D32-4: The True Torah Definition Of God’s Love That Usually Doesn’t Match Our Ideas

“The Rock! His work is perfect,
for all his ways are just.
A trustworthy God who does no wrong,
he is righteous and straight.
He is not corrupt;
the defect is in his children,
a crooked and perverted generation.”
-Deuteronomy 32:4-5

We have just kicked off our study of Deuteronomy Chapter 32 otherwise known as the “Song of Moses”.

It is this very chapter that was laid right next to the Ark of the Covenant indicating it was subservient to the 10 Words of God.

In Hebrew, this song is called…

…SHIRAT HA’AZINU…

…which is literally the first two words that kick off this majestic poem: “Give ear to”.

Actually, this song is a “psalm” and was originally set to inspiring music (which is what a Psalm means).

Here’s another thing you should know about this “Song of Moses”.

It is considered so influential and significant to the history of the Jewish people and to Judaism that it is treated as a special stand-alone part of Scripture to be recited during both regular worship services and special celebrations.

I guess you could say the Christians have done the same thing with how they pull the Lord’s Prayer from the Book of Matthew (Chapter 5) and recite it out loud during special occasions at worship services.

Onward.

So in verse 4 of Deuteronomy Chapter 32, we are presented with the definition of divine love from the Lord’s perspective.

We are told the qualities of God’s love are comprised of the following four attributes:

-PERFECTION

-JUSTICE

-FAITHFULNESS

-TRUTH

Since we as His children are on the receiving end of God’s love, we are obligated to mirror these characteristics right back to our Father in heaven.

To do otherwise would be to not properly demonstrate God’s love and to love our own selfish ways of doing things and our own desires instead.

What does that mean exactly?

Well, for example, loving God does NOT mean to…

…have warm fuzzy feelings towards Him.

…do nice things for others just so we can satisfy our ego and feel good about ourselves.

…go to a worship service only once a week, sing a couple of songs with a ridiculous smile plastered on our face and then throw a couple of dollars into the offering plate.

We need to understand what God’s love is in His economy, not ours.

And the definition of God’s love is as I just mentioned His attributes of perfection, justice, faithfulness and truth.

These are the foundational qualities expressed when God directs His love towards us.

These four qualities are also connected to the Lord’s established systems of perfection, justice, faithfulness and truth.

In other words, they are expressed through His prophets, His courts of law and are to be expressed through His People (you and I!).

We are not to haphazardly come up with our own definition of God’s love as we move forward in our walk with the Almighty.

We are also not permitted to substitute more politically correct modern definitions of love in exchange for what has been established in the Torah.

Nor are we to change God’s definitions or principles so as to make them more palatable to societies as they change and evolve.