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“I will proclaim the name of the Lord, Oh, praise the greatness of our God!”  Deuteronomy 32:3 (ESV)

Nothing touches the soul quite like music.  The rhythmic beat of joy keeps us on our feet.  Glorious words of adoration and worship propelling lifted hands high in awe and wonder of our God. Lyrics echo from our lips spontaneously after we hit replay over and over again – embedded in our hearts and minds.

While music engages us it can also serve as great teachers reminding us of God’s faithfulness and truths from His word.  And my fave is to hear the story behind a song – what compelled the writer to compose such impactful lyrics.

Deuteronomy 31 invites us into a pivotal backstory when God gave Moses a song to write down for the Children of Israel.  Moses’ death was drawing near, and the words God gave him were to testify against the Israelites. Knowing the hearts of His people, God was fully aware of their tendency to follow after other gods.   He knew once they stepped foot into the abundance of the Promised Land, they would reject the one true God.

Wow, not exactly the song we’d long to hear right?  Yet Moses gathered the people and recited the words from beginning to end.  We can find God’s lyrics in Deuteronomy 32.  The opening stanzas rehearse the faithfulness and glory of God’s character.  However, the preceding verses unpack the heartbreak of a people who would forget their Creator and pursue lesser gods.  The devastation, wounding and utter demise would follow the Israelites if they didn’t forsake all others and return to God.

When Moses concluded God’s song, I would picture a holy hush over the land. I would imagine stillness as Moses spoke, “Take heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law.”  No idle lyrics – just a profound caution  – God’s words of life.

The Israelites beginning as God’s chosen people didn’t prevent them from choosing disobedience and the pricetag God detailed would be high.  The same is true for us today.  God’s character is unchanging.  His holiness can’t excuse sin.  His righteousness demands justice.  Like the Israelites, we often cling to our God in moments of despair and hardship yet abandon Him when our life is full. We seek other pleasures and dismiss the safety of His laws which form a shield of protection around us.

If God were writing a song today, I wonder what His lyrics would convey about our tendencies to slip into sin and lose sight of His glory.  Would we hit replay over and over again so we wouldn’t forget His truths or would we simply switch to another song better suited to what we want to hear?

Sweet friends, we too would be wise to heed the wisdom of God’s song.  Remembering His character and integrity.  Shouting aloud the glories and wonder of His name so our enemies would cower in fear.  There is no god like our God and He longs for us to cherish His words.  Transforming words intended to birth life instead of death.  What will we choose?

“Father, You lovingly instruct us and warn us of the dangers of pursuing lesser gods which will never serve us well.  May the song of Your heart ever remind us of Your deep abiding love which seeks to position us for Your best.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life