What a lovely beginning to a song!
The Song of Moses (and Joshua), according to verse 44 of our chapter, Deuteronomy 32.
Its first three verses say: “Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.” Deuteronomy 32:1-3
A song that serves as a Speech, a Lecture, a Sermon, and an Act of Worship, all simultaneously!
Note the addressees, both the heavens (from a Hebrew root verb meaning “to be lofty) and the earth (also from a Hebrew verb meaning “to be firm). Everyone!
The noun for “doctrine” is “leqach,” translated “learning” 4 of the nine times it’s found in the Bible. “Fair speech” once, it’s also rendered, in Proverbs 7:21 … where it’s applied to an immoral woman persuading an innocent young man into her house!
“Leqach” is derived from “laqach,” which is found 965 times in the Bible! A key verb meaning “to lay hold of, to grasp, to fetch!” In fact, it’s “married” four times in Scripture, that strong a bond!
Clearly the Word of God is supposed (that’s what Moses’ Doctrine was, in reality) to “grip” us like that! “Consumed” by the Word! “Taken” by the Bible!
Watch now the pleasant word pictures attributed to the Scripture. “Rain” and “dew!” Both gently arriving and then powerfully envigorating! (Also … both rain and dew are applied as symbols of the Holy Spirit, especially in the Old Testament!)
Growth!
Listen to Peter as well. “Desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye MAY GROW thereby.” 1st Peter 2:2, the same idea … with just a different metaphor!
Then Moses (and Joshua) pledge to “publish” this Word of God, this holy Doctrine! The verb here is “qara” in Hebrew, meaning “to speak out loud!” Also (in the King James Version) “to proclaim, to read audibly, to preach!”
Wow!
Then our beautiful little three-verse “triplet of truth” closes with a command!
The mandate is … “Ascribe ye greatness unto our God.”
“Ascribe” is “yahab” in Moses’ tongue, literally “to bring!” Plus, it’s “to give” 23 times in the Bible! In English “ascribe” carries the idea of making a record of His Greatness, writing it down somewhere!
The last few Services here (in the North Carolina Revival this week) I have been preaching through Psalm 104, verse by verse. See if you think its opening line ascribes greatness to God!
“Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.”
Amen!
Next time you hear good preaching/teaching folks … se if you can spiritually “smell” and “hear” the gently falling rain, and dew, from Heaven!
It’s good!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Today on our “Standing with the Bagwells” Page … you can see several pictures from this week’s Revival Meeting. If anyone is interested, that is.