Deuteronomy 31
by Pastor David Groendyk
Moses’ death is approaching, and this is the cloud that looms over the rest of the book of Deuteronomy. To be sure, it had been known for a long time that Moses himself would not enter Canaan (Num. 20:12), but the day has finally come to make provisions for the people to go on without him.
In verses 1–13, the repeated message is to be strong and courageous, not fearful, because the Lord is with you. Imagine the anxiety that must’ve permeated the nation of Israel at this moment. The entirety of the nation grieves the loss of the legendary, heroic figure who rained down the ten plagues on Egypt and parted the Red Sea. Joshua has the massive weight and burden of being the leader to battle nation after nation and to achieve finally God’s promise that had been waiting hundreds of years to be brought to fruition. Moses must watch on helplessly as his charge is passed on to someone else, and the many people he’s shepherded for 40+ years are handed over to another man. What hope do any of these people have? That God is with them and will never leave or forsake them. We do not trust in chariots and princes, but in the name of the Lord God Almighty. Therefore, be strong and courageous. What God has willed to come about will undoubtedly happen, and what God has instructed us to do he will surely enable and equip us to do it. What a word of encouragement in a time of uncertainty!
In verses 14–30, the tone changes somewhat. As God alluded to in the previous chapter, so now he says again explicitly: he already knows the people of Israel will fail miserably and whore after other gods once they enter Canaan. This is definitely not the kind of commissioning service we tend to see when we install our pastors, elders, and deacons in the PCA! Yet we cannot escape God’s mercy even in the midst of a solemn proclamation like that. God builds into the fabric of the community multiple avenues by which they could be drawn back from their sin to God. Every seven years, the entirety of the Book of the Law was to be read in the presence of all the people (vv. 10–11), and the song of Moses was learned and passed on as a continual reminder of their need to be reprimanded and return to God (vv. 19–21). One author writes, “Anticipating our sinfulness, God calls us to repentance and promises grace before we even know we need it, grace to forgive and grace to change the heart.” Therefore, do not let your sin crush you and drive you to despair. Do not let your knees buckle and hands shake. Walk on in your pursuit of obedience, godliness, and sanctification, knowing that the Lord is both giving you grace to accomplish it and giving you grace to forgive when you fail.