Lesson: The Song of Moses Page 1
Christian Churches of God
No. CB98
Lesson:
The Song of Moses
(Edition 1.0 20050910-20060910)
In this Lesson we will review The Song of Moses from Deuteronomy 32. We note that the Song of Moses is also in Exodus 15.
Christian Churches of God
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(Copyright 2005, 2006 Diane Flanagan, Ed. Wade Cox)
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Lesson:
The Song of Moses
Lesson: The Song of Moses Page 1
Goal:
To review the importance of theSong of Moses.
Objectives:
1. Children will be able to understand the importance of the Song of Moses.
2. Children will identify the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32 and also in Exodus 15.
3. Children will understand that theSong of Moses should be spokenor sung at the Feasts.
4. Children will be exposed to some interesting points in the Song of Moses.
5. Children will understand the Song of Moses is part of God’s system of restoration.
Resources:
The Ten Commandments (CB17)
The Law of God (CB25)
Moses and the Israelites Move to Sinai (CB40)
Lesson: First Commandment (No. CB70)
Text of Deuteronomy 32 (NASV) with modificationsat Appendix A.
Cantillation of the Song of Moses if available.
Also see the paper The Song of Moses in Exodus 15 (No. 179).
Relevant Scriptures:
Revelation 15:3; Deuteronomy 32; and Exodus 15.
Memory Verses:
Revelation 15:3:
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous [are] thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints. (NASV)
Deuteronomy 32:47:
"Forit is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life. And by this word you will prolong your days in the land, which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess." (NASV)
Format:
Open with prayer.
Ask the Children what they think the Song of Moses is and why he wrote it.
Lesson on the Song of Moses.
Activity associated with theSong of Moses.
Listen to the Cantillationaudio of the Song of Moses if available.
Close with prayer.
Lesson:
God established His Lawand His system under faithful servants. When Moses had done all that God had asked of him, God then told Moses that it was time for him to die. By this time Moses was about 120 years old. Moses and Joshua were in the Tabernacleof the Congregation, and the Lord appeared to them. He told them that he knew the people would break the Covenant, and that He would be angry, and many evils would fall upon them. At the end of Moses'life he was commanded to review the Lawwith the Israelites and write and teach the Israelites this song.The Israelites were to learn and sing this song.
It should be noted here that, “The Song of Moses” appears first in Exodus 15 and a second time in Deuteronomy 32. Both of these texts are the Song of Moses and they both stand as a testimony to Israel regarding the Law of God and His actions. For this lesson we will focus on the text of Deuteronomy 32.
Introduction and History to the Song of Moses
Question and Answer: (Children’s questions are in bold.)
Q1. Is the Song of Moses to be taught to Israel?
A. Yes. Revelation 15:3 says: "and they sang the Song of Moses the bond servant of God and the Song of the Lamb"… If we are to sing a song we have to learn it and know it.
Q2. Is the song of Moses a witness?
A. Yes.We know from Deuteronomy 31:19 that the song is a witness. Deuteronomy 31: "Now therefore, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it on their lips, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel."
Q3. What does it mean to have a witness?
A. Webster’s 1977 Dictionary states that a witness is: "literally one who knows, one who personally sees or observes anything; that which furnishes evidence or proof; attestation or stating of a fact or event;testimony."So we see the Song of Moses is to act as a witness or a reminder to the sons of Israel, forever.
Q4.Does God know everything, even before it happens?
A. Yes, (Ps. 147:5; Isa. 46:10; Mat. 24:36). Deuteronomy 31:20 indicates that God knows what things will happen before they happen: "For when I bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and are satisfied and become prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and spurn Me and break My covenant."
Q5. Will the Song of Moses always be remembered by some of the Israelites, even years later?
A. Yes. Deuteronomy 31:21 tells us: "Then it shall come about, when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify before them as a witness (for it shall not be forgotten from the lips of their descendants); for I know their intent which they are developing today, before I have brought them into the land which I swore."
Q6. Was the Songwritten and taught by Moses?
A. Yes. Deuteronomy 31:22:So Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the sons of Israel.
Joshua is Commissioned
23Then He commissioned Joshua the son of Nun, and said, "be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the sons of Israel into the land, which I swore to them, and I will be with you."
