The Song of Moses is a tool for repentance.
Deuteronomy 31:14 Adonai said to Moshe, “The time is coming for you to die. Summon Y’hoshua, and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, so that I can commission him.” Moshe and Y’hoshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting. 15 Adonai appeared in the tent in a column of cloud; the column of cloud stood above the entrance to the tent. 16 Adonai said to Moshe, “You are about to sleep with your ancestors. But this people will get up and offer themselves as prostitutes to the foreign gods of the land where they are going. When they are with those gods, they will abandon me and break my covenant which I have made with them. 17 Then my anger will flare up, and I will abandon them and hide my face from them. They will be devoured, and many calamities and troubles will come upon them. Then they will ask, ‘Haven’t these calamities come upon us because our God isn’t here with us?’ 18 But I will be hiding my face from them because of all the evil they will have done in turning to other gods.
Abba knows how people are. He knew they would go after other gods and leave Him behind. But He gave us all the formula for repentance.
Deuteronomy 31:19 “Therefore, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the people of Isra’el. Have them learn it by heart, so that this song can be a witness for me against the people of Isra’el. 20 For when I have brought them into the land I swore to their ancestors, flowing with milk and honey; and they have eaten their fill, grown fat and turned to other gods, serving them and despising me, and broken my covenant; 21 then, after many calamities and troubles have come upon them, this song will testify before them as a witness, because their descendants will still be reciting it and will not have forgotten it. For I know how they think even now, even before I have brought them into the land about which I swore.” 22 So Moshe wrote this song that same day and taught it to the people of Isra’el.
Abba gave Moses a song that will be a witness for us all the days of our lives. All past, current, and future generations have this available to them to show them how to come back into Abba’s presence.
This song is written in full in Deuteronomy 32:1-43 but we’ll distill this down into a few broad steps:
Only when judgment is upon you and your strength is gone will He speak. And He will ask you, “Who is your God?”
What will you say? This is critical to figure out now because there is coming a time when you will be called to the floor to answer.
What do we typically do in our own lives?
This is the cycle we tend to operate in. Moving from #2 to #3 to #4, which is #2.
What’s missing here?
Repentance. It is not enough just to seek Him out to solve your problems. Your problems are upon you because you have broken the covenant. Until you reach the point of losing all strength contending with these problems, it is unlikely you will repent on your own.
Things have to get really bad for most of us to initiate change.
And once you’re at this point, Abba simply asks, “Where are your other gods? Why not call upon them to come and save you? Your covenant with the world should provide all the relief you need, right?”
Hopefully, you realize in this moment the world has nothing for you.
Your job, hobbies, self-interests, self-help -- these lead you nowhere.
The gurus of the world have written countless books, created a myriad of videos and launch podcasts near daily. But none of these gods can help you.
It seems like we only realize this after going through them all.
Why is it our natural inclination to seek out every other god before seeking the One True God?
This song shows us how to break the cycle.
Does any of this sound familiar?
Let’s look at a high-level overview of the Book of Revelation:
Once the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb are sung, no more repentance is allowed. The Tabernacle is filled with smoke and no one may enter until the seven angels accomplish their purpose. The bowls will then be poured out upon all the earth.
The question remains, when will you sing this song?
Will you wait until the absolute last moment or will you seek to repent today?
If you aren’t sure, let’s look at it from another direction:
Has your strength been taken from you?
We both know it has. So why not apologize to Abba and let him know He is the only One that can help you.
Do you have that level of humility within you? Or will your pride take you to the place of mourning for the Fall of Babel?
Take a deep, long look in the mirror. Beg that person staring back to fold.
Abba longs for that moment. So why not give it to Him?