An Unbroken, Sure Covenant

Deuteronomy 33

Moses died in the land of Moab, on Mount Pisgah, and God buried him in the valley, “but no man knows his burial place to this day” (34:6). God showed him the whole land that the people were to conquer and possess in fulfillment of the promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (34:1–3). Before God showed him the land, He showed him the fall of the tribes into transgression. That was not the last word, however, for finally he spoke of the blessing that would come to each tribe in particular and the unshakeable security of salvation for the true Israel of God.

I. Despite powerful graces of revelation, covenantal promises, and earthly blessings connected with righteousness, rebellious hearts prevail (32:1–26).

A. Moses began his last message to Israel with an exaltation of the Lord (32:1–4).

1. 1. Moses reiterates that his leadership of Israel has been governed by revelation from God. He calls on both heaven and earth to hear what he speaks. None of the inhabitants of the heavens, angelic beings of every degree, nor any of the inhabitants of earth should doubt his words. It comes as a gift of divine operation just like dew and rain (32:1–3a). As God controls both dew and gentle showers, so He controls the words of Moses.
   2. Moses reminded the tribes of the infinite perfections of the God who chose and adopted them as His people. They should bear this in mind when they are tempted to align themselves with the so-called gods of the perverse nations they are called to eliminate. God is great in an absolute sense, there is no end to His Being and He has no parts, but all of Him is everywhere that He is—omnipresent, there is no being, no existence of any sort that is beyond His presence and His power. His work is perfect, flawless intricately adapted for the teleological operations of all things. He is just and injustice is defined by any departure from His word and His commands. He is faithful—never veering from His own character or His promises and threats. He is righteous, the way of moral uprightness depends entirely upon His intrinsic character which is immutable.

B. In a breathtaking rejection of their status as recipients of revelation and seeing demonstrations of the power and glory of God, the people will become unfaithful (32:5–43).

1. 1. In spite of His character and calling, these people have “acted corruptly” and shown themselves to be a perverse, crooked, foolish, and unwise people in spite of the blessings of His unique overtures to them (32:5, 6).
   2. Moses reminded these people of the great favors God had shown them. All the nations of the earth were apportioned places in light of God’s covenant intentions toward Israel (8) and then blessed the house of Jacob with abundance (9–14).
   3. Moses sees the coming unfaithfulness of Israel as if it were present (15–26). “Jeshuran grew fat and kicked” (15). The uprightness of Jacob was bent. This provokes God to “heap misfortunes on them” (23) and drove Him to the point of removing “the memory of them from men” (26).
   4. Should this occur, however, the pagans would taunt with confidence that “Our hand is triumphant,” and that the “Lord has given them up” (27–30).
   5. God will not, therefore, bring Israel to an end, but instead will manifest power in bringing judgment on pagan arrogance (31–43). As a God of vengeance against His enemies (35), God will “vindicate His people” (36). He brings the nations of Gentiles into the picture (43) as Moses announces an atonement for “His people.” This interaction between God’s covenantal love for Israel and the embracing of Gentiles in the work of atonement informs a major theme of Paul’s argument in Romans 9–11.

II. God maintains His saving purpose for a remnant (33:1–25).

A. God gave Moses particular messages for all of the tribes of Israel. Before that, he opened the door on a theological relationship between law and gospel.

1. 1. God’s glory was seen in the giving of the law. This revelation of the perfect law concerned the present worship and honoring of God with a time set aside for temporal rest to concentrate on the glory of eternal rest. A set of simple injunctions followed delineating the just and loving treatment of people, God’s image-bearers, These were given with frightening displays of God’s power and glory in the midst of thousands of unfallen angels (2). Because the law of creation written on the heart had been beclouded and progressively shunned because of the fall of Adam, this verbal revelation of the law was seen as a great blessing, a treasure of God’s favor toward Jacob (4).
   2. God also revealed His preserving power and special redeeming love toward His elect. He “loves the people,” those set apart particularly to Him, that is, foreknown, are in His hand, they follow Him, and they receive His words (3). Jesus has in mind this element of saving grace when He said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” “No one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” (John 10:27–29 NKJV). Paul makes these same points in contrasting those who do not receive the truth with those who are “beloved by the Lord,” who from the beginning were chosen to salvation. Their grace of election is manifested “through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” Paul goes on to emphasize the importance of reception of the words of revelation: “He called you by our gospel; … stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle” (2 Thessalonians 2:13–15). “Everyone,” Moses announced, “receives of your words” (3).

