SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR4/25/2012 9:41:24 AM
4/25/2012 8:39:25 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Understanding the Past
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 78:9-64
Message of the verses: In yesterday’s SD we began to look at the first section in Psalm 78, as psalm that is longer than others that we have looked at. Dr. Wiersbe in his closing comments from his introduction writes the following: “Since Israel is a covenant nation, she has the responsibility of obeying and honoring the Lord, and this psalm presents three responsibilities God expected His people to fulfill.”
Understanding the Past (vv. 9-64): We will begin to look at the different ways that Israel, in the past had disobeyed the Lord.
I have been listening to the sixth chapter of Mark for the last week or so and there is a story in that chapter that reminds me of what Israel missed, or better why Israel missed understanding the miracles that the Lord had done for them when He took them out of Egypt. It was because they had missed the meaning of the Exodus that caused them to fall at the different times in their history that Asaph will write about in this section. The incident from the book of Mark is like a condensed version of what happened to Israel that Asaph will describe in verses 9-64. “49 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and *said to them, "Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid." 51 Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52 for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.”
The apostasy of Ephraim (vv. 9-11): “9 ¶ The sons of Ephraim were archers equipped with bows, Yet they turned back in the day of battle. 10 They did not keep the covenant of God And refused to walk in His law; 11 They forgot His deeds And His miracles that He had shown them.”
You can see from verse 11 the similarities with Mark 6:52.
I was a bit confused why Asaph would begin this section of Psalm 78 with a more recent story than he will then get into, but Dr. Wiersbe points out that the reason he begins with this story is so that Judah would not follow in the rebellious past of the ten tribes who broke off from Judah.
Ephraim was an adopted son of Jacob, as he was actually the son of Joseph but on Jacob’s death bed he adopted he and his brother Manasseh as his sons. You can read this story in Genesis 48:8-20. Ephraim replaced Jacob’s first born son and I believe that is because his first born son had slept with one of Jacob’s wives.
Joshua was from Ephraim and that tribe gave problems to him as seen in Joshua 17:14 along with Hosea 7:16. Another thing to remember about Ephraim is that the tabernacle was first placed in Ephraim at Shiloh and then it was later moved to Jerusalem by David.
The nation’s sins in the wilderness (vv. 12-39): “12 He wrought wonders before their fathers In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. 13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through, And He made the waters stand up like a heap. 14 Then He led them with the cloud by day And all the night with a light of fire. 15 He split the rocks in the wilderness And gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths. 16 He brought forth streams also from the rock And caused waters to run down like rivers. 17 Yet they still continued to sin against Him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert. 18 And in their heart they put God to the test By asking food according to their desire. 19 Then they spoke against God; They said, "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? 20 "Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out, And streams were overflowing; Can He give bread also? Will He provide meat for His people?" 21 Therefore the LORD heard and was full of wrath; And a fire was kindled against Jacob And anger also mounted against Israel, 22 Because they did not believe in God And did not trust in His salvation. 23 Yet He commanded the clouds above And opened the doors of heaven; 24 He rained down manna upon them to eat And gave them food from heaven. 25 Man did eat the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance. 26 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens And by His power He directed the south wind. 27 When He rained meat upon them like the dust, Even winged fowl like the sand of the seas, 28 Then He let them fall in the midst of their camp, Round about their dwellings. 29 So they ate and were well filled, And their desire He gave to them. 30 Before they had satisfied their desire, While their food was in their mouths, 31 The anger of God rose against them And killed some of their stoutest ones, And subdued the choice men of Israel. 32 In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works. 33 So He brought their days to an end in futility And their years in sudden terror. 34 When He killed them, then they sought Him, And returned and searched diligently for God; 35 And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. 36 But they deceived Him with their mouth And lied to Him with their tongue. 37 For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant. 38 But He, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them; And often He restrained His anger And did not arouse all His wrath. 39 Thus He remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passes and does not return.”
Dr. Wiersbe quotes George Santayana in his commentary which gives us insight into understanding this section of Scripture from verse 9-64, and it will also help all of us in our lives: “Those who cannot remember the pas are condemned to repeat it.” How true this statement is.
The section above is a very long section, but after reading it one can remember from the stories that are found in the books of Exodus through Deuteronomy where Asaph read about what He wrote.
I have often wondered how I would have acted when God brought all the children of Israel out of Egypt by performing ten great miracles and then in the wilderness the children of Israel began to rebel against the Lord. Would I have been like Joshua and Caleb? I hope that would be the case and that I would not be like those who constantly rebelled against the Lord. While studying the book of Exodus I remember that in his commentary on that book, Dr. Wiersbe mentioned that there was a certain people who were not Jewish, but came along with Israel, who started most of the rebellions, but surely not all of them.
When the children of Israel asked the Lord for meat he gave them so much meat that he told them that it would come out of their noses. I think, at times, the worst kind of discipline from God can be giving us what we ask for, for when we get what we want it is often times something selfish. When we trust the Lord to give us what He wants us to have we will surely draw closer to the Lord.
In an effort not to make my Spiritual Diaries to long I will conclude with this section and begin to pick up in the next SD.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: Paul writes to the Corinthians that the reason for having all of the stories in the NT was for us to learn from them so we do not repeat their sins, and I am glad that this great history is found in my Bible so I can learn from it. I can learn to trust the Lord more by reading about the great saints of the OT, like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, along with Moses and David and also Daniel. There is Job who, although I don’t truly understand all of what his friends said to him, I can learn that having trouble come my way does not mean that I am living a sinful lifestyle, but perhaps I am being tested like Job so that I can come out like gold.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to trust the Lord and continue to strive to learn contentment.
4/25/2012 9:41:24 AM
No comments:
Post a Comment