321 Give ear, you heavens, and I will speak.
Let the earth hear the words of my mouth. 2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain.
My speech shall condense as the dew,
as the small rain on the tender grass,
as the showers on the herb. 3 For I will proclaim the name of Yahweh.
Ascribe greatness to our God! 4 The Rock, his work is perfect,
for all his ways are justice:
a God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
just and right is he. 5 They have dealt corruptly with him, they are not his children, it is their blemish.
They are a perverse and crooked generation. 6 Do you thus requite Yahweh,
foolish people and unwise?
Isn’t he your father who has bought you?
He has made you, and established you.
7 Remember the days of old.
Consider the years of many generations.
Ask your father, and he will show you;
your elders, and they will tell you. 8 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance,
when he separated the children of men,
he set the bounds of the peoples
according to the number of the children of Israel. 9 For Yahweh’s portion is his people.
Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. 10 He found him in a desert land,
in the waste howling wilderness.
He surrounded him.
He cared for him.
He kept him as the apple of his eye. 11 As an eagle that stirs up her nest,
that flutters over her young,
he spread abroad his wings, he took them,
he bore them on his feathers. 12 Yahweh alone led him.
There was no foreign god with him. 13 He made him ride on the high places of the earth.
He ate the increase of the field.
He caused him to suck honey out of the rock,
oil out of the flinty rock; 14 Butter of the herd, and milk of the flock,
with fat of lambs,
rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats,
with the finest of the wheat.
Of the blood of the grape you drank wine.
15 But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked.
You have grown fat.
You have grown thick.
You have become sleek.
Then he forsook God who made him,
and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. 16 They moved him to jealousy with strange gods.
They provoked him to anger with abominations. 17 They sacrificed to demons, which were no God,
to gods that they didn’t know,
to new gods that came up of late,
which your fathers didn’t dread. 18 Of the Rock who became your father, you are unmindful,
and have forgotten God who gave you birth.
19 Yahweh saw it, and abhorred them,
because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters. 20 He said, “I will hide my face from them.
I will see what their end shall be;
for they are a very perverse generation,
children in whom is no faithfulness. 21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God.
They have provoked me to anger with their vanities.
I will move them to jealousy with those who are not a people.
I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. 22 For a fire is kindled in my anger,
Burns to the lowest Sheol,
Devours the earth with its increase,
and sets the foundations of the mountains on fire. 23 “I will heap evils on them.
I will spend my arrows on them. 24 They shall be wasted with hunger, and devoured with burning heat
and bitter destruction.
I will send the teeth of animals on them,
With the poison of crawling things of the dust. 25 Outside the sword shall bereave,
and in the chambers, terror;
on both young man and virgin,
The suckling with the gray-haired man.
26 I said, I would scatter them afar.
I would make the memory of them to cease from among men; 27 were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy,
lest their adversaries should judge wrongly,
lest they should say, ‘Our hand is exalted,
Yahweh has not done all this.’” 28 For they are a nation void of counsel.
There is no understanding in them. 29 Oh that they were wise, that they understood this,
that they would consider their latter end! 30 How could one chase a thousand,
and two put ten thousand to flight,
unless their Rock had sold them,
and Yahweh had delivered them up? 31 For their rock is not as our Rock,
even our enemies themselves being judges. 32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom,
of the fields of Gomorrah.
Their grapes are grapes of gall,
Their clusters are bitter. 33 Their 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? 35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense,
at the time when their foot slides;
for the day of their calamity is at hand.
The things that are to come on them shall make haste.” 36 For Yahweh will judge his people,
and have compassion on his servants,
when he sees that their power is gone,
There is none remaining, shut up or left at large. 37 He will say, “Where are their gods,
The rock in which they took refuge; 38 Which 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, even I, 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. 40 For I lift up my hand to heaven,
And say, As I live forever, 41 if I whet my glittering sword,
My hand take hold on judgment;
I will render vengeance to my adversaries,
and will recompense those who hate me. 42 I 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.” 43 Rejoice, you nations, with his people,
for he will avenge the blood of his servants.
He will render vengeance to his adversaries,
And will make expiation for his land, for his people.
44 Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he and Joshua the son of Nun. 45 Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel; 46 He said to them, “Set your heart to all the words which I testify to you this day, which you shall command your children to observe to do, even all the words of this law. 47 For it is no vain thing for you; because it is your life, and through this thing you shall prolong your days in the land, where you go over the Jordan to possess it.”
