Deuteronomy 31:16
And the LORD said to Moses, "You will soon rest with your fathers, and these people will rise up and prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake Me and break the covenant I have made with them.
And the LORD said to Moses
This phrase signifies a direct communication from God to Moses, highlighting the unique relationship Moses had with God as a prophet and leader. The Hebrew word for "LORD" is "YHWH," the sacred name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. This divine communication underscores the authority and authenticity of the message being delivered.

You are about to rest with your fathers
The phrase "rest with your fathers" is a euphemism for death, indicating that Moses' life is coming to an end. In Hebrew culture, this expression reflects the belief in joining one's ancestors in Sheol, the abode of the dead. It conveys a sense of continuity and peace, suggesting that Moses' mission is complete and he will be gathered to his people.

and these people will rise up
The phrase "rise up" indicates a future action of rebellion or apostasy. In the Hebrew context, it suggests a deliberate and conscious decision to act against God's commandments. This forewarning serves as a prophetic insight into the future behavior of the Israelites, highlighting the challenges they will face in maintaining their covenant with God.

and prostitute themselves with the foreign gods
The term "prostitute" is a metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness, drawing from the Hebrew word "zanah," which means to commit fornication or idolatry. This vivid imagery illustrates the severity of Israel's impending idolatry, equating it to marital infidelity. The "foreign gods" refer to the deities of the Canaanites, whose worship practices were abominable to the Israelites' covenantal relationship with YHWH.

of the land they are entering
This phrase refers to the Promised Land, Canaan, which the Israelites are about to enter. The land is not just a geographical location but a place filled with spiritual and cultural challenges. The Canaanite influence poses a significant threat to the Israelites' faithfulness to God, as they are called to be a distinct and holy people.

They will forsake Me
To "forsake" means to abandon or leave behind, derived from the Hebrew word "azab." This indicates a willful departure from God, highlighting the gravity of Israel's future disobedience. It serves as a warning of the consequences of turning away from the divine relationship established through the covenant.

and break the covenant I made with them
The "covenant" refers to the solemn agreement between God and Israel, established at Sinai. The Hebrew word "berith" signifies a binding contract, emphasizing the seriousness of Israel's commitment to God. Breaking this covenant is not merely a legal infraction but a profound spiritual betrayal, with significant repercussions for the nation.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD
The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who speaks to Moses about the future of the Israelites.

2. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, who is nearing the end of his life and leadership.

3. The Israelites
God's chosen people, who are about to enter the Promised Land but are warned of future unfaithfulness.

4. Foreign gods
The deities worshiped by the inhabitants of the Promised Land, representing a temptation for the Israelites.

5. The Covenant
The solemn agreement between God and Israel, which the Israelites are warned they will break.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Idolatry
Idolatry is not just the worship of physical idols but anything that takes the place of God in our hearts.

Believers must be vigilant against modern forms of idolatry, such as materialism, power, or relationships.

The Importance of Covenant Faithfulness
God's covenant with His people requires loyalty and obedience.

Christians are called to remain faithful to the New Covenant through Christ, living lives that reflect His teachings.

The Consequences of Unfaithfulness
Turning away from God leads to spiritual and often physical consequences.

The history of Israel serves as a warning to remain steadfast in faith.

God's Foreknowledge and Sovereignty
God knows the future and warns His people out of love and a desire for their faithfulness.

Trusting in God's sovereignty helps believers navigate challenges and temptations.
Bible Study Questions
1. What are some modern "foreign gods" that can tempt believers today, and how can we guard against them?

2. How does the concept of covenant in the Old Testament relate to the New Covenant established by Jesus?

3. In what ways can the cycle of apostasy seen in Judges be observed in the lives of believers or the church today?

4. How can understanding God's foreknowledge and warnings help us in our personal walk with Christ?

5. Reflect on a time when you faced a temptation to "forsake" God. How did you overcome it, and what role did Scripture play in that process?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 32
The incident of the golden calf, where the Israelites previously turned to idol worship, foreshadowing their future unfaithfulness.

Judges 2
Describes the cycle of Israel's apostasy, punishment, repentance, and deliverance, illustrating the pattern warned about in Deuteronomy 31:16.

