31:21,22
The purpose of the song, which we get in the next chapter, is as a testimony against the people, and a prod for them to realise why they are in such a mess, and so to repent and turn back to the Lord. “I know what they are disposed to do”. The apostasy of the people is not foreordained in the sense of fatalism. It was part of God’s plan, but the people were responsible for their actions.
31:23
The Lord has told Joshua some pretty discouraging things. So now the Lord encourages him. He is told to be “strong and courageous”. And is then assured that he will bring the Israelites into the Promised Land, the land promised to them by the Lord on oath. And the Lord promises to be with Joshua. Now knowing the direction the people would inevitably go in, why did the Lord bother to bring them into the Promised Land at all?
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