48 Yahweh spoke to Moses that same day, saying, 49 “Go up into this mountain of Abarim, to Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and see the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel for a possession; 50 and die on the mountain where you go up, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor, and was gathered to his people: 51 because you trespassed against me in the midst of the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah of Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because you didn’t sanctify me in the midst of the children of Israel. 52 For you shall see the land before you; but you shall not go there into the land which I give the children of Israel.”
331 This is the blessing, with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. 2 He said,
“Yahweh came from Sinai,
And rose from Seir to them.
He shone forth from Mount Paran.
He came from the ten thousands of holy ones.
At his right hand was a fiery law for them. 3 Yes, he loves the people.
All his saints are in your hand.
They sat down at your feet;
Everyone shall receive of your words. 4 Moses commanded us a law,
An inheritance for the assembly of Jacob. 5 He was king in Jeshurun,
When the heads of the people were gathered,
All the tribes of Israel together.
6 “Let Reuben live, and not die;
Nor let his men be few.” 7 This is the blessing of Judah: and he said,
“Hear, Yahweh, the voice of Judah.
Bring him in to his people.
With his hands he contended for himself.
You shall be a help against his adversaries.”
8 Of Levi he said,
“Your Thummim and your Urim are with your godly one,
whom you proved at Massah,
with whom you strove at the waters of Meribah; 9 who said of his father, and of his mother, ‘I have not seen him;’
Neither did he acknowledge his brothers,
Nor did he know his own children:
For they have observed your word,
and keep your covenant. 10 They shall teach Jacob your ordinances,
and Israel your law.
They shall put incense before you,
and whole burnt offering on your altar. 11 Yahweh, bless his substance.
Accept the work of his hands.
Strike through the hips of those who rise up against him,
of those who hate him, that they not rise again.”
12 Of Benjamin he said,
“The beloved of Yahweh shall dwell in safety by him.
He covers him all the day long.
He dwells between his shoulders.” 13 Of Joseph he said,
“His land is blessed by Yahweh,
for the precious things of the heavens, for the dew,
for the deep that couches beneath, 14 for the precious things of the fruits of the sun,
for the precious things of the growth of the moons, 15 for the chief things of the ancient mountains,
for the precious things of the everlasting hills, 16 for the precious things of the earth and its fullness,
the good will of him who lived in the bush [1].
Let the blessing come on the head of Joseph,
On the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers. 17 The firstborn of his herd, majesty is his.
His horns are the horns of the wild ox.
With them he shall push the peoples all of them, even the ends of the earth:
They are the ten thousands of Ephraim.
They are the thousands of Manasseh.”
18 Of Zebulun he said,
“Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out;
and Issachar, in your tents. 19 They shall call the peoples to the mountain.
There they will offer sacrifices of righteousness,
for they shall draw out the abundance of the seas,
the hidden treasures of the sand.” 20 Of Gad he said,
“He who enlarges Gad is blessed.
He dwells as a lioness,
and tears the arm, yes, the crown of the head. 21 He provided the first part for himself,
for there was the lawgiver’s portion reserved.
He came with the heads of the people.
He executed the righteousness of Yahweh,
His ordinances with Israel.”
22 Of Dan he said,
“Dan is a lion’s cub
that leaps out of Bashan.” 23 Of Naphtali he said,
“Naphtali, satisfied with favor,
full of the blessing of Yahweh,
Possess the west and the south.” 24 Of Asher he said,
“Asher is blessed with children.
Let him be acceptable to his brothers.
Let him dip his foot in oil. 25 Your bars shall be iron and brass.
As your days, so your strength will be.
26 “There is none like God, Jeshurun,
who rides on the heavens for your help,
In his excellency on the skies. 27 The eternal God is your dwelling place.
Underneath are the everlasting arms.
He thrust out the enemy from before you,
and said, ‘Destroy!’ 28 Israel dwells in safety;
the fountain of Jacob alone,
In a land of grain and new wine.
Yes, his heavens drop down dew. 29 You are happy, Israel.
Who is like you, a people saved by Yahweh,
the shield of your help,
the sword of your excellency!
Your enemies shall submit themselves to you.
You shall tread on their high places.”
