Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20051204.htm

RELISHING THE ESSENCE AND ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
Part II: The Attributes Of God
E. Treasuring The Absolute Righteousness Of God
(Deuteronomy 32:4 in its context)
  1. Introduction
    1. One of the key worries many Christians today openly share is the fear about the drift into sin the world around them is taking. This drift threatens them for it threatens the peaceful security of the life we know!
    2. God has a solution for this concern found in applying Deuteronomy 32:4 on God's absolute righteousness:
  2. Treasuring The Absolute Righteousness Of God, Deuteronomy 32:4 in its context.
    1. The Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32:1-43 was given as Moses' last word to Israel, and it warned the nation to respect and heed God lest her sin lead her into apostasy and judgment, Deut. 32:44-47; 31:28-30.
    2. Well, in the START of that song, at Deuteronomy 32:4, a reference exists on the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God that affects how God relates to Israel on this whole subject (as follows):
      1. As a Rock, God's work is perfectly just, and that as applied to all of His ways, Deut. 32:4a KJV, ESV.
      2. God is thus a God of perfect righteousness described as follows, Deuteronomy 32:4b:
        1. The word rendered "truth" (KJV) or "faithfulness" (ESV) is emunah in Hebrew, and it conveys the idea of "total dependability" when used of God, Kittel, Bib. Hebr. , p. 313; T.W.O.T., vol. I, p. 52.
        2. The word "iniquity" (KJV, ESV) or "wrong" (NIV) is avel in the Hebrew Bible (Ibid., Kittel), and its basic meaning is "to deviate from a right standard," T.W.O.T. , vol. II, p. 652.
        3. Accordingly, Moses taught God was TOTALLY DEPENDABLE NOT TO DEVIATE FROM HIS RIGHT STANDARD unlike man who is a sinner and who becomes apostate!
      3. Now, God's right standard is sadiq and yashar (Ibid., Kittel), what conforms "to an ethical or moral standard" and is "straight; upright," Deut. 32:4c; Ibid., T.W.O.T., vol. II, p. 752; vol. I, p. 417.
      4. In summary, Deuteronomy 32:4b,c taught God is perfectly dependable not to deviate from His right standard of conformity to His perfectly straight and upright ethics and morals!
    3. Since God is thus infinitely righteous, and Israel imperfect in her fallen state, Moses' Song told of great judgment for Israel's future sin, but of final divine deliverances due to the righteous faithfulness of God to His unconditional plans and promises unto her, Deut. 32:1-43 (Bib. Know. Com., O. T. p. 318-320):
      1. Moses called heaven and earth as important witnesses to his song about God's greatness, 32:1-3.
      2. That greatness was bound up in the infinite righteousness of God described in section II, B above, 32:4!
      3. Yet, in great contrast to God's infinite righteousness, His people were crooked and twisted, 32:5-7.
      4. Still, opposite Israel's failings, God viewed Her as His inheritance out of all the nations of the earth [and that by way of the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 11-12)] so he would help Israel in the end, 32:8-9!
      5. Accordingly, the greatness and goodness of Israel's righteous God Who created and cared for the nation with abundant, meticulous oversight is all detailed by Moses in Deuteronomy 32:10-14.
      6. Nevertheless, due to Israel's sinfulness, once she would become blessed with God's wonderful care, she would become apostate, turning away from her righteous God, Deuteronomy 32:15-18.
      7. Accordingly, God would judge her in His upright, unchanging righteousness, Deuteronomy 32:19-27.
      8. Because of Israel's blindness in her apostasy, God's judgment would become severe, Deut. 32:28-33.
      9. Yet, in God's perfect uprightness and justice, He would hold Israel's enemies used of Him to punish her accountable for their abuses against her, and He would judge them while restoring Israel in accord with His faithfulness to her [by way of the Abrahamic Covenant], Deuteronomy 32:34-42.
      10. Thus, the Gentiles who will be blessed in God's keeping the Abrahamic Covenant to Israel are called by God to rejoice in His avenging of Israel and restoring her in the end, Deut. 32:43 with Gen. 12:1-3!
Lesson: God is INFINITELY righteous, or totally dependable to retain His dedication not to deviate in any way from His upright, straight ethical and moral standards, so He will SOVEREIGNLY judge sin wherever it exists while ALSO PRESERVING His people in accord with His Abrahamic Covenant!

Application: We need not worry of an inescapable annihilation of the world just because of man's sin; God's righteousness is PERFECT, so it will lead Him to PUNISH sin while ALSO preserving even His errant people in accord with His UPRIGHT plan and Word to do so!