Day 60. Deuteronomy 30-31

As we near the end of Deuteronomy, we hear the voice of Moses returning to what are certainly the two principle themes of the book—the faithfulness of God and the unfaithfulness of the chosen people. Both are accepted facts, proved again and again by experience.
But even though the people have and will again prove unfaithful, even though, as a result of that unfaithfulness, they may be "exiled to the ends of the world," still "from there the LORD [their] God will gather [them], and from there he will bring [them] back" (30:3-4). It is a promise--If the people return to him and obey his commandments, God will always forgive them.
Just as the unfaithfulness of the people is a foregone conclusion in Deuteronomy, so God's fidelity and mercy are absolutely dependable. They are at the very heart of his nature—he cannot be otherwise.
And the prophet anticipates a future when the people will be like their God. He looks forward to a time when the exterior sign—circumcision—will become an interior reality, when obedience will be second nature to them and they will "love the LORD [their] God with all [their] heart and with all [their] soul, in order that [they] may live" (30:6).
Life or death—Moses presents the people with two possible choices. It is not easy to obey God's commandments—that is obvious—but they can do it. Knowing the will of God and obeying is not impossible. "The commandment that I am commanding you is not too hard for you, nor is it far away" the voice of Moses says (30:11). In fact "the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe" (31:14).
The climax of the Deuteronomy comes when Moses calls all of creation to witness that he has done everything possible to make the consequences of both obedience and rebellion clear. "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and earth, blessings and curses," he says. "Choose life so that you and your descendents may live. . . ." (30:19).
In this choice, Moses thus sums up his whole career. The Law he communicates from God offers to each individual and to the nation as a whole the opportunity to live in that obedience that brings men and women into friendship with God. But the Law also makes those who neglect to keep it into God's enemies.
God is faithful. The people are unfaithful. But the LORD's mercy offers them the opportunity to remember his love and faithfulness in the past, repent, and live.
Chapter 31 is devoted to that other great theme in Deuteronomy—remembering. It stipulates that the Law shall be read to the assembly of all the people every seven years so that "they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God and to observe diligently all the words of the law" (31:13). And it provides that a copy of the law shall be deposited in the ark (31:26), which represented a sort of "memory box" for Israel, to remind them of the covenant they have made.
Finally Moses composes and recites a "song" which is intended to recall for the people who the LORD their God is and what he has done. That song will begin our reading for tomorrow. . . . .