos en los cuales no hay fidelidad.

21 "Ellos me han provocado a celo con lo que no es Dios; me han irritado con sus ídolos. Yo, pues, los provocaré a celos con los que no son un pueblo; los irritaré con una nación insensata,

22 porque fuego se ha encendido en mi ira, que quema hasta las profundidades del Seol , consume la tierra con su fruto, e incendia los fundamentos de los montes.

23 "Amontonaré calamidades sobre ellos, emplearé en ellos mis saetas.

24 "Serán debilitados por el hambre, y consumidos por la plaga y destrucción amarga; dientes de fieras enviaré sobre ellos, con veneno de serpientes que se arrastran en el polvo.

25 "Afuera traerá duelo la espada, y dentro el terror, tanto al joven como a la virgen, al niño de pecho como al hombre encanecido.

26 "Yo hubiera dicho: 'Los haré pedazos, borraré la memoria de ellos de entre los hombres',

27 si no hubiera temido la provocación del enemigo, no sea que entendieran mal sus adversarios, no sea que dijeran: 'Nuestra mano ha triunfado, y el SEÑOR no ha hecho todo esto.'"

28 Porque son una nación privada de consejo, y no hay en ellos inteligencia.

29 Ojalá que fueran sabios, que comprendieran esto, que discernieran su futuro.

30 ¿Cómo pudiera uno perseguir a mil, y dos hacer huir a diez mil, si su Roca no los hubiera vendido, y el SEÑOR no los hubiera entregado?

31 En verdad, su roca no es como nuestra Roca; aun nuestros mismos enemigos así lo juzgan.

32 Porque su vid es de la vid de Sodoma y de los campos de Gomorra; sus uvas son uvas venenosas, sus racimos, amargos.

33 Su vino es veneno de serpientes, y ponzoña mortal de cobras.

34 "¿No tengo yo esto guardado conmigo, sellado en mis tesoros?

35 "Mía es la venganza y la retribución; a su tiempo el pie de ellos resbalará, porque el día de su calamidad está cercano, ya se precipita lo que les está preparado."

36 Porque el SEÑOR vindicará a su pueblo y tendrá compasión de sus siervos, cuando vea que su fuerza se ha ido, y que nadie queda, ni siervo ni libre.

37 Dirá El entonces: "¿Dónde están sus dioses, la roca en que buscaban refugio,

38 los que comían la grosura de sus sacrificios, y bebían el vino de su libación? ¡Que se levanten y os ayuden! ¡Que sean ellos vuestro refugio!

39 "Ved ahora que yo, yo soy el Señor, y fuera de mí no hay dios. Yo hago morir y hago vivir. Yo hiero y yo sano, y no hay quien pueda librar de mi mano.

40 "Ciertamente, alzo a los cielos mi mano, y digo: Como que vivo yo para siempre,

41 cuando afile mi espada flameante y mi mano empuñe la justicia, me vengaré de mis adversarios y daré el pago a los que me aborrecen.

42 "Embriagaré mis saetas con sangre, y mi espada se hartará de carne, de sangre de muertos y cautivos, de los jefes de larga cabellera del enemigo."

43 Regocijaos, naciones, con su pueblo, porque El vengará la sangre de sus siervos; traerá venganza sobre sus adversarios, y hará expiación por su tierra y su pueblo.

44 Entonces llegó Moisés y habló todas las palabras de este cántico a oídos del pueblo, él, con Josué, hijo de Nun.

45 Cuando terminó Moisés de hablar todas estas palabras a todo Israel,

46 les dijo: Fijad en vuestro corazón todas las palabras con que os advierto hoy, las cuales ordenaréis a vuestros hijos que las obedezcan cuidadosamente, todas las palabras de esta ley.

47 Porque no es una palabra inútil para vosotros; ciertamente es vuestra vida. Por esta palabra prolongaréis vuestros días en la tierra adonde vosotros vais, cruzando el Jordán a fin de poseerla.

48 En aquel mismo día, habló el SEÑOR a Moisés, diciendo:

49 Sube a estos montes de Abarim, al monte Nebo, que está en la tierra de Moab frente a Jericó, y mira hacia la tierra de Canaán, la cual doy a los hijos de Israel en posesión.

