Context No. 3446 of 4322 · Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 32:33-43: in context

33Their wine is the poison of serpents, the cruel venom of asps. 34“Isn’t this laid up in store with me, sealed up among my treasures? 35Vengeance is mine, and recompense, at the time when their foot slides, for the day of their calamity is at hand. Their doom rushes at them.” 36For the LORD will judge his people, and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone, that there is no one remaining, shut up or left at large. 37He will say, “Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge, 38which ate the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise up and help you! Let them be your protection. 39“See now that I myself am he. There is no god with me. I kill and I make alive. I wound and I heal. There is no one who can deliver out of my hand. 40For I lift up my hand to heaven and declare, as I live forever, 41if I sharpen my glittering sword, my hand grasps it in judgment; I will take vengeance on my adversaries, and will repay those who hate me. 42I will make my arrows drunk with blood. My sword shall devour flesh with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the head of the leaders of the enemy.” 43Rejoice, you nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants. He will take vengeance on his adversaries, and will make atonement for his land and for his people.

The Song of Moses declares God's sole sovereignty over life and death and judgment. Vengeance is mine, and recompense, he says, reserving to himself alone the right to repay evil, which frees his people from the crushing burden of avenging themselves. And there is comfort woven right through the warning.

The LORD will judge his people and have compassion on his servants, the song promises, when he sees that their strength is gone and none is left. When his people reach the end of themselves, helpless, his compassion moves toward them. And then the great declaration: see now that I, even I, am he; there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; none can deliver from my hand. Life and death, wounding and healing, are all in his hand alone, and there is no rival power. To grasp this is both sobering and steadying: the God who judges is the same God who heals, and everything, in the end, rests in his hand.

Do I rest in the truth that God alone holds life and death, judgment and healing, so that I leave vengeance to him and trust his compassion when my own strength is gone?

Sources

Deuteronomy 32:35: "Vengeance is mine, and recompense, at the time when their foot slides."
Deuteronomy 32:36: "For the LORD will judge his people, and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone."
Deuteronomy 32:39: "See now that I myself am he... I kill and I make alive. I wound and I heal."