Hosea 1-3
Uses the metaphor of marital unfaithfulness to describe Israel's idolatry, echoing the language of "prostituting themselves" with foreign gods.

1 Corinthians 10
Paul warns the Corinthians about idolatry, using Israel's history as a cautionary example for New Testament believers.
JoshuaJ. Orr Deuteronomy 31:3-8, 23
The Authorship of the BookJ. Orr Deuteronomy 31:9, 24-26
The Written WordJ. Orr Deuteronomy 31:9, 24-27
The Honor Appertaining to God's LawD. Davies Deuteronomy 31:9-13, 24-29
The Lord's Charge to Moses and JoshuaR.M. Edgar Deuteronomy 31:14-23
The Official Investiture of JoshuaD. Davies Deuteronomy 31:14, 15, 23
The Last Precaution Against IdolatryD. Davies Deuteronomy 31:16-22, 29
God's Foresight of Israel's DeclensionJ. Orr Deuteronomy 31:16-22, 28-30
People
Amorites, Israelites, Joshua, Levi, Levites, Moses, Nun, Og, Sihon
Places
Jordan River, Moab
Topics
FALSE, Arise, Astray, A-whoring, Behold, Break, Broken, Commit, Covenant, Enter, Entered, Entering, Fathers, Foreign, Forsake, Forsaken, Gods, Harlot, Idolatry, Lie, Lying, Midst, Play, Prostitute, Rest, Rise, Risen, Sleep, Strange, Stranger, Strangers, Themselves, Uniting, Whither, Whoring
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Deuteronomy 31:16

     5057   rest, physical
     5535   sleep, and death
     6239   prostitution
     6243   adultery, spiritual
     8032   trust, lack of
     8771   idolatry, objections
     9022   death, believers

Deuteronomy 31:15-16

     7251   pillar of cloud and fire

Deuteronomy 31:16-18

     8705   apostasy, in OT
     8799   polytheism

Library
Pilgrim Song
Gerhard Ter Steegen Deut. xxxi. 8 On, O beloved children, The evening is at hand, And desolate and fearful The solitary land. Take heart! the rest eternal Awaits our weary feet; From strength to strength press onwards, The end, how passing sweet! Lo, we can tread rejoicing The narrow pilgrim road; We know the voice that calls us, We know our faithful God. Come, children, on to glory! With every face set fast Towards the golden towers Where we shall rest at last. It was with voice of singing We
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

First Sunday in Lent
Text: Second Corinthians 6, 1-10. 1 And working together with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain 2 (for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, and in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation): 3 giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed; 4 but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities,
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant.
"Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before Me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord. Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place."--2 Kings
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

Never! Never! Never! Never! Never!
Hence, let us learn, my brethren, the extreme value of searching the Scriptures. There may be a promise in the Word which would exactly fit your case, but you may not know of it, and therefore miss its comfort. You are like prisoners in a dungeon, and there may be one key in the bunch which would unlock the door, and you might be free; but if you will not look for it you may remain a prisoner still, though liberty is near at hand. There may be a potent medicine in the great pharmacopia of Scripture,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 8: 1863

Jesus Makes a Preaching Tour through Galilee.
^A Matt. IV. 23-25; ^B Mark I. 35-39; ^C Luke IV. 42-44. ^b 35 And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up went out [i. e., from the house of Simon Peter], and departed into a desert place, and there prayed. [Though Palestine was densely populated, its people were all gathered into towns, so that it was usually easy to find solitude outside the city limits. A ravine near Capernaum, called the Vale of Doves, would afford such solitude. Jesus taught (Matt. vi. 6) and practiced solitary
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Deuteronomy
Owing to the comparatively loose nature of the connection between consecutive passages in the legislative section, it is difficult to present an adequate summary of the book of Deuteronomy. In the first section, i.-iv. 40, Moses, after reviewing the recent history of the people, and showing how it reveals Jehovah's love for Israel, earnestly urges upon them the duty of keeping His laws, reminding them of His spirituality and absoluteness. Then follows the appointment, iv. 41-43--here irrelevant (cf.
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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