The "Song of Moses and the Lamb" provides help for those dealing with current SDA Church issues. How can we be certain that this message is current and relevant to us?
First, we can discover that this semi-private song surrounds the Three Angels Messages of Revelation 14:6-12, which is a significant point in its own right,
"They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth." (Revelation 14:3).
Does God already know who will compose the 144,000 that are yet to be determined from our human reasoning? Of course! For both brevity and the fact that even some who may read this article apparently cannot “learn” the song, overview highlights will be provided in this brief article rather than a complete exposition. We next learn in Revelation 15:3 that:
“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! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!’ ”
When including verse 4, this is strikingly similar to the Song of Moses from Deuteronomy 32:3, 4, providing a solid clue we are to set our attention on that text.
Once we uncover that the song in question, in part, is called “The Song of Moses,” we find only two in Scripture. Both involve the journey of God’s people to the Promised Land. The first, found in Exodus 15, offers a brief testimony of the beginnings of their journey to Canaan.
However, Deuteronomy 32 provides a song foretelling what occurs before the journey’s climax and seems a more fitting choice. The prelude offers a telling clue as to who needs to hear the message most loudly and clearly:
“Gather to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them.”
This passage speaks of all top leaders in Israel. The song continues:
“For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands. Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song until they were ended.” (Deuteronomy 31:28-30 with bold added).
“Could God be referring to the many layers of our corporate church structure that continually make it harder to maneuver quickly and produce rapid results? Could He further be referring to wasting His financial resources on maintaining the institution of the body rather than focusing on the growth of those without?”
This essential end-time “Song of Moses” that followed appears in Deuteronomy 32:1-43. Undoubtedly, this can also be called the “Song of the Lamb” since the “spirit of prophecy” is further called “the testimony of Jesus.” (See Revelation 12:17; 19:10). The song begins with an appeal for all to listen in verse 1 and a reminder that it should not be used as a battering ram in verse 2. Instead, its doctrine should fall as the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. This is perhaps especially true if we should find ourselves called to tackle issues involving “the Lord’s anointed.” Verses 3 and 4 remind us not to focus on the faults of others but on the greatness of our God. However, verses 5 and 6 do not ignore the problems often associated with all those who profess to call themselves His children. In subsequent verses, it is easy to uncover a connection with God’s last-day remnant church.
By verse 10, God speaks of “finding” Jacob in the wilderness, which climaxes in the United States of America. The eagle is mentioned explicitly in verse 11, along with a reference to God’s people enjoying the blessings of Sabbath where: “He made him ride in the heights of the earth” in verse 13. (See also Isaiah 58:13).
Verses 12-14 reveal God leading His own to prosperity and growth until tragedy occurs in verse 15 where His precious blessings are utterly wasted via excessive hoarding in this strong rebuke:
“But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; You grew fat, you grew thick, You are obese!”
Could God be referring to the many layers of our corporate church structure that continually make it harder to maneuver quickly and produce rapid results? Could He further be referring to wasting His financial resources on maintaining the institution of the body rather than focusing on the growth of those without?
Consider further how tithe is referred to as “food in my house” in Malachi 3:10. Verse 15 concludes regarding Jeshurun:
“Then he forsook God who made him, And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation.”
Obviously, Jeshurun would forget the principles of Jesus. While Jesus gave self-sacrificially to His own hurt, Jeshurun is instead utterly obsessed with overdoing organizational self-maintenance, even to the point of a cost or to the hurt of others.
Jeshurun
Without question, a key to our understanding and application of this song is found in answering the question: Just who is this Jeshurun? It would still be wise to start by looking in the mirror, by the way. Ask yourself: “Do I have any Jeshurun characteristics? Do I need Jesus to accomplish a complete makeover of my character?” Used only three other times in Scripture, Jeshurun reveals a few noted attributes outside of our main text: God was "King in Jeshurun. When the leaders of the people were gathered, All the tribes of Israel together." (Deuteronomy 33:5). Is this text not reminiscent of His clear leadership we surely know we experience when the GC is in full session? Jeshurun should never act as a king, for to do so would be to replace God on His rightful throne.
Next, in Deuteronomy 33:26, 27, we read:
“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, And in His excellency on the clouds. The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms.”
Here, we read of our God's excellent majesty and ever-readiness to provide help. While He may seem far away at times, Psalm 46:1 reminds us all: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble.” We can also find a clear reference to the God of refuge in Psalm 91, where the resulting victory over evil ones can be seen. This is a recurring theme throughout "The Song." Sadly, the Psalm 91 theme has gone largely unnoticed by His remnant church amidst recent world crises. A proper end-time understanding of Psalm 91 could have prevented much harm.
For instance, if we had only made the clear connection between the perilous pestilence of COVID-19 as being “the snare of the fowler” in verse 3 and then understood a “loud cry" connection to it in Revelation 18, many lives would have been spared. God’s true church could have shined brightly amidst the darkness. Instead, we looked much like the other congregations, except that we profited far more than most due to our extensive healthcare system. Upwards of $20 billion were systematically added due to COVID. This cash cow could prove a tempting idol for Jeshurun to overcome, especially as it would require sacrificing some of his own people. (See Deuteronomy 32:16-19). Unfortunately, this did result since untrustworthy government-approved statements were required to allow these increased funds to flow into Jeshurun’s coffers. (Read previous Fulcrum7 article here).
Lastly, in Isaiah 44:1 and 2, we see Jeshurun as a chosen people equated with Israel, perhaps to remind us that Israel is not always literal but is often applied spiritually. In verse 3, God adds, “I will pour My Spirit on your descendants.” Thus, Jeshurun may be blessed through its “remnant seed” even while not receiving God’s desired blessing directly.
Two paragraphs from Wikipedia on Jeshurun under the subheading Modern Interpretation are recommended reading. They included conflicting thoughts from the Reformer John Calvin and two other theologians. However, the resulting three differing interpretations may apply to any modern SDA who remains Laodicean despite having been highly favored with divine manifestations even as a people who profess righteousness without actually living it. These thoughts are also often shown strikingly throughout Deuteronomy 32 within The Song of Moses and the Lamb.
What happens next with Jeshurun is an unflattering and downright scary tale. Verse 19 seems to indicate that it is how Jeshurun has vexed God’s true sons and daughters that ultimately moves God in much the same way it has moved some of you—toward a place of frustration or anger with those who have been directly entrusted to do what is right by God’s children. An ensuing abandonment of sorts by God leads down a rabbit hole that allows modern Babylon, or “a nation that is not a nation” (see verse 21), to provoke and move Jeshurun…rather than God.
I encourage you to read further and deeply study “the song” in its entirety for yourself or with all those willing within your congregations. The good news is that The Song of Moses and the Lamb ultimately ends with rejoicing for any and all who will completely align themselves with the ways of their Creator. Jesus is coming back soon! Let us be ever ready to meet Him, my brothers and sisters. - Isaac Anthony
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Isaac Anthony (pen name) is a long-time SDA leader in good standing who desires to remain anonymous yet affect positive change and growth in God’s remnant and far beyond. He has penned a recent book, True Worship: Key to Avoiding the Mark of the Beast, which provides new light upon the following: the Loud Cry we are to give against Babylon, modern worship issues, Daniel 11, the abomination of desolation, satanic last-day deceptions, and much more. The book is primarily geared toward sharing with your non-SDA Christian friends but will prove eye-opening for all readers. It is now available on Amazon Books here.