The Song of Moses

Just before the seven last plagues are poured out on this chaotic planet, there is singing!

“They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:

“Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty!….

Revelation 15:3a

Who is singing?

The previous verse tells us that those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name are the ones singing (Rev 15:2). They are God’s faithful people in the very last days of earth’s history and they are shown standing on the sea of glass, singing.

What are they singing?

They are singing “the song of Moses” and “the song of the Lamb”. 

The Song of Moses

What exactly is the song of Moses?

There are two songs associated with Moses. There is a song sung by Moses and the Israelites after the crossing of the Red Sea where they praise God for miraculously delivering them from Pharaoh’s army. This is often referred to as the ‘song of Moses’. However, there is another ‘song of Moses’ that more closely fits this setting. 

Right before the Israelites were about to go into the promised land, the Lord specifically told Moses to write down the words to a song and teach it to the Israelites. Is this the same song the people of God sing just before they go into the eternal promised land?

19 Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

20 For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.

21 And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.

22 Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it [to] the children of Israel.

Deuteronomy 31:19-22

The Israelites were supposed to remember the words of this song and the warnings in it. They were supposed to teach their children God’s laws and instructions (Deut. 31:12-13). But, of course, they would forget as God predicted. Instead of following God’s instructions and commandments and following His ways – the way of life – they worshipped other gods and got themselves into a lot of trouble. However, verse 21 explains that there would be some people that would not forget this song.

Verse 21 says, “For it shall not be forgotten out of the mouth of their seed.” There’s a small group of people (the remnant of her seed) that are still following God’s commandments and are witnessing for Jesus near the end of this world’s history. They are still remembering this song. And oh my, the devil does not like that! 

“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Revelation 12:17 KJV

It is this song that the faithful people of God are probably singing right before the plagues fall. So what is in this song they are singing? What is the message it contains?

Have you ever read the song of Moses in Deuteronomy chapter 32?

When I first read it I was a little perplexed. While the beginning and ending are great, the middle is very, very sad and even a little disturbing. Why are God’s people singing this song at the end of time? But as I studied it more, I realized it tells a very important story that we might want to pay attention to. Here’s my summary of this song and then we will talk about why it’s important. You may read the whole song in the Bible in Deuteronomy 32:1-43. 

Summary of the Song of Moses

• God’s teaching (doctrine) is like the rain and falls on us. God teaches us the way to live.
• God is true, just and righteous. His ways are perfect. He is our Rock.
• God is sad because his children have corrupted themselves and are foolish.
• God tells the story of how he took care of his children in the wilderness and provided everything they needed. He took care of them like an eagle carrying her young on her wings. God’s people are his inheritance. He instructed them and blessed them.
• But his people turned away from Him. They forgot all about what He had done for them and they worshipped other gods, gods they didn’t even know. They worshipped demons and forgot about the God who made them and took care of them.
• So God turned away from them (he never forces himself on anyone).
• Then God describes the terrible consequences of their choices. Other nations would attack them. The judgments would come upon them – hunger, sword, pestilence, and beasts. This would affect all ages (men, women, children and babies). It would also affect God’s few faithful people – because of the rebellion of the majority. 
• God cries out, “O that they would understand, that they would consider the final end!” 
• God promises that He will not let the enemies of his people have the final word. He will take vengeance on them and will save anyone that returns to Him – Gentiles or Israelites.
• God promises to provide atonement for his people (He will take the punishment they deserve, so that they can have eternal life).

Blessings and Curses

The section of the Bible called the law, or Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible), ends with an explanation of blessings and curses. There are blessings for obedience to God and his ways, and curses for disobedience. These are found in Deuteronomy chapters 27-33. The climax of the blessings and curses is the “Song of Moses”. If we had lived during that time, it would have been the very end of our Bible. Revelation is the very end of our modern Bible and it has the same message. Because God loves us, He continues to repeat his warnings and his call to repentance.

Revelation is the continued unfolding of those blessings and curses. Blessings for the overcomers in the seven churches (during this earth’s history and in the world to come), and curses for the disobedient in the seven seals, the seven trumpets and last seven plagues. The final outcome of the blessings and curses is the lake of fire (curses) and eternal life (blessings). 

The Song of Moses told the ancient Israelites what would happen to them if they turned away from God. This was still during a time of judgment mixed with mercy. The Song of Moses sung in Revelation is the final proclamation – not of the everlasting gospel, but of the final consequences of sin and rebellion.

In one sense it is a very, very sad song, because it describes the tragic destruction of the wicked. On the other hand, it answers the question that many people have had in every generation. “Why would a God of love let so much pain and evil and wickedness go on and on?” “Why doesn’t he do something about it if he’s all powerful?” 

At the opening of the fifth seal, those who have been martyred for Christ symbolically cry out, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10)

The song of Moses answers this question. 

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people;

For He will avenge the blood of His servants,

And render vengeance to His adversaries;

He will provide atonement for His land and His people.”

Deuteronomy 32:43

This is a fitting ending for a song that ushers in the seven last plagues or bowls of wrath. God will take care of the enemies of his people. He will save them and get rid of evil forever. Now that’s something to rejoice about! In the meantime, maybe it’s time to review what old Moses was saying – It’s time to remember and take to heart the teachings that are dropping like dew and rain on the tender grass (that’s us). It’s time to repent of our sins and fall on the Rock that is Jesus Christ. Even through the worst of times, He will care for his people and lift them up on Eagle’s wings – if we let Him. 

Read the post about the Song of the Lamb – to learn about the beautiful ending to this song.