DEUTERONOMY LESSON 37
We will begin this lesson in Deuteronomy 33:1 "And this [is] the
blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of
Israel before his death."
This is Moses' farewell message to the people, just before his
death. He speaks a blessing on the people he had led for forty years.
Deuteronomy 33:2 "And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose
up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came
with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand [went] a fiery law
for them."
This is a show of the magnificence of God, when He came to give
His law to Israel. Sinai was where the law was given. Mount Paran and
Seir were near, and the glory of God filled them along with Sinai.
Moses would know the extent of the glory of the LORD, because he was
allowed in close proximity of the LORD. Jesus sits at the right hand
of God in heaven. He not only sits at the right hand, but is in fact,
the Right Hand of God. He is the Doer part of the Godhead. It was the
finger of God that wrote the law on the tables of stone. Whether the
ten thousand saints appeared with Him or not, I cannot say. We know
that is what this Scripture indicates. The holiness of God is around
the saints in heaven.
Deuteronomy 33:3 "Yea, he loved the people; all his saints [are]
in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; [every one] shall receive
of thy words."
In this particular Scripture, the Israelites are spoken of as the
saints. God first spoke the ten commandments from a fire and smoke on
the mountain. The Israelites were as if they were at His feet. These
Words from God were for the entire congregation. God loved the world
so much, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in Him shall receive eternal life.
Deuteronomy 33:4 "Moses commanded us a law, [even] the
inheritance of the congregation of Jacob."
The greatest inheritance that Israel had, even above the promised
land, was God's law.
Deuteronomy 33:5 "And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of
the people [and] the tribes of Israel were gathered together."
We remember, from a previous lesson, that Jeshurun has to do with
righteousness. The people gathered at the foot of the mountain, and
the LORD appeared in the smoke and fire, and gave them the ten
commandments. He appeared to them as their King. The law was absolute.
God did not want them to have an earthly king. He would be their King.
Deuteronomy 33:6 "Let Reuben live, and not die; and let [not]
his men be few."
Moses has begun speaking his blessings with Reuben, the oldest.
Reuben had sinned, when he slept with his father's wife, and Jacob had
said he would not excel. The blessing of Moses is a promise that
Reuben's tribe will continue.
Deuteronomy 33:7 "And this [is the blessing] of Judah: and he
said, Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people:
let his hands be sufficient for him; and be thou an help [to him] from
his enemies."
Jacob had promised Judah rule over his brothers. Jesus was from
the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He would be King of all.
Deuteronomy 33:8 "And of Levi he said, [Let] thy Thummim and thy
Urim [be] with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, [and
with] whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;"
The Levitical tribe was to minister. The Urim and the Thummim
were worn by the high priest. God spoke to the people through this.
Massah and Meribah were where the Rock was struck by Moses, and
brought forth water to satisfy the thirst of the multitude.
Deuteronomy 33:9 "Who said unto his father and to his mother, I
have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew
his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy
covenant."
The Levites had come to Moses, when Moses asked for all on God's
side to come to him. The Levites went through the camp, and killed
their own relatives at the command of God. Exodus 32:26 "Then Moses
stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who [is] on the LORD'S side?
[let him come] unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves
together unto him." Exodus 32:27 "And he said unto them, Thus saith
the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, [and] go
in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man
his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his
neighbour." Exodus 32:28 "And the children of Levi did according to
the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three
thousand men."
Deuteronomy 33:10 "They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and
Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt
sacrifice upon thine altar."
This is speaking of the Levites teaching the tribes of the law
and judgements of God. The Levites were to care for the worship in the
tabernacle. They cared for the temple, sacrifices, and kept oil
burning in the incense continuously.
Deuteronomy 33:11 "Bless, LORD, his substance, and accept the
work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against
him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again."
This is still speaking of the Levites. They would live of the
offerings of the people and their work would be dedicated to God.
Those who rose against the Levites, were really attacking the God whom
the Levites served.
Deuteronomy 33:12 "[And] of Benjamin he said, The beloved of
the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; [and the LORD] shall cover him
all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders."
God would love and protect Benjamin. He and Joseph were Rachel's
children. They were beloved of their father and of God. To be between
his shoulders, means that God carried Him on His back, not literally
but symbolically.
Deuteronomy 33:13 "And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD
[be] his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for
the deep that coucheth beneath,"
The blessings of God were upon him. He was, also, a favorite son
of his father. God would bless him in every endeavor. He, actually,
received a double portion in his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Moses
had, actually, spoken wealth and influence.
Deuteronomy 33:14 "And for the precious fruits [brought forth] by
the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon,"
This is just saying, the blessings were for night and day.
Deuteronomy 33:15 "And for the chief things of the ancient
mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills,"
This is speaking of the grapes and wonderful things that came
from the mountain area. He was to blessed, wherever he went. He had
suffered much for the LORD, and stayed strong in his faith. He would
be doubly blessed.
Deuteronomy 33:16 "And for the precious things of the earth and
fulness thereof, and [for] the good will of him that dwelt in the
bush: let [the blessing] come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the
top of the head of him [that was] separated from his brethren."
Moses remembers his encounter with God in the burning bush. He
says, the God he saw in the burning bush blesses the tribe of Joseph.
