Deuteronomy 31:19
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel. Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
God commanded Moses to write a song and teach it to Israel and put it in their mouths, so it would remain as a lasting witness against them. The song set forth His law and its promises, the blessings of obedience and its safeguards, together with Israel's history and His providential care, goodness, mercy and deliverance, that its words would stay in memory and testify when prosperity led them to serve other gods, break the covenant and suffer trouble. His instruction was put into verse to be learned and sung and remembered, making it solemn and impressive and writing His requirements indelibly on minds and hearts. It was to be taught to children as soon as they could speak in a pleasant way and passed from parents to children through succeeding generations, with parents recounting its history and explaining its lessons, for obedience to His law was their life and brings His blessing while disobedience brings His curse. The people sang its precepts as they journeyed through the wilderness and in worship and daily work, which guided their steps and taught respect and unselfishness, and the song retold God's past dealings and foretold future events, including the final victory of the faithful when Christ returns in power and glory.
Song's Witness and Content
Moses was commanded to write a song, teach it to the children of Israel, and put it in their mouths, that it might remain as a witness against them. The song was a vehicle for teaching and remembrance, set before the people to be learned and retained. It was to stay with them as a standing testimony concerning them.
Its content set forth God's commandments and law with their promises, presenting the blessings of obedience and the safeguards and blessings found in keeping them. At the same time it made Israel's history into song, preserving the record of God's dealings, His providential care and deliverance, His goodness and mercy. It was to keep the law in hearts and minds as they journeyed through the wilderness, so it would not be forgotten and would stand as a witness, with the duty to teach it passing from parents to children through succeeding generations, parents also setting an example of obedience. Obedience to God's law was Israel's life, while disobedience would bring His displeasure.
Its words were to remain in memory and not be forgotten by their descendants. When prosperity and enjoyment of the land's blessings led them to serve other gods, break the covenant, and then suffer troubles, the song would testify to their unfaithfulness. It retold God's past dealings with Israel and also foretold future events. Among those future events was the final victory of the faithful when Christ returns in power and glory, and it was to be memorized by children and later generations, sung in worship and repeated in daily work, so its words would remain in mind as a witness.
Teaching Through Sacred Song
God put His instruction into verse and song to be learned, sung, and remembered, so that matters of great importance would not be forgotten. Setting the law to song made its words solemn and impressive and cheered the people on their wilderness journey. Singing together helped them remember His dealings and fixed His lessons in their minds, writing His requirements indelibly on minds and hearts. Singing His words remains an effective way to keep them in memory.
The people sang the precepts as they journeyed and marched through the wilderness, with Moses repeating the words and the people repeating them after him in song. They kept step to the music and sang with instrumental music, in worship and in daily work, and were cheered on their way. The songs taught to the children set God's commandments before the people and were sung during the journey. The pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night showed that Christ was with them as they traveled.
The song was to be taught to children and memorized by the people, including children and later generations, and passed from parents to children through succeeding generations. Children were to learn and sing it as soon as they could speak, in a pleasant way of teaching. Parents were thereby given a way to pass on the record of God's dealings, recount Israel's history, and teach its lessons when their children asked what the songs meant. Parents were also to set an example of obedience, keeping the law in heart and mind so it would not be forgotten and would stand as a witness.
Teaching God's commandments to children in this way is a clear duty and not an optional practice. Obedience to His law was Israel's life and brings His blessing, while disobedience brings His curse and displeasure.
Keeping God's will continually before them by song guided their steps and made it important to heed His Word. It taught respect and unselfishness toward one another and helped prevent disorder. The song serves as a vehicle for teaching and remembrance that calls for speech devoted to God's service in words that honor His name.