24It came about, when Moses finished writing the words of this law in a book until they were complete,
25that Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,
26"Take this book of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may remain there as a witness against you.
27"For I know your rebellion and your stubbornness; behold, while I am still alive with you today, you have been rebellious against the LORD; how much more, then, after my death?
28"Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their hearing and call the heavens and the earth to witness against them.
29"For I know that after my death you will act corruptly and turn from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days, for you will do that which is evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger with the work of your hands."
30Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song, until they were complete.
Q7. Why do we learn the Song of Moses?
A. Because God said that no descendant, or son of Israel, is to forget the song (Deut. 31:21). Moses was told to write and teach the songto the Israelites so they would not forget what they were taught.
Q8. Revelation15:3 states the saints will sing the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb. Who are the saints?
A. The saints are those in the First Resurrection who have kept the Commandments of God and the Testimony of Jesus the Christ (Rev. 12:17; 14:12; 22:14).
At the end of every seven years we know the Law is to be read (Deut. 15:1,2; 31:9, 10). Therefore all Israel would be gathered to read the Lawand read/sing the Song of Moses so as to fear and learn how to worship Eloah.
Interesting facts about the Song of Moses:
a)In Deuteronomy 31:28 heaven and earth are declared to witness the receiving the Lawof God. This is one of thirteen times the heavens and earth acted as witnesses to an event. See the note in The Companion Bible to Deuteronomy 31:28. For the other texts see the note to Deuteronomy 4:26, where almost the exact same words are stated by Moses.Yet in Deuteronomy 32:1 we also see the reference to theheavens and earth. We know from Deuteronomy 31:19 the Song of Moses is a witness. In Deuteronomy31.26 it is in reference to the giving of the Law.
b)The Rock is used 5 times in the Songof Moses per note to Deuteronomy 32:4 in The Companion Bible. The number 5 is the number of Grace. There are also 5 centralities, or things that God and His Law are made up of: holiness, righteousness, goodness, perfection and truth.
c)From Deuteronomy 31: 29 to 32:44 this Song of Moses is also mentioned 5 times.
d)Israel is sometimes also called by the name Jacob. In the Song of Moses Israel is also called Jeshurun. Jeshurun isa poetical name for the people of Israel, used in token of affection, meaning, "the dear upright people” (Deut. 32:15; 33:5,26; Isa.44:2) per Easton’s Bible Dictionary. It is only used in the Biblein these four places. In a note to Deuteronomy 32:15 Bullinger indicates it is"upright as chosen by God".
Q9. Did Moses teach all the words of the Song to the people?
A. Yes. Deuteronomy 32:44: Moses came with Joshua son of Nun and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people.
Q10. What did Moses warn and caution the people of Israel about?
A. To carefully follow all of God’s Laws and teach them to their sons. In verse 46 he said to them: “Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today, which you shall command your sons to observe carefully, even all the words of this law.”
Q11. Can we find the Song of Moses anywhere else in the Bible?
A. Yes, the first instance is in Exodus 15. Moses and the Israelites sang this song of praise and glory to the Lord after they had been taken safely through the Red Sea and saved from the Egyptians (see Ex. 14:26-31). The text in Deuteronomy and Exodus are both the Song of Moses.
Q12. Is the Law of God our life?
A. Yes, by keeping the Law we will live longer and have happier lives. Grandparents, parents and children all benefit from obeying the One True God. Deuteronomy 32:47: “For it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life and by this word you will prolong your days in the land, which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.”
Conclude with prayer.
Activities
1) Song of Moses colouring book
Supplies needed: One colouring book per child and colours. See the paper Song of Moses Colouring Book (No. CB98_2).
Procedure: Present each child with a colouringbook to use and learn from. Encourage other adults also to view their work and read the Song of Moses with them. Once the colouringbook is completed it could become the bedtime story read every Sabbath evening.
2) Song of Moses memory version
Supplies needed: One colouringbook per child and coloursor clay or construction materials.
Procedure: Handout the first page of the Song of Moses colouringbook to the children. Allow the children to colourthe picture and learn the verse(s). At each session review the previous lesson'sScriptures from memory or have the children read the text together and add another picture. Therefore, eachday the Song will be reinforced for the children.
