Deuteronomy 32:13

He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;

Deuteronomy 32:13 belongs to a song that recounts God's past dealings with Israel. That song was formed by Moses at Christ's command out of God's dealings with ancient Israel to preserve that history. It presents those dealings as events to be remembered and taught to later generations, including God's care and deliverance and His providential goodness and mercy, so they would not be forgotten.

The verse pictures God bringing Israel to a rich land and providing its produce in abundance. He raised them to a secure place while guiding and guarding them, and provided richly for their needs. The high places yield food from the fields, and even rock and flinty rock yield honey and oil, showing the extraordinary richness of His provision. It means that God can make the wilderness a fruitful field for those who keep His commandments, for the glory of His name.

God expects a faithful response to this care. His providing for His chosen people should inspire every heart with thanksgiving and with joy and gladness and praise before Him. The song also foreshadows future events, including the final victory of the faithful when Christ comes again in power and glory. The song, with its record of God's care, deliverance, providential goodness and mercy, is to be taught by parents to children so it will not be forgotten.

Those providential dealings and marked goodness and mercy in care and deliverance are to be often repeated and brought before young and old with recounting of His goodness and praise for His wonderful works. They are to be gathered up as memorials and laid up in sight, with special pains to preserve them. The past history of God's wonder-working power is thus to be kept so the whole story can be repeated when children inquire.

❧