Joseph gets a double portion of blessings, because he was separated
from his brothers and taken to Egypt. He won favor in Egypt, and
actually saved the lives of Jacob and his brothers during the famine.
Deuteronomy 33:17 "His glory [is like] the firstling of his
bullock, and his horns [are like] the horns of unicorns: with them he
shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they
[are] the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they [are] the thousands of
Manasseh."
Ephriam and Manasseh are sons of Joseph. Ephraim received the
right hand blessing. "Horns" in the verse above, symbolize strength.
Joseph caused the family of Jacob to gather in Egypt for safety from
the famine. They multiplied, and the entire mass went to the promised
land together.
Deuteronomy 33:18 "And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in
thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents." Deuteronomy 33:19 "They
shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer
sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck [of] the abundance of
the seas, and [of] treasures hid in the sand."
The treasures of both, seas and lands, shall be theirs. Their
going out and their coming in shall be blessed. These are both sons of
Leah.
Deuteronomy 33:20 "And of Gad he said, Blessed [be] he that
enlargeth Gad; he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the
crown of the head." Deuteronomy 33:21 "And he provided the first part
for himself, because there, [in] a portion of the lawgiver, [was he]
seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the
justice of the LORD, and his judgments with Israel."
It seems, Gad is strategically located on the east of the Jordan
to ward off invaders. This speaks of their strength in war. He
received the first portion of land on the east side of Jordan, with
the tribe of Reuben, and half tribe of Manasseh.
Deuteronomy 33:22 "And of Dan he said, Dan [is] a lion's whelp:
he shall leap from Bashan."
Jacob had compared Dan to a serpent. He was fierce in battle. He
is compared to a lion, here.
Deuteronomy 33:23 "And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali,
satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess
thou the west and the south."
Moses is promising the tribe grace and prosperity. The grace of
the LORD would be upon him.
Deuteronomy 33:24 "And of Asher he said, [Let] Asher [be]
blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let
him dip his foot in oil." Deuteronomy 33:25 "Thy shoes [shall be]
iron and brass; and as thy days, [so shall] thy strength [be]."
"Dipping his foot in oil" could be olive oil, or any other oil
that would make him rich. The Hebrews thought it a great blessing to
have many children. This was part of his blessing from Moses. He was
to be favored among his brethren. The shoes of iron speak of their
solid foundation.
Deuteronomy 33:26 "[There is] none like unto the God of
Jeshurun, [who] rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his
excellency on the sky."
This is speaking of the God of righteousness. Moses has returned
to speaking of the majesty of God. God is their very present help. He
wants them to be His people, and Him to be their God. God defends
Israel, when they are faithful to Him.
Deuteronomy 33:27 "The eternal God [is thy] refuge, and
underneath [are] the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the
enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy [them]."
God was with them in the fire by night and the smoke by day. He
fought their enemies for them. He is their shelter and their
protection. He is with Israel, and with all believers in Christ, to
help us through the storms of life. He does not always take us out of
the storm, but He is in there with us, to protect us.
Deuteronomy 33:28 "Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the
fountain of Jacob [shall be] upon a land of corn and wine; also his
heavens shall drop down dew."
Their inheritance of the land of promise is here. It will truly
be a land of milk and honey. The blessings of God are upon it. As long
as they are faithful to God, their enemies will live at peace with
them. They are afraid of Israel's God.
Deuteronomy 33:29 "Happy [art] thou, O Israel: who [is] like unto
thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who [is]
the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars
unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places."
There has never been a people more blessed. Their happiness
should be overwhelming. Their God shall run their enemy away. He will
protect them, and prosper them in all they put their hands to. The
Christians are blessed like these Israelites. We are the spiritual
house of Israel. All the blessings bestowed on physical Israel are
ours, as well. We are loved of God, what more could we possibly want?
Deuteronomy 37 Questions
1. This is Moses' ___________ message to the people.
2. Verse 2 is speaking of what about God?
3. Where was the law given to Israel?
4. Why would Moses be familiar with the glory of God?
5. Besides sitting at the right hand of the Father, what is Jesus?
6. It was the __________ of God that wrote the law on the stones. 7.
Who are the saints in verse 3?
8. How much did God love the world?
9. Where did God speak the ten commandments from?
10. The Israelites were as if they were at His _________.
11. What was Israel's greatest inheritance?
12. Jeshurun has to do with ______________.
13. Who was Israel's King?
14. Who did Moses speak the first blessing on?
15. What was His sin?
16. Jesus was from the tribe of _________.
17. What was the job of the Levite?
18. Who wore the Urim and the Thummim?
19. Quote Exodus chapter 32 verse 28.
20. What were some of the day to day tasks of the Levites?
21. When someone came against a Levite, they were coming against whom?
22. Who did Moses call the beloved of the Lord?
23. Why did Joseph receive a double portion of blessings?
24. What were the names of his two sons who headed tribes?
25. What was Moses remembering, when he spoke of him that dwelt in the
bush?
26. What do "horns" symbolize?
27. Where was Gad located?
28. What is meant by dipping his foot in oil?
29. Who is verse 26 speaking of?
30. God defends Israel, when they are __________ to Him.
31. Who is God with, to help them through the storms of life?
32. Why will Israel's enemies be at peace with them?
33. We are loved of God, what more could we possibly want?
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