02/21/2023 – Day 359 – Deuteronomy 32 – 24 / “When the Word of the Lord shall reveal himself to redeem his people, he shall say to all people, ‘See that I now am what I am, and have been, and I am what I will be.’ ” – from Matthew Henry: a paraphrase of the Targum of Uzzielides / Listen to the Song of Moses in Hebrew / “Rain down” song at Delirious’ farewell song in London years ago.
Good morning!
I encourage y’all to take a look at last cycle’s post, searching on: “Day 359”, dated 05/11/2021.
We’re going to go further today on Chapter 32: “The song of Moses”. The song runs through verse #47, almost the entire length of the chapter.
Moses wrote three songs that are in the Bible: 1). Exodus 15 – A song of praise; 2). Here in Deuteronomy 32 – a song of remembrance and instruction. Note: Matthew Henry points out in his commentary book: “…for in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, we are not only to give glory to God, but to teach and admonish one another, Colossians 3:15. Hence many of David’s psalms are entitled Maschil – to give instruction.
Here is a relatively short article summarizing these songs, for overall perspective:
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-are-the-songs-of-moses.html
Now, I encourage you to just listen to the song in Hebrew:
“SHEMA YISRAEL” by Micha’el BenDavid HEBREW – ENGLISH
Ok, I was so tempted here to type in Matthew Henry’s full commentary on Chapter #32, running 3 full pages in small font print. Perhaps I can come back and insert it on an edit, but for now I am going to give you Matthew Henry’s Summary Commentary of the chapter, full available with any chapter of the Bible with a quick “duckduckgo” search.
Chapter 32 Matthew Henry summary commentary:
https://www.christianity.com/bible/commentary/matthew-henry-concise/deuteronomy/32
For now, I will limit my transcription of Matthew Henry’s commentary to just a single verse:
“Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.” Deuteronomy 32: 2
“My doctrine shall drop as the rain. ‘It shall be a beating sweeping rain to the rebellious’ ; so one of the Chaldea paraphrases expounds the first clause. Rain is sometimes sent for the judgment. and the word of God, while to some, while to some it is so refreshing — a savour of life unto life, is to others terrifying. It shall be as a sweet and comfortable dew to those who are rightly prepared to receive it… This doctrine is fitly compared to rain and showers which come from above, to make the earth fruitful. He promises that his doctrine shall drop and distal as the dew, and the small rain, which descend silently and without noise. The word preached is likely to profit when it comes gently and sweetly insinuates itself into the hearts and affections of the hearers. He bespeaks their acceptance and entertainment of it.”
And finally , with that, I repeat a post from perhaps my favorite Christian group of all time: Delirious, and their song: “Rain Down” to a packed house at their farewell show in London about a decade (?) or so ago :
“All around the world the people. we are singing: ‘Rain down!’
“Never stop singing!”
Soli Deo Gloria!