341 Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. Yahweh showed him all the land of Gilead, to Dan, 2 and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, to the hinder sea, 3 and the South, and the Plain of the valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, to Zoar. 4 Yahweh said to him, “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your seed.’ I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.”
5 So Moses the servant of Yahweh died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of Yahweh. 6 He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab over against Beth Peor: but no man knows of his tomb to this day. 7 Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. 8 The children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping in the mourning for Moses were ended.
9 Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands on him: and the children of Israel listened to him, and did as Yahweh commanded Moses. 10 There has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom Yahweh knew face to face, 11 in all the signs and the wonders, which Yahweh sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, 12 and in all the mighty hand, and in all the great terror, which Moses worked in the sight of all Israel.
26 The superscription of his accusation was written over him, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 27 With him they crucified two robbers; one on his right hand, and one on his left. 28 The Scripture was fulfilled, which says, “He was numbered with transgressors.” [2] 29 Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 Likewise, also the chief priests mocking among themselves with the scribes said, “He saved others. He can’t save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe him. [3]” Those who were crucified with him insulted him.
33 When the sixth hour [4] had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. [5] 34 At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is, being interpreted, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” [6] 35 Some of those who stood by, when they heard it, said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” 36 One ran, and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down.” 37 Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit. 38 The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. 39 When the centurion, who stood by opposite him, saw that he cried out like this and breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” 40 There were also women watching from afar, among whom were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; 41 who, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and served him; and many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.
42 When evening had now come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent council member who also himself was looking for the Kingdom of God, came. He boldly went in to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate marveled if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead long. 45 When he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 He bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been cut out of a rock. He rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses, saw where he was laid.
(Read Mark 15:22-32)
The place where our Lord Jesus was crucified, was called the place of a scull; it was the common place of execution; for he was in all respects numbered with the transgressors. Whenever we look unto Christ crucified, we must remember what was written over his head; he is a King, and we must give up ourselves to be his subjects, as Israelites indeed. They crucified two thieves with him, and him in the midst; they thereby intended him great dishonour. But it was foretold that he should be numbered with the transgressors, because he was made sin for us. Even those who passed by railed at him. They told him to come down from the cross, and they would believe; but they did not believe, though he gave them a more convincing sign when he came up from the grave. With what earnestness will the man who firmly believes the truth, as made known by the sufferings of Christ, seek for salvation! With what gratitude will he receive the dawning hope of forgiveness and eternal life, as purchased for him by the sufferings and death of the Son of God! and with what godly sorrow will he mourn over the sins which crucified the Lord of glory!
(Read Mark 15:33-41)
There was a thick darkness over the land, from noon until three in the afternoon. The Jews were doing their utmost to extinguish the Sun of Righteousness. The darkness signified the cloud which the human soul of Christ was under, when he was making it an offering for sin. He did not complain that his disciples forsook him, but that his Father forsook him. In this especially he was made sin for us. When Paul was to be offered as a sacrifice for the service saints, he could joy and rejoice, Philippians 2:17; but it is another thing to be offered as a sacrifice for the sin of sinners. At the same instant that Jesus died, the veil of the temple was rent from the top to the bottom. This spake terror to the unbelieving Jews, and was a sign of the destruction of their church and nation. It speaks comfort to all believing Christians, for it signified the laying open a new and living way into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. The confidence with which Christ had openly addressed God as his Father, and committed his soul into his hands, seems greatly to have affected the centurion. Right views of Christ crucified will reconcile the believer to the thought of death; he longs to behold, love, and praise, as he ought, that Saviour who was wounded and pierced to save him from the wrath to come.
(Read Mark 15:42-47)
We are here attending the burial of our Lord Jesus. Oh that we may by grace be planted in the likeness of it! Joseph of Arimathea was one who waited for the kingdom of God. Those who hope for a share in its privileges, must own Christ's cause, when it seems to be crushed. This man God raised up for his service. There was a special providence, that Pilate should be so strict in his inquiry, that there might be no pretence to say Jesus was alive. Pilate gave Joseph leave to take down the body, and do what he pleased with it. Some of the women beheld where Jesus was laid, that they might come after the sabbath to anoint the dead body, because they had not time to do it before. Special notice was taken of Christ's sepulchre, because he was to rise again. And he will not forsake those who trust in him, and call upon him. Death, deprived of its sting, will soon end the believer's sorrows, as it ended those of the Saviour.