B. Moses gave descriptive and prophetic propositions about each of the tribes of Israel.

His words of Judah set a vision for the future redemptive work of Jesus, descended from Judah. “Hear, O Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him to his people. With his hands he contended for them, and may you be a help against his adversaries” (7). Other phrases throughout this section indicate the favor of God on each one and their zeal for Him: “Bless his substance, and accept the work of his hands” (11); “May the beloved of the Lord dwell in security by Him” (12); “Blessed of the Lord be his [Joseph’s] land, with the choice things of heaven”(13); “They will offer righteous sacrifices” (18); “He executed the justice of the Lord” (21); “satisfied with favor, and full of the blessing of the Lord” (23); “according to your days, so will your leisurely walk be” (25). These words show favor, stability, godly zeal, and holy knowledge of the Lord. This is not a picture of rebellion, perversity, wrath-provoking transgression, and rejection.

C. This is foundational to the language of Paul, “All Israel shall be saved,” (Romans 11:26).

In closing Galatians, Paul wrote, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:15, 16). All believers of all generations of every tribe, tongue, and nation are included in Moses’ blessings in the tribes of Israel. The Lion of Judah will save them.

III. God will triumph by saving, efficacious grace and preserve a remnant. Not only will the Lord defeat their enemies, He will operate efficaciously to save them (Verses 26–29).

A. God has exercised His sovereign power, His exalted place as the Lord of creation for the benefit of Jacob, Jeshuran, who formerly “grew fat and kicked” (26, 27).

This God who controls all nature and manifests His omnipotence in the heavens is the “dwelling place” of Jacob. Imagine, a safe, secure, and serene dwelling place so resident with benevolent power. The one who “rides the heavens” had secured an undisturbed place to live. These descendants of Jacob are supported by the “everlasting arms.” He engaged His authority and invincible power to destroy all enemies. Sin, Satan, and the grave have been overcome by both the justice and the grace of the Lord of Jacob.

B. Uninterrupted abundance is provided for Israel.

They are secure from external disturbance and prosperous in their daily lives. The description of a protected fountain, grain, new wine, the softness and vitality of dew from heaven duplicate the “leisurely walk” mentioned above. Nothing can disturb the security of the one who is safe in God’s love, in the perfect redemption of Christ, who is held in a place of security by the “everlasting arms,” and whose destiny is a heaven without sin and consisting of an unhindered view of the glory of God.

C. These are a people “saved by the Lord.” (29).

He is both shield to defend us and sword to protect us. Because omnipotence guards us and fights for us the enemies of the world, the flesh, and the devil must admit final defeat. The ground they sought to occupy, their high place from which they assumed advantage, will be sieged and won by those who are “a people saved by the Lord.” Moses sees by revelation the final security of those who are God’s covenant people, for the Jew first and also the Gentile.

POEM

Praise the greatness of our God
Whose works are perfect, always just.
He claims His people as his own,
Sustains them, though they are but dust.
In mercy He meets every need.

With foolish hearts they angered Him,
Abandoned Him who gave them birth,
Invented gods that are no gods,
And treasured idols of no worth.
Such perverse acts we can’t exceed.

Young men, young women steel their hearts,
Gray heads and cradles should be slain.
Another people hear my call,
Still Jacob’s children shall remain.
My covenant shall succeed.

Though Jeshuran became crooked
And deserved wholly to perish,
Yet the evil taunts of pagans,
Energized God’s oath to cherish
Jacob’s nation. So it’s decreed.

Enemies falter in due time.
Their foot shall slide, their gods shall fail.
“And I who wounded, I will heal
Each tribe of beloved Israel.”
Jeshuran Moses’ words shall lead.

The true Jeshuran finds its refuge
In the God whose grace will save.
Everlasting is His purpose
Shielding, conquering o’er the grave.
Invincible in every deed.