Deuteronomy 32:39-43

Deuteronomy 32:39-43

[39] See  now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god  with me: I kill,  and I make alive;  I wound,  and I heal:  neither is there any that can deliver  out of my hand.  [40] For I lift up  my hand  to heaven,  and say,  I live  for ever.  [41] If I whet  my glittering  sword,  and mine hand  take hold  on judgment;  I will render  vengeance  to mine enemies,  and will reward  them that hate  [42] I will make mine arrows  drunk  with blood,  and my sword  shall devour  flesh;  and that with the blood  of the slain  and of the captives,  from the beginning  of revenges  upon the enemy.  [43] Rejoice,  O ye nations,  with his people:  for he will avenge  the blood  of his servants,  and will render  vengeance  to his adversaries,  and will be merciful  unto his land,  and to his people. 

What does Deuteronomy 32:39-43 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The biblical writers also represented God frequently as a warrior hero who engaged in battle for Israel against her enemies ( Deuteronomy 32:41-42; cf. Psalm 7:13). Loving God indicates faithful covenant obedience (cf. Deuteronomy 5:10; Deuteronomy 6:5; Deuteronomy 7:9; Deuteronomy 10:12; Deuteronomy 11:1; Deuteronomy 11:13; Deuteronomy 11:22; Deuteronomy 13:3; Deuteronomy 19:9; Deuteronomy 30:6; Deuteronomy 30:16; Deuteronomy 30:20). Hating Him describes those who either have no covenant relationship with Him or who live in rebellion against Him (cf. Deuteronomy 5:9; Deuteronomy 7:10; 2 Chronicles 19:2; Psalm 81:15; Psalm 139:20-21).
"Again it can be seen that the text portrays the Torah as God"s gift of life to his people in much the same way as the Tree of Life was put into the midst of the Garden of Eden ( Genesis 2:8-17). Just as obedience to the Lord"s command not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was the key to their access to the Tree of Life ( Genesis 2:16-17), so obedience to the Lord"s command in the Torah was to be the key to Israel"s "living long in the land" that God had prepared for them." [1]
This song was one more instrument God used to teach His people to obey Him along with Moses" sermons, the rituals, the monuments, etc. ( Deuteronomy 32:46-47).
"It will ... act as a mnemonic, an aid to memory, because during the intervening period it will have lived unforgotten in the mouth of the reader or hearer, ready to come to mind when the troubles arrive. Poetry is thus a kind of time bomb; it awaits its hour and then springs forward into harsh remembrance. ... It will live in their minds and mouths, bringing them back, whether they like it or not, to the harsh memory of the desert sojourn. Once learned it will not easily be forgotten. The words will stick, they will be importunate, they will not let us alone." [2]
The lesson this song teaches is that when God"s people forget His gracious goodness to them and turn away from Him to follow idols, they can expect discipline. When God appears to withdraw His blessings we should not question His ability or motives but examine the state of our relationship with Him.