Deuteronomy 32: Swan Song

From Wikipedia: "The swan song is a metaphorical phrase for a final gesture, effort, or performance given just before death or retirement."  The idea is that swans sing their most beautiful song in the moments leading up to their death.  Moses' exhortation to Israel in Deuteronomy 32 qualifies in every respect as his swan song.

Without analyzing the heart out of the poetry, consider that the song begins with earnest praise of the Lord and a stinging accusation of Israel.  While God is deemed "great," "faithful," and "just," His people are called "degenerate," "foolish," and "senseless."  The rest of the song goes on to explain why.

Moses points out that Israel's was God's special, cherished possession.  Out of all the peoples and nations on earth, God especially chose the descendants of Abraham to invite into a covenant relationship.  First, Moses recounts the glories of God's protection and deliverance of Israel in the wilderness (vs. 10-12).  The song then takes a prophetic turn as Moses foresees what the people will do with God's blessings.  After being delivered safely into the Promised Land, the people will have the best of everything and grow fat and complacent (vs. 13-15).  This will prompt them to turn away from God and worship the false idols of the people whose land they conquered.  Moses' verdict is: "You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you; you forgot the God who gave you birth" (vs. 18).

Verses 18-35 reveals what God will do in response.  He will "heap disasters upon them" through arrows, hunger, consumption, pestilence, sword, and wild beasts.  Again Moses takes to referring to God as the Rock.  How could this evil befall them, he asks rhetorically, "unless their Rock has sold them, the Lord had given them up?  Indeed their [the enemies'] rock is not like our Rock; our enemies are fools" (vs. 30-31).

The climax of Moses' song features the vindication of the Lord.  He will have vengeance on His enemies and prove Himself to His people once and for all.  "See now that I, even I, am he; there is no god beside me.  I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and no one can deliver from  my hand" (vs. 39).

Moses then instructs Joshua to learn the words of the song well and pass it on to the next generation.  For, Moses says, "this is no trifling matter for you, but rather your very life; through it you may live long in the land that you are crossing over the Jordan to possess" (vs. 47).