Moses offers a long song at the end of his address to the Israelites. It stands as ″a witness for [God] against″ the people about their rebellion against God (Deuteronomy 31:19). Like many hymns throughout history, this song aims to teach the people (32:2). In this case, Moses hopes to confront the people about their tendency to rebel and remind them of the horrors of disobedience.

Moses describes God with some of the most beautiful and edifying poetry in the Bible (vv. 1-4, 10-14). Sadly, these descriptions are a prelude to describing the people's rebellious response to God. God is utterly reliable, acting with perfect justice (v. 4). But in contrast, the people are utterly unreliable (v. 5). Today, Christians could also turn away from trusting in God, our ″Rock″ (v. 4). In looking for quick solutions to problems, some turn to astrologers and resort to dishonesty or devious schemes. But it is ″foolish and unwise″ to reject God, because He is the loving ″Father″ who cares for His children, and the sovereign ″Creator″ against whom His creatures are powerless (v. 6; see also Psalm 14:1).

Next, Moses presents a case for the wisdom of following God. He reminds them of their history (Deuteronomy 32:7), mentioning God's providence to the nations in general (v. 8) and His care for Israel in particular (vv. 8-9). He also offers another beautiful description of God's meticulous provision for the people (vv. 10-14). God cares for them as though they were the most precious part of His ″eye″, the pupil (″the apple″), and as an ″eagle″ would care for ″its young″.

Often Deuteronomy encourages us to learn from history. But it is easy to ignore the lessons of history. Moses foretells that despite being provided for by such a loving God, the people would rebel. God's abundant provision became a snare to them as they ″grew fat″ and unhealthy (v. 15). He refers to them as ″Jeshurun″, ″the upright one″, though they were anything but upright. The irony here makes a pointed statement about how far they had turned from their true calling and identity. Finding security in their wealth, they ″rejected the Rock their Saviour″ (v. 15). Similar arrogance lures many prosperous people today into the delusion of godless self-sufficiency.

However, the security they thought their wealth would give did not eradicate the nagging desire for protection by the divine. So, they chose ″false gods, which are not God″ (v. 17), who would not demand that they give up their sinful lifestyle. They assumed that these false gods would give them the security which only ″the Rock, who fathered″ them could give (v. 18).

Moses calls the people over and over again in Deuteronomy to remember their past deliverances and their chastisements for disobedience. While there's no guarantee that people will remember and be faithful, let's persevere in calling people to remember God's faithfulness and to remain faithful to Him. People may reject what we say, but when they see the folly of their ways, our words may be what God uses to get them back on track. That's what Moses intended this song to do.