The song of Moses contained in Deuteronomy chapter 32 is an amazing revelation of God’s future plan for the nation of Israel. After wandering for forty years in the wilderness, Moses is preparing to die, and he is preparing the people to enter the Promised Land. In his introduction to the song Moses declares the time frame of when all these things would befall this people.
“For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death? Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them. For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands. And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.” Deuteronomy 31:27-30
In this introduction we see that the people would “utterly corrupt” themselves, and “turn aside from the way which (Moses) had commanded them”. At that p oint all of the evil promised in the Song of Moses would befall them; “In the Latter Days.”
I have been fascinated as I have studied this song that there are many clues to when this would occur. I have already published some results of this study in the Song of Moses showing that the first century was the time of the fulfillment of this Song of Moses. The previous article was titled; “JEALOUSY and ENVY ‘” FULFILLING the PURPOSE of GOD” (See the link).
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/7825628/jealousy_and_envy_fulfilling_the_purpose.html?cat=34
I recommend you read it in conjunction with this article as the evidence continues to mount for a first century fulfillment of the Song of Moses.
But as we leave the introduction to the Song in Deuteronomy 31:27-30 (above), let’s take a look at the next piece of evidence that supports this idea of a first century fulfillment.
In verse five of the Song, Moses identifies the nation of Israel in the day of this judgment as being a “perverse and crooked Generation”.
“They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.” Deuteronomy 32:5
And in verse 20Israel is identified as a “Froward generation…in whom is no faith”.
“And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.”Deuteronomy 32:20
We need now to see if God by way of his inspired New Testament apostles identified Israel as “A perverse and crooked generation”, and a “generation in whom is no faith”.
In several places in the New Testament we see the apostles proclaiming exactly that. Do you not think that the Jews who were the primary audience did not recognize the apostles terminology as having come directly from the judgment Song of Moses.
To start with let look at the Day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. Peter is speaking to a purely Jewish audience when he says.
“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.“ Acts 2:40
Jesus also in using this terminology was perfectly familiar with Moses choice of words when Jesus told a purely Jewish audience that they were both “faithless and perverse”.
“And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.” Luke 9:41
Then we have Paul in Philippians describing the generation of unbelieving Jews who were actively persecuting any who came to faith in Jesus Christ as “A crooked and perverse nation”. Was there another NATION that he could he have been referring to beside Israel? I do not think so.
“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” Philippians 2:15
In each of these passages the Greek word used to describe their “crookedness” is the word “Skolios”. Interestingly enough, in the Greek Septuagint translation of the Old Testament, this is the exact Greek word used in Deuteronomy chapter 5.
Since God’s word is inspired; and Jesus and his apostles were well acquainted with the words of Moses. Could they possibly have been mistaken in their use of Moses words to describe the Last Days of Israel?
The vast majority of Jews in the first century were much more familiar with the Greek Old Testament, so when they used the exact words of Moses shouldn’t we take note of that?