Text: Deuteronomy 31:14-29
Hymn: 758, The Will of God is Always Best
Kretzmann Commentary: Deuteronomy
Normally when I pick a scripture passage, I try to pick something where the Gospel is fairly self-evident. I went somewhat off-road this time in Deuteronomy, because a lot of Deuteronomy seems to be of the format that if Israel obeys God, God blesses them, if not, God curses them. Chapter 31 is a different animal. In this chapter, Joshua is told that he will succeed Moses for the people’s trip into Canaan. God tells Joshua and Moses that he is giving them the promised land, despite the fact that God already knows they are going to screw up and break the covenant. The people will be called to repentance by the song of Moses on the children’s lips! Translate that to the New Testament, where God gives us the new heavens and the new earth, even though he knows we sin over and over again. May our children have good hymns on their lips to call us back to repentance and trust in His Word!
The Will of God Is Always Best
- The will of God is always best
And shall be done forever;
And they who trust in Him are blest,
He will forsake them never.
He helps indeed In time of need,
He chastens with forbearing;
They who depend On God, their Friend,
Shall not be left despairing. - God is my comfort and my trust,
My hope and life abiding;
And to His counsel wise and just,
I yield in Him confiding.
The very hairs, His Word declares,
Upon my head He numbers.
By night and day God is my stay;
He never sleeps nor slumbers. - Lord, this I ask, O hear my plea,
Deny me not this favor:
When Satan sorely troubles me,
Then do not let me waver.
O guard me well, My fear dispel,
Fulfill Thy faithful saying:
All who believe By grace receive
An answer to their praying. - When life’s brief course on earth is run
And I this world am leaving,
Grant me to say: “Your will be done.”
Your faithful Word believing.
My dearest Friend, I now commend
My soul into Your keeping,
From sin and hell, And death as well,
By You the vict-’ry reaping.
TURRIE on 
Dan
