SAD SONG

SAD SONG
From the sermon “Song of Moses: Sad Story with Joyful Ending”
Deuteronomy 32:1-18, 40-43

Today we tend to have a romantic view of people: only if we believe in them, be positive about them, think well of them, they will turn out good. Well, the Bible does not think so! Moses did not think so, neither did God! In fact, reading Deuteronomy 31, we are given a most pessimistic view of people.

By default, they do not turn out good; they turn out bad. This is highlighted again as we look at Deuteronomy 32 today, a chapter which contains the words of the song Moses wrote. It is a song about the people of Israel, a preview of their history, a prophecy of what would happen to them.

The song is a sad song. The story the song tells is a sad story. But praise God, it has a joyful ending.

It begins happily with “Oh, praise the greatness of our God!” (v.3) and it ends joyfully with “Rejoice, O nations, with his people….” (v.43)—but in between for most of the 40 or so verses, the tone is a sad one.

But before we look at the song, we may want to ask, why a song? A book, we understand—it is something written and preserved for posterity. A book continues to influence readers after the author has passed from the scene.

Well, we can say the same for a song. It accomplishes the same purposes of a book, and if I may add, accomplishes it better. A song, like a book, preserves something for posterity. A song, like a book, speaks to us after the composer or singer of the song is gone.

But a song does more than a book.

Firstly, it is easier to sing or listen to a song than to read a book. Secondly, listening to or singing a song touches the emotions more deeply. Thirdly, we remember a song more easily and for a longer time, than mere words. That is why one of the best ways to memorise Bible verses is to sing them.

There is something called melodic memory, and it stays in our minds longer and better. Do you know that while you may not remember words, you always remember melodies and tunes? Do you know that each of us remembers hundreds if not thousands of tunes and songs? You may forget the words, but you will not forget the tunes.

I am a lyricist, and I couldn’t resist recasting the Song of Moses into these lyrics. Stanza 1 extolling the Greatness of God (vv.4-9), and the Goodness of God (vv.10-14).

The might of God how strong it stands
The Rock is He, steadfast and just
Faithful and true in all His ways
Perfect and firm from first to last.

In Stanza 2, we sing of the Ingratitude of People (vv.15-18), and their Unfaithfulness (vv.19-22).

The love of God how low it stoops
To seek and find the lone and lost
The apple of His eye to cherish
To care and guard at any cost.

In the last stanza, Stanza 3, we sing of the Grief of God (vv.23-38), ending with the Grace of God (vv.39-43).

The grief of God how deep it hurts
To see the ones He brought to birth
Turn from His face and go astray
To gods and things of empty worth.

The grace of God how far it goes
To make atonement for our sin
Rejoice O nations and His people
He purifies our hearts to win.