“They Will Forsake Me”

And the Lord said to Moses: “You are going to rest with your ancestors, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them. And in that day I will become angry with them and forsake them; I will hide my face from them, and they will be destroyed. Many disasters and calamities will come on them, and in that day they will ask, ‘Have not these disasters come on us because our God is not with us?’ And I will certainly hide my face in that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods.

“Now write down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them. When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their ancestors, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant. And when many disasters and calamities come on them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they are disposed to do, even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath.” So Moses wrote down this song that day and taught it to the Israelites.

Deuteronomy 31:16-22

Music can help us recall words and ideas we might otherwise forget. God knew that the Israelites would forget Him when they entered the Promised Land. They would forsake Him, turn to idols, and trouble would follow. Because of this, He asked Moses to compose a song and teach it to the Israelites so they could remember their past closeness with Him, and the sin that hurt their relationship.

Perhaps God wanted all to remember His own character: He is the Rock; His work is perfect; All His ways are perfect; All His ways are justice; He is a God of truth and without injustice; and He is righteous and upright.

Consider what God might want you to remember about Him today. Is it His power, His holiness, His love, or His faithfulness?

Remembering God’s goodness puts a song in your heart.

Our Daily Bread – January 20, 2013