50 Morirás en el monte al cual subes, y serás reunido a tu pueblo, así como murió tu hermano Aarón sobre el monte Hor, y fue reunido a su pueblo;

51 porque me fuisteis infieles en medio de los hijos de Israel en las aguas de Meriba de Cades, en el desierto de Zin, porque no me santificasteis en medio de los hijos de Israel.

52 Por tanto, sólo de lejos verás la tierra, pero allí no entrarás, a la tierra que doy a los hijos de Israel.

Deuteronomio 32 Commentary

Chapter 32

The song of Moses. (1,2) The character of God, The character of Israel. (3-6) The great things God had done for Israel. (7-14) The wickedness of Israel. (19-25) The judgments which would come upon them for their sins. (15-18) Deserved vengeance withheld. (26-38) God's deliverance for his people. (39-43) The exhortation with which the song was delivered. (44-47) Moses to go up mount Nebo to die. (48-52)

Verses 1-2 Moses begins with a solemn appeal to heaven and earth, concerning the truth and importance of what he was about to say. His doctrine is the gospel, the speech of God, the doctrine of Christ; the doctrine of grace and mercy through him, and of life and salvation by him.

Verses 3-6 "He is a Rock." This is the first time God is called so in Scripture. The expression denotes that the Divine power, faithfulness, and love, as revealed in Christ and the gospel, form a foundation which cannot be changed or moved, on which we may build our hopes of happiness. And under his protection we may find refuge from all our enemies, and in all our troubles; as the rocks in those countries sheltered from the burning rays of the sun, and from tempests, or were fortresses from the enemy. "His work is perfect:" that of redemption and salvation, in which there is a display of all the Divine perfection, complete in all its parts. All God's dealings with his creatures are regulated by wisdom which cannot err, and perfect justice. He is indeed just and right; he takes care that none shall lose by him. A high charge is exhibited against Israel. Even God's children have their spots, while in this imperfect state; for if we say we have no sin, no spot, we deceive ourselves. But the sin of Israel was not habitual, notorious, unrepented sin; which is a certain mark of the children of Satan. They were fools to forsake their mercies for lying vanities. All wilful sinners, especially sinners in Israel, are unwise and ungrateful.

Verses 7-14 Moses gives particular instances of God's kindness and concern for them. The eagle's care for her young is a beautiful emblem of Christ's love, who came between Divine justice and our guilty souls, and bare our sins in his own body on the tree. And by the preached gospel, and the influences of the Holy Spirit, He stirs up and prevails upon sinners to leave Satan's bondage. ( deuteronomy 32:13-14 ) their spiritual enemies, sin, Satan, and the world, in and through Christ. Also of their safety and triumph in him; of their happy frames of soul, when they are above the world, and the things of it. This will be the blessed case of spiritual Israel in every sense in the latter day.

Verses 15-18 Here are two instances of the wickedness of Israel, each was apostacy from God. These people were called Jeshurun, "an upright people," so some; "a seeing people," so others: but they soon lost the reputation both of their knowledge and of their righteousness. They indulged their appetites, as if they had nothing to do but to make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts of it. Those who make a god of themselves, and a god of their bellies, in pride and wantonness, and cannot bear to be told of it, thereby forsake God, and show they esteem him lightly. There is but one way of a sinner's acceptance and sanctification, however different modes of irreligion, or false religion, may show that favourable regard for other ways, which is often miscalled candid. How mad are idolaters, who forsake the Rock of salvation, to run themselves upon the rock of perdition!

Verses 19-25 The revolt of Israel was described in the foregoing verses, and here follow the resolves of Divine justice as to them. We deceive ourselves, if we think that God will be mocked by a faithless people. Sin makes us hateful in the sight of the holy God. See what mischief sin does, and reckon those to be fools that mock at it.

