Deuteronomy 31:14-29 - Stiff-Necked Rebellion

Deuteronomy 31:14-29

Prediction of Israel’s Rebellion

14 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, the days approach when you must die; call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of meeting, that I may inaugurate him.”

So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tabernacle of meeting. 15 Now the LORD appeared at the tabernacle in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood above the door of the tabernacle.

16 And the LORD said to Moses: “Behold, you will rest with your fathers; and this people will rise and play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them. 17 Then My anger shall be aroused against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them, and they shall be devoured. And many evils and troubles shall befall them, so that they will say in that day, Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?’ 18 And I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they have done, in that they have turned to other gods.

19 “Now therefore, write down this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel. 20 When I have brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey, of which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and filled themselves and grown fat, then they will turn to other gods and serve them; and they will provoke Me and break My covenant. 21 Then it shall be, when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify against them as a witness; for it will not be forgotten in the mouths of their descendants, for I know the inclination of their behavior today, even before I have brought them to the land of which I swore to give them.”

22 Therefore Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the children of Israel. 23 Then He inaugurated Joshua the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land of which I swore to them, and I will be with you.”

24 So it was, when Moses had completed writing the words of this law in a book, when they were finished, 25 that Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying: 26 “Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there as a witness against you; 27 for I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the LORD, then how much more after my death? 28 Gather to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them. 29 For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands.”

After Moses heard of his imminent demise and inaugurated Joshua as general over the armies (Exodus 12:41) of the LORD, Moses was taught a song of remembrance and witness of God’s promises which he in turn taught the children of God to pass down through the generations as a reminder of His faithfulness.  As he and Joshua met the LORD in the pillar of fire and cloud in the meeting place, they heard how the people would enter the land promised to them through faithful father Abraham (Galatians 3:6, 9) as are we in the perfect sense of the heavenly one by the same trust in the promise of God.  They also heard how the people would turn away to dead gods of stone and wood and indulge in the immorality of the ungodly of that land.  The people would be held accountable to God for turning away from Him as He would also continue to call them to turn back (repent) for mercy and forgiveness.  This song was given to them, therefore, that they would have no excuse if they did not heed the message they mouthed to music along the way.  It would testify of their coming rebellion so they would be without excuse (Romans 1:20) in spite of His grace seen all around them as He led them into the promised land of plenty to give them His best.  Those now who likewise count the gospel as nothing and rebel against the word of the Lord in disbelief and disobedience (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9) will also be reminded in word and song of their rebellion in rejecting Him and be kept from the promised land to come.  Jesus warned of the consequences to the people of Israel who rejected with stiff necked rebellion to His gospel word and of the eternal results of not hearing and heeding the warnings and not wanting the promises.  To we who do hear and heed as Joshua did, we are comforted and encouraged to stay strong and courageous that we may stand firm to fight the good fight of the gospel by the sword of the Lord (which is the gospel of Jesus Christ) and the helmet of our certain salvation with protective armor (Ephesians 6:11, 13, 19) to repel the enemy and lead the lost into the promised heavenly land.  He has promised to be with (Joshua 1:9, Matthew 28:19-20) us as with Joshua in the words of this passage.  His written words are our warning and certain (Hebrews 6:11, 19, 1 Peter 1:3, 13) hope as we wage (2 Timothy 4:7) spiritual war on the souls of men and women under the sway of the adversary.