Deuteronômio 31

Deuteronômio 31

Spurgeon reminds us that "Behold is a word of wonder; it is intended to excite admiration. Wherever you see it hung out in Scripture, it is like an ancient sign-board, signifying that there are rich wares within, or like the hands which solid readers have observed in the margin of the older Puritanic books, drawing attention to something particularly worthy of observation." I would add, behold is like a divine highlighter, a divine underlining of an especially striking or important text. It says in effect "Listen up, all ye who would be wise in the ways of Jehovah!" Hinneh is translated in the Septuagint with the interjection idou (strictly speaking a command in the second person aorist imperative, middle voice) a demonstrative particle (used 1377 times in the Septuagint and NT) which is found especially in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke "and giving a peculiar vivacity to the style by bidding the reader or hearer to attend to what is said: "Behold! See! Lo!" (Thayer) The command is calling for urgent attention. Do this now! Don't delay! It could be loosely paraphrased "Pay attention!" or "Listen up!" to arouse attention and introduce a new and extraordinary fact of considerable importance. Moses had previously alluded to Israel's apostasy (see Dt 4:25-31+ = "you will surely perish quickly from the land where you are going over the Jordan to possess it", Dt 7:1-4+ "He will quickly destroy you."), but now it is stated clearly by God Himself. And this people will arise and play the harlot (prostitute themselves - NET; whore after - ESV; commit adultery - CSB) with the strange (foreign; Lxx - allotrios - not one's own) gods of the land, into the midst of which they are going, and will forsake ("leave in a lurch"; Lxx = egkataleipo) Me and break My covenant (berit/berith/beriyth) which I have made (cut - karath) with them - There is an interesting contrast in this verse - Moses is about to lie down and Israel would "rise and whore after other gods" (Dt 31:16ESV)! Israel did not just accidentally slip into adultery with lifeless lovers (idols), but actively rose up (they would make a choice of their rebellious wills) and knew full well what they were engaged in with the empty idols! Play the harlot is the Hebrew verb zanah rendered in the Lxx with ekporneuo meaning to indulge in gross immorality! This prophecy must have broken the heart of Moses! It is like someone telling you that the men you have discipled will apostasize when you pass on! I know this feeling all too well, for two men I discipled, one even an elder, in essence "played the harlot" with other women and both broke their marriage covenants and it broke my heart. They had both heard deep truths but both chose to default to their fallen flesh and temporary pleasure. Were they truly born again? Only God knows for sure! In Israel's case Yahweh Himself initiated the Mosaic Covenant. Israel swore to obey (Ex 24:3,7+ "will do"), but broke their "marriage vows." (so to speak - see Israel the Wife of Jehovah). Merrill comments that "The imagery of prostitution (zānâ) conveys the very essence of covenant violation, namely, to forsake the Lord and embrace other gods (cf. Exod 34:15–16; Lev 20:5; Judg 2:17; 8:27; Ezek 6:9; 20:30; Jer 3:1; Hos 2:7; 4:15). Nothing could more clearly communicate disloyalty. (New American Commentary – Volume 4: Deuteronomy)_ Play the harlot (02181) zanah is a verb meaning to fornicate, to prostitute and refers to marital infidelity or unfaithfulness. It was word used elsewhere in the OT to describe prostitution (Lev 21:7, Pr 7:10). Many of the uses of zanah are figurative describing Israel 's (Jehovah's "wife") commission of "spiritual prostitution" by having "intercourse" so to speak with other gods (cp 1 Co 6:16). Indeed, idolatry is looked upon as prostitution (Isa 50:1, 2, 3; 54:6, 7, 8; Jer 2:1, 2, 3; 3:1ff; Hos 2:1ff; Jas 4:4+; Rev 2:4+). In addition zanah describes Israel’s improper relationships with other nations (Isa. 23:17; Ezek. 23:30; Nah. 3:4). "The thought seems to be of having relations with these nations for the sake of political and monetary benefit, although in the case of Nineveh the added element of alluring, deceitful tactics leading on to oppressive dominance is