Bible Verse Lookup
Deut 32:7
Chapter 32
7
Recall the days of old,
think of the years gone by;
your father will teach you about them,
your elders will enlighten you.
Recall the days of old,
think of the years gone by;
your father will teach you about them,
your elders will enlighten you.
Commentaries
Canticle of Moses.
This song resembles a “judicial process,” a literary style often used in prophetic writing: calling witnesses (1-4); explaining guilt (5f); trial (7-14); accusation (15-18); sentencing (19-25). The entire song contains wisdom elements (1f.6f.19f.28f) and may include a later addition from the postexilic period (38f), reflecting Jewish theological development: it discusses an absolute or theoretical monotheism: “there is no other besides me” (39; cf. Is 43:11,13; 45:5f.18,21f; 48:12, etc.).
From a theological perspective, verses 7-14 highlight God’s care and compassion in creating and nurturing his people, which Moses uses to help Israel understand the character of their God. However, Israel neither fully comprehends nor openly recognizes this; they have sought independence and turned to other gods that proved to be false (15-18). As a result, God abandons them to the forces they trusted. Soon, the shame and power of their enemies threaten to wipe them out (20:26). The only thing capable of saving Israel is God’s love, which confounds the hostility of the prideful (27-35, 37-42) and restores his people, rejoicing over them once again (36-43).