Deuteronomy 32

If God—the Rock—had been with the Israelites, He would have overcome the god—the rock—of their enemies (verse 31). The vine (origin) of their enemies came from the evil cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which God had utterly destroyed (Genesis 19:24–25).

34–38 But God has kept this in reserve (verse 34)—that is, He has kept the wicked acts of Israel’s enemies (verses 32–33) “in reserve,” sealed in His vaults. God has kept an exact historical record of all man’s wickedness. In due time He will avenge their evil deeds⁸⁹ (verse 35).

At the same time, God will judge His own people—that is, He will judge them fairly⁹⁰ (verse 36). God’s judgment is always true and fair. When God sees that the Israelites’ strength is gone, He will temper His judgment with compassion.

In verses 37–38, God chides His people for taking refuge in false gods. “Let them rise up to help you—if they can,” God tells the Israelites.

39–42 Here God reminds the Israelites that He alone is God. He alone has the ultimate power to give life and to take it; He alone can truly heal the wounds He has inflicted on His people. And He alone will take final vengeance on His enemies (verses 41–42). God indeed uses enemy nations to justly punish His own people for their misdeeds, but in the end those same enemies will be punished for their wickedness.

43 In this verse, God concludes His song with a note of hope and rejoicing. In the end, God will vindicate His people; He will make atonement for His land and people. God, after having punished His people in exile, will then restore them to their land. Their punishment, their suffering and their repentance will in effect make atonement for their terrible sin of forsaking God. And as the Israelites are restored to their land, their enemies will be destroyed.

This verse speaks primarily of the Israelites’ return to the land after their exile (see Deuteronomy 30:1–5). However, it also looks ahead to the coming of Christ. God put Christ to death and brought Him to life; He wounded Him and then healed Him (verse 39). And through faith in Christ we too, who were once dead in our transgressions and sins, have been made alive with Christ and have been seated . . . with him in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:1,4–6). Through Christ’s death God has made atonement for our sins, and through Christ’s resurrection He has brought us into His heavenly kingdom. Rejoice, O nations!⁹¹ God has saved His people—not only the believing Israelites but believers in Christ as well.

44–47 After reciting the words of this song, Moses admonished the Israelites to take to heart all the words he had spoken to them—that is, the words in the book of Deuteronomy, also called all the words of this law (verse 46). Moses said: “They . . . are your life” (verse 47). Not only was God their life but also His words gave life. God’s words showed the Israelites how they could keep His covenant and thereby obtain long life, abundant life, and ultimately eternal life (see Deuteronomy 30:15–16,19–20 and comment). Such words indeed need to be “taken to heart” and obeyed with all one’s heart and soul.

Moses to Die on Mount Nebo (32:48–52)

48–52 See Numbers 27:12–14 and comment.