implied. A third figurative meaning is found in Isa 1:21, where the Israelites’ departure from God’s approved moral standards is called harlotry." (TWOT) Phrase - play the harlot - 47x in 42v - Gen. 38:24; Exod. 34:15; Exod. 34:16; Lev. 17:7; Lev. 20:5; Lev. 20:6; Num. 15:39; Num. 25:1; Deut. 22:21; Deut. 31:16; Jdg. 2:17; Jdg. 8:27; Jdg. 8:33; Jdg. 19:2; 1 Chr. 5:25; 2 Chr. 21:11; 2 Chr. 21:13; Ps. 106:39; Isa. 23:17; Ezek. 6:9; Ezek. 16:15; Ezek. 16:16; Ezek. 16:17; Ezek. 16:26; Ezek. 16:28; Ezek. 16:34; Ezek. 16:41; Ezek. 20:30; Ezek. 23:3; Ezek. 23:5; Ezek. 23:19; Ezek. 23:30; Hos. 2:5; Hos. 3:3; Hos. 4:10; Hos. 4:12; Hos. 4:13; Hos. 4:14; Hos. 4:15; Hos. 4:18; Hos. 5:3; Hos. 9:1 Wake-Up Music Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. —Colossians 3:16+ Today's Scripture:Deuteronomy 31:16-22 In a suburb of Nairobi, Kenya, a group of international refugees has been singing songs that they hope will wake up their homeland. According to the BBC, the group Waayah Cusub has been enjoying extensive airplay on radio stations and television channels by using bold lyrics to address social issues. One of the musicians says, “We are not happy with what is happening back home; in fact we have recorded a thought-provoking song that we hope will bring our leaders back to their senses.” Long before Waayah Cusub began using songs to call for an end to social pain and violence, God taught Moses to use music in a bold and provocative way. Knowing that His people’s sinful inclinations would distract them when they began to enjoy the prosperity of the Promised Land (Deut. 31:21), God told Moses to teach them the song of chapter 32. It is a shocking song of warning, designed to get the attention of those who would forget God and fill their lives with trouble. Come, Thou fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise. —Robinson Where words fail, music speaks. —Hans Christian Andersen Deuteronomy 31:17 "Then My anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide My face from them, and they will be consumed, and many evils and troubles will come upon them; so that they will say in that day, 'Is it not because our God is not among us that these evils have come upon us?' anger: De 29:20 32:21,22 Jdg 2:14,15 Ps 2:12 90:11 I will forsake: 1Ch 28:9 2Ch 15:2 Jer 23:33,39 Ho 9:12 hide my face: De 32:20 Job 13:24 Ps 27:9 Ps 30:7 Ps 89:46 Ps 104:29 Isa 8:17 Isa 64:7 Eze 39:23,24,29 will come upon them: Heb. find them, Ne 9:32 Job 34:11 Is it not because our God is not among us: De 29:24-27 Nu 14:42 Jdg 6:13 Isa 63:17 Deuteronomy 31 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Deuteronomy 32:20 “Then He said, ‘I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end shall be; For they are a perverse generation, Sons in whom is no faithfulness. Isaiah 8:17 And I will wait for the LORD Who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob; I will even look eagerly for Him. Isaiah 64:7 There is no one who calls on Your name, Who arouses himself to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us And have delivered us into the power of our iniquities. Ezekiel 39:23; 24; 29 “The nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile for their iniquity because they acted treacherously against Me, and I hid My face from them; so I gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and all of them fell by the sword. 24 “According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I dealt with them, and I hid My face from them” ...29 “I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel (cf Zech 12:10+),” declares the Lord GOD. YAHWEH'S JEALOUSY BREAKS FORTH LIKE A FIRE! Then - Marks progresion in the narrative. In this context it functions almost like a term of conclusion. Time phrases always can be interrogated with a simple query - "When is then?" In this case it is when Israel commits spiritual adultery and breaks her "marriage covenant" with Yahweh. Israel quickly forgot that Yahweh's Name (pointing to His character) is "Jealous!" (Ex 34:13-14+; See notes on God's jealousy.) My anger (aph = nose:Lxx - orgizo - become angry) will be kindled (charah; Lxx - thumos - outburst) against them in that day, and I will forsake ('azab; Lxx - kataleipo - abandon, leave behind) them and hide (Lxx - apostrepho - turn away from) My face from them, and they will be consumed (Lxx - katabroma - devoured), and many (not a few but many) evils and troubles (Lxx - thlipsis - tribulation) will come upon (find, encounter) them - Note the progression - God's anger burns like a fire > He forsakes > He hides His face > Israel is consumed. Israel's adultery removed them from under protection of Yahweh's tender, loving care. Grant adds Yahweh "would hide His face from them. He would not intervene in saving them from the calamities that would befall them. He would conceal Himself so that He could not be found." (Ibid) Is this not a horrible thought -- the paradox of the omnipresent God Who could not be found by His adulterous "wife!" Kalland makes a great point that "Hiding His face (Dt 31:17-18; 32:20) is the converse of making His face to shine on His people and turning his face toward them as in the Aaronic blessing (Nu 6:25-26+ = "The LORD make His face shine on you"). It is equal to saying that the Lord would hide himself from his people so that he and the help he could give them would not be available to them. (Expositor's Bible Commentary – Volume 3: Deuteronomy) This is a prophecy that would be fulfilled after Moses died. It was partially fulfilled in the exiles to Assyria and Babylon and later with oppression by the Greeks (like Antiochus Epiphanes) and the Romans. COMMENT - In my opinion this prophecy will finally and fully be completed when the Antichrist seeks to destroy Israel in the Great Tribulation (thlipsis in Mt 24:21+) (Rev 12:6, 13-17+). Da 12:1+ speaks of these last horrendous days for the nation of Israel "“Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress (thlipsis) such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued." THOUGHT - It is tragic that the verb 'azab meaning forsake is used 4 times in this chapter, twice of God's promise not to forsake the people ("all Israel" in Dt 31:1) or Joshua (Dt 31:6,8), once of Israel forsaking God (Dt 31:17) and finally of Yahweh forsaking Israel (Dt 31:16). This illustrates the law of reaping what one sows. Israel forsook God and He forsook them. However because of His everlasting covenant with Abraham, He would and could not forsake Israel forever and one day will restore the nation. TSK on hide my face -Though this may allude to the withdrawing of the {Shechinah,} or visible appearance of Jehovah, yet the general meaning of the expression in Scripture is, the withdrawing of his approbation and protection, of which his visible appearance was formerly the sign and pledge. The Jewish writer Maimonides had an insightful thought on God hiding His face writing that when people are deprived of Divine protection, they are exposed to all dangers, and become the victim of circumstance, their fortune dependent on chance — a terrible threat.Further, Maimonides taught that the hiding of God’s face results from human choice. When people do not meditate on God, they are separated from God, and they are then exposed to any evil that might befall them. For, Maimonides taught, the intellectual link with God secures the presence of Providence and protection from evil accidents. Maimonides argued that this principle applies equally to an individual person and a whole community. So that they will say in that day, 'Is it not because our God is not among us that these evils have come upon us?' - Their rhetorical question was correct - God was not among them! Their reasoning is true, but they leave out the crucial point that God had hidden His face from them because they had forsaken Him and played the harlot with the pagan idols. While Israel's understanding was clouded in many ways (cf Dt 29:4), they did understand that the reason for their disasters was because Yahweh was not with them. One would have thought this would have made them confess their sins and repent, but such was not to be the case. That is indeed one effect of sin, to blind one to the truth that they need to confess and repent! Stephen Andrews writes "These problems would be designed to awaken the people and cause them to wonder if their trials were connected with God's displeasure. The recognition of the connection between pains and prior behavior would be the first step on the road to repentance. God's tribulations