If children have difficulty attending to the fine motor aspect of colouring, they could also create “clay” sculptures that fit the theme of the verses/picture.
3) Song of Moses presentation
Supplies Needed:
Song of Moses colouring book.
CD with the Cantillation of the Song of Moses.
Drawings as per the number of students that reflect parts of the Song of Moses (preferably enlarge pictures to fit large size tag board and outlinedrawings with black marker).
Colours, markers or coloured pencils.
Procedure: Children are each allowed to select a picture from the Song of Moses. When children begin to colour, play the Cantillation of the Song of Moses in the background so they can listen to what the original presentation of the Song was. Throughoutthe Feast the children each work on getting their picture coloured.
The text parts ofthe Songof Moses are divided to match or correspond to the pictorial parts of the song. Number the drawings on the back of the tag board to assist children to knowthe correct order of the Song of Moses. On the day of the presentation the children come out in order of their part. If the child is old enough he or she reads their part of the Song of Moses. If the child is unable to read the narrator reads for the child. Respective word parts to the Song of Moses can be attached to the back of tag board for the child to hold and read. If small pictures are functional, the colouringbook was designedso thatthe text that corresponds to the picture can be attached to the back of the picture. Children read the Song Moses to the audiencewhile they display their colouringsheets.
Appendix A: “The Song of Moses”
Deuteronomy 32:1ff.
1"Listen, O heavens, and let me speak;
And let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
2Let my teaching drop as the rain,
May my speech refresh and gently fall as the dew,
As the droplets on the fresh grass,
And as the showers on the herb.
3For I announce the name of the LORD Yahovah;
Describe and tell of the greatness to our God Elohim!
4The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of truth who is faithful and just;
Righteous and upright is He.
5They have rebelled against Him,
They are not His children, because of their actions
But are apurposefully disobedient and dishonestgeneration.
6Do you thus repay the LORD Yahovah,
O foolish and unwise people?
Is not He your Father who has bought you?
He has made you and established you.
7Remember the days of old,
Consider the years long past.
Ask your father, and he will inform you,
Your elders, and they will tell you.
8When the Most High Elyon gave the nations their inheritance,
When He separated the sons of man,
He set the boundaries of the peoples
According to the number of the sons of God (see RSV).
9For the LORD'S (Yahovah’s) portion is His people;
Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance.
10He found him in a desert land,
And in the howling waste of a wilderness;
He instructed and cared for him,
He guarded him as the pupil of His eye.
11Like an eagle that prepares its nest,
That watches carefully over its young,
He spread His wings and caught them,
He carried them on His wings.
12The LORD Yahovah alone guided him,
And there was no foreign god with him.
13He made him ride on the high places of the earth,
And he ate the produce of the field;
And He made him suck honey from the rock,
And oil from the flinty rock,
14Curds of cows, and milk of the flock,
With fat of lambs, and rams, the breed of Bashan, and goats,
With the finest of the wheat—
And of the blood of grapes you drank wine.
15But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked—
You are grown fat, thick, and sleek—
Then he abandoned Eloah who made him,
And rejected and laughed at the Rock of his salvation.
16They made Him jealous with strange gods;
With ungodly words and actions they called forth His anger.
17They sacrificed to demons who were not Eloah,
To gods whom they have not known,
New gods who came recently,
Whom your fathers did not fear or know.
18You left the Rock who created you,
And forgot the God who gave you birth.
19The LORD Yahovah saw this, and turned away from them
Because of the continual disobedience of His sons and daughters.
20Then He said, 'I will hide My face from them,
I will see what their end shall be;
For they are a purposefully disobedient generation,
Sons that are not faithful to God.
21They have made Me jealous with what is not God;
They have stirred Me to anger with their idols
So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people;
I will stir them to anger with a foolish nation,
22For a fire is started in My anger,
And burns to the lowest part of the earth,
And fills the earth with its increase,
And sets on fire the foundations or bases of the mountains.
23I will add misfortunes on them;
I will use My arrows on them.
24They will be starved by lack of food to eat;
And overtaken by diseases.
And terrible destruction and disasters;
Wild animals I will send upon them,
With poisonous snakes and insects of the ground.
25Outside the sword will destroy,
And inside terror—
Both young man and young woman,
The baby with the man of grey hair.
26I would have said, I will cut them to pieces,