I will publish the name of the Lord ; literally, I will call , i . e . proclaim , or celebrate , etc. Ascribe ye greatness unto our God. The hearers of the song are summoned to join in the celebration of the Divine majesty. The word rendered" greatness" occurs only in this book ( Deuteronomy 3:24 ; Deuteronomy 5:21 ; Deuteronomy 9:26 ; Deuteronomy 11:2 ), and in Psalms 150:2 . It is the greatness of God as the Almighty that is here celebrated. read more
God the Rock. (Cf. Deuteronomy 32:15 , Deuteronomy 32:18 , Deuteronomy 32:31 , Deuteronomy 32:37 .) This name for God occurs chiefly in this song of Moses, and in the compositions of David and of later psalmists. It was a name full of significance to those familiar with the desert. Rock—rock—rock—Israel had seen little else during the thirty-eight years of wandering. The older men could remember the seclusion and granitic sublimity of the rock sanctuary of Sinai. The congregation... read more
He is the Rock, his work is perfect; rather, The Rock! his work is perfect, i.e. blameless, without fault. God is called "the Rock" ( הַצוּר ), as the unchangeable Refuge and Stronghold of his people, by which they are sustained, and to which they can resort for defense and protection at all times. The epithet is applied to God four times besides in this song ( Deuteronomy 32:15 , Deuteronomy 32:18 , Deuteronomy 32:30 , Deuteronomy 32:31 ); it occurs also frequently in the Psalms... read more
God's righteousness and man's iniquity. The sin of man is only fully seen in contrast with God's righteousness and love. The light is needed to bring out the depth of the shadow. It reveals the "spot." I. GOD 'S FAVOR TO ISRAEL . God's dealings with Israel had been marked by: 1. Rectitude ( Deuteronomy 32:4 ). He had done everything that was just and right to them. His ways had been equal. He had given them just statutes. His covenant-keeping faithfulness had been... read more
Ungrateful men interrogated. In almost every clause of this paragraph there is some specific allusion, for the elucidation of which the reader will refer to the Exposition. The commentary of Dr. Jameson thereon is very valuable. Our aim is strictly homiletic. The central words around which the preacher's expository thoughts may gather are these—"Do ye thus requite the Lord?" Three main lines of illustration are suggested. I. HERE IS A REHEARSAL OF THE DIVINE LOVING - ... read more
Song of MosesIf Deuteronomy 32:1-3 be regarded as the introduction, and Deuteronomy 32:43 as the conclusion, the main contents of the song may be grouped under three heads, namely,(1) Deuteronomy 32:4-18, the faithfulness of God, the faithlessness of Israel;(2) Deuteronomy 32:19-33, the chastisement and the need of its infliction by God;(3) Deuteronomy 32:34-42, God’s compassion upon the low and humbled state of His people.The Song differs signally in diction and idiom from the preceding... read more
Deuteronomy 32:1. “This very sublime ode,” says Dr. Kennicott, “is distinguished even by the Jews, both in their manuscripts and printed copies, as being poetry. In our present translation it would appear to much greater advantage if it were printed hemistically: and the translation of some parts of it may be much improved.” We subjoin his translation of the following verses as a specimen. “1. Let the heavens give ear, and I will speak; and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. 2. My... read more
Deuteronomy 32:2. My doctrine shall drop as the rain As nothing is more grateful to the thirsty earth than gentle showers, so there cannot be any thing more acceptable to those who are desirous of knowing the divine will than the revelation of it. And as the dew and rain gently falling soften and refresh the earth, producing both verdure and fertility; so my doctrine, or the words I am going to speak, if received into people’s minds in faith and love, will cause them to grow in grace and... read more
Deuteronomy 32:3. I will publish the name of the Lord His glorious excellences and righteous actions, by which he hath made himself known as a man is known by his name, and by which it will appear both that there is no blame to be laid upon him whatsoever befalls you, and that it is gross madness to forsake such a God for dumb idols. Ascribe ye As I am about to publish the majesty and glory of God, so do you also acknowledge it. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:2
My doctrine shall drop as the rain. The Hebrew verb here and in Deuteronomy 33:28 is properly rendered by" drop;" it expresses the gentle falling of a genial shower or the soft distillation of dew. The clause is best taken imperatively, as it is by the LXX ; the Vulgate, and Onkelos: Let my doctrine drop as the rain , let my speech distil , etc. The point of comparison hero is not the quickening, fructifying, vivifying influence of the rain and dew, so much as the effective force... read more