are remedial rather than punitive. (Holman Old Testament Commentary – Deuteronomy) Vance Havner - Day by Day - We Asked for It Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, when he led thee by the way? Jeremiah 2:17 Are not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us? Deuteronomy 31:17. Our plight today is our own fault. We asked for it. All our modern evils are come upon us because God is not among us. Of course, He is omnipresent, but He is not among us in that we have not His favor, the smile of His approval. God has been among us in blessings unnumbered, but we have forgotten Him. And to be lost it is not necessary for a nation to blaspheme God. "The wicked shall be cast into hell and all nations that forget God." Even God's people sometimes ask, "Is the Lord among us or not?" And in the absence of Him we are faced with the presence of evils galore. We have lost the sense of God in the nation, in the churches, in our lives. The biggest business of the hour is to draw nigh to God that He may draw nigh to us. His presence with us is too often an assumption in our heads instead of an awareness in our hearts. Deuteronomy 31:18 "But I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they will do, for they will turn to other gods. De 31:16,17 Deuteronomy 31 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries GOD WILL HIDE HIS FACE But I will surely hide My face in that day - Surely hide is the Hebrew verb satar used twice for emphasis, thus depicting God's strong reaction to their idolatry. Ps 34:16 says "The face of the LORD is against evildoers." because of - God is not fickle, but factual. He is objective and here explains why He would hide His face from Israel! All the evil which they will do - God cannot look upon evil. As Hab 1:13+ says "Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You can not look on wickedness with favor. Why do You look with favor On those who deal treacherously? Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up Those more righteous than they? ." For they will turn to other gods (elohim) - Explains the nature of the evil God knows they will commit when they get into the Promised Land. In Lev 19:4+ God clearly commanded Israel "Do not turn (panah) to idols." In Lev 19:31+ He said "Do not turn (panah) to mediums or spiritists." They would shift their attention (from God) to idols. The Septuagint translate turn with epistrepho which speaks of a moral change, a change of belief and/or conduct. Unbelief always leads to disobedience! Turn (turn to face, to look) (06437) panah can mean literally to move in another direction or to turn so as to face or look at something. Figuratively of turning to idols, mediums, etc (Lev 19:4, 31, Lev 20:6), and when used of intellectual and spiritual turning, it signifies attaching oneself to something. Deuteronomy 31:19 "Now therefore, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it on their lips, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel. this song: De 31:22,30 32:1-43,44,45 and teach it: De 4:9,10 6:7 11:19 put it : Ex 4:15 2Sa 14:3 Isa 51:16 59:21 Jer 1:9 a witness: De 31:21,26 Eze 2:5 Mt 10:18 Joh 12:48 Deuteronomy 31 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MOSES' SONG - WRITE , TEACH AND SING IT Now therefore, write this song for yourselves, and teach (lamad) it to the sons of Israel; put it on their lips, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel - NET = "Put it into their very mouths." NIV = "have them sing it." This reminds me of Joshua 1:8+ "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth." If it was in their mouths and they were singing it, the implication is that they had in effect memorized the words of the song. It was Moses' song to be passed from generation to generation. Yahweh was preparing this song to take the stand as a witness in the future against Israel! Moses calls three witnesses (2 would have been sufficient to convict - Dt 19:15+) to the stand in chapter 31 - (1) His Song (Dt 31:19, 21), (2) The Law next to the Ark (Dt 31:26) and (3) The heavens and the earth (Dt 31:28). Stephen Andrews writes "This song would become a witness to Yahweh's faithfulness and Israel's disloyalty through the years. (Holman Old Testament Commentary – Deuteronomy) G Campbell