Verses 26-38 The idolatry and rebellions of Israel deserved, and the justice of God seemed to demand, that they should be rooted out. But He spared Israel, and continues them still to be living witnesses of the truth of the Bible, and to silence unbelievers. They are preserved for wise and holy purposes and the prophecies give us some idea what those purposes are. The Lord will never disgrace the throne of his glory. It is great wisdom, and will help much to the return of sinners to God, seriously to consider their latter end, or the future state. It is here meant particularly of what God foretold by Moses, about this people in the latter days; but it may be applied generally. Oh that men would consider the happiness they will lose, and the misery they will certainly plunge into, if they go on in their trespasses! What will be in the end thereof? ( Jeremiah 5:31 ) . For the Lord will in due time bring down the enemies of the church, in displeasure against their wickedness. When sinners deem themselves most secure, they suddenly fall into destruction. And God's time to appear for the deliverance of his people, is when things are at the worst with them. But those who trust to any rock but God, will find it fail them when they most need it. The rejection of the Messiah by the Jewish nation, is the continuance of their ancient idolatry, apostacy, and rebellion. They shall be brought to humble themselves before the Lord, to repent of their sins, and to trust in their long-rejected Mediator for salvation. Then he will deliver them, and make their prosperity great.

Verses 39-43 This conclusion of the song speaks, 1. Glory to God. No escape can be made from his power. 2. It speaks terror to his enemies. Terror indeed to those who hate him. The wrath of God is here revealed from heaven against them. 3. It speaks comfort to his own people. The song concludes with words of joy. Whatever judgments are brought upon sinners, it shall go well with the people of God.

Verses 44-47 Here is the solemn delivery of this song to Israel, with a charge to mind all the good words Moses had said unto them. It is not a trifle, but a matter of life and death: mind it, and you are made for ever; neglect it, and you are for ever undone. Oh that men were fully persuaded that religion is their life, even the life of their souls!

Verses 48-52 Now Moses had done his work, why should he desire to live a day longer? God reminds him of the sin of which he had been guilty, for which he was kept from entering Canaan. It is good for the best of men to die repenting the infirmities of which they are conscious. But those may die with comfort and ease, whenever God calls for them, notwithstanding the sins they remember against themselves, who have a believing prospect, and a well-grounded hope of eternal life beyond death.

Footnotes

• [a]. I.e., Israel
• [b]. I.e., regin de los muertos

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 32

This chapter contains the song mentioned and referred to in the former, the preface to it, De 32:1-3; the character of the divine and illustrious Person it chiefly respects, De 32:4; the ingratitude of the people of the Jews to him, who were a crooked and perverse generation, aggravated by his having bought, made, and established them, De 32:5,6; and which is further aggravated by various instances of divine goodness to them, first in providing and reserving a suitable country for them, at the time of the division of the earth to the sons of men, with the reason of it, De 32:7-9; then by what the Lord did for them in the wilderness, De 32:10-12; after that in the land of Canaan, where they enjoyed plenty of all good things, and in the possession of which they were, when the illustrious Person described appeared among them, De 32:13,14; and then the sin of ingratitude to him, before hinted at, is fully expressed, namely, lightly esteeming the rock of salvation, the Messiah, De 32:15; nor could they stop here, but proceed to more ungodliness, setting up other messiahs and saviours, which were an abomination to the Lord, De 32:16; continuing sacrifices when they should not, which were therefore reckoned no other than sacrifices to demons, and especially the setting up of their new idol, their own righteousness, was highly provoking; and by all this they clearly showed they had forgot the rock, the Saviour, De 32:17,18; wherefore, for the rejection of the Messiah and the, persecution of his followers, they would be abhorred of God, De 32:19; who would show his resentment by the rejection of them, by the calling of the Gentiles, and by bringing the nation of the Romans upon them, De 32:20,21; whereby utter ruin and destruction in all its shapes would be brought upon them, De 32:22-25; and, were it not for the insolence of their adversaries, would be entirely destroyed, being such a foolish and unwise people, which appears by not observing what the enemies of the Messiah themselves allow, that there is no rock like him, whom they despised, De 32:26-31; which enemies are described, and the vengeance reserved for them pointed out, De 32:32-35; and the song closed with promises of grace and mercy to the Lord's people, and wrath and ruin to his and their enemies, on which account all are called upon to rejoice in the latter day, De 32:36-43; and this song being delivered by Moses, the people of Israel are exhorted seriously to attend to it, it being of the utmost importance to them, De 32:44-47; and the chapter is concluded with a relation of Moses being ordered to go up to Mount Nebo and die, with the reason of it, De 32:48-52.