Since we leave LaGrange, Georgia this morning (the Revival here having ended last night) … and drive through Atlanta going home to Tunnel Hill, Georgia … and then nearly immediately leave heading toward tonight’s (and Friday night as well) Revival Meeting in Coalmont, Tennessee …
I trust you will pray for us on this busy day.
Thanks to those of you who study with me here so faithfully.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
PSALM 78 … it’s a long Psalm, consisting of 72 verses. In fact, I just looked and it is the second longest chapter in the whole Book of Psalms!
It tells a large slice of the history of the Nation of Israel.
From the time she she left Egypt all the way to the time David reigns as her King. About a 500 year period of time, in round figures.
Verses 1-8 are a Sermon on “teaching your children” the mighty Works of God!
Verses 9-17 tell about God’s miraculous Power displayed at the Exodus, when Israel left slavery behind to travel to her “Promised Land.”
Verses 18-31 talk about God’s Plan to give Israel (then around 2 million people) food in the wilderness, in the desert! Yet the people did not appreciate God’s Bounty, complaining about their miraculous diet!
Verses 32-39 show how the Nation “acted” like they loved God, but their hearts were “far from Him.” Here God’s Grace is particularly magnified.
How soon we forget! Verses 40-55 remind a people to whom God has been so good … about her neglect and lack of gratefulness. Verse 42 is typical: “They remembered not His Hand, nor the day when He delivered them from the enemy.” So sad.
Verses 55-64, with the Jews now safely in the Land, in Canaan, they still blatantly disobey God! And the Lord removes the Tabernacle (His Holy Tent) from a place called Shiloh. A place riddled with apostasy.
Then finally in Verses 65-72 God refuses the old leadership of Israel (Ephraim) and transfers power to the Tribe of Judah, thus highlighting the Davidic Monarchy. David is a “hero” in this Psalm, for sure.
This beautiful Poem (Psalm 78) starts with “teach your children God’s Ways” and ends with a godly leader “like a shepherd,” caring for his little lambs.
It is truly a didactic Chapter, one designed to “teach” us the things of God!
Oh, it ought to be preached more than it is.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Today we reach the last verse of Psalm 78. “So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.” Here Israel is depicted as having a good leader, which was often not the case in her history.
Upon reading our verse, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Who is this competent leader?”
In my heart I thought, “It must be the Lord himself.” Who else would have possessed such “integrity” of heart?” The Hebrew noun used here is derived from “taman,” meaning “complete, finished,” also “full, whole,” that is, not divided in any way.
But I can’t find a single scholar, commentator, or preacher to agree with that assessment! Instead, based on the “context” of the verse, all present “David” as the skilled King of Israel!
Now, here is that “setting” (“context”) in which the verse is embedded, to which it is linked. “He (the Lord, no doubt) chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: from following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.”
I have underlined the pronouns, whose antecedent perplexes me.
If verse 72 hinges on verse 70, David is in view. And, indeed, despite his sins, David was called (in the Bible) “a man after God’s Own Heart.” Here’s the exact verse, Acts 13:22. “I (the Lord) have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” What grace!
Furthermore, the verb “guided” in our Text (“So he fed them … Israel … according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands”) is spelled “nachah” and means “to lead,” but also “to govern,” like a King I suppose.
And the word “skillfulness” is “tabun,” grammatically suggesting “understanding, discretion,” often a parallel to wisdom in Scripture.
So, David certainly may be the protagonist (main character) in the verse. If so, the Psalm certainly does lead us from slavery in Egypt … to the Monarchy in the Holy Land, David being King.
BUT … I STILL REALLY WONDER IF THE PSALM COULD NOT END WITH AN EMPHASIS NOT JUST ON DAVID, VERSES 70-71 … BUT AN INSISTENCE THAT GOD IS THE ONE WHO FEEDS WITH INTEGRITY AND LEADS WITH SKILL … VERSE 72.
Our great God!
For truly, David aside for a second, Who but our Heavenly Father, our true Shepherd, could completely fulfill the verse? “So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.” That’s my thought, anyway.
That, in keeping with Colossians 1:18 … “And He (Jesus) is the Head of the body, the church: Who is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead; that in all things He (still Jesus) might have the preeminence.”
Amen!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
We, working through the verses of Psalm 78, have traced Israel’s national history. From the time of the Exodus, her miraculous deliverance out of slavery in Egypt … until the beginning of her brightest days (so far), the reign of King David, son of Jesse.
Today we notice verses 70-71, part of the Psalm’s last paragraph. “He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: from following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.”
The “He” of our Text is none other then the Lord Himself. He selected David to be King. First Samuel chapter 16 shares the story of David’s initial anointing.
The name “David” means “beloved.” One who “loves” … in the end hungering for God with all his heart. The word for love incorporated into his name suggest “fervent, boiling, eager love,” not some lukewarm substitute.
The noun “servant” is “ebed,” a common “slave,” really! Once we have been saved, redeemed, we are all “servants” of Jesus Christ! So says Paul in the New Testament.
Note that God “took” David (spelled “laqach” in Hebrew, a strong verb meaning “lay hold of, seize, fetch,” once even “to marry”) from the “sheepfolds.” The young man obviously was a shepherd, watching his family’s flock. So was our Lord such a shepherd! He called Himself from time to time “the good shepherd,” and later the New Testament labels Him “the great shepherd,” and “the chief shepherd.”
The Old Testament often calls Israel’s leaders (particularly her kings) “shepherds.” Some were good and others bad, of course.
Clearly, shepherding here is emphasized as requiring “tender care” of the ewes, even those who are “with young,” expecting to give birth to little lambs!
And when David becomes King, he is just to “transfer” his job description from caring for a flock of sheep to leading a flock of God’s people! (The very “word picture” the Lord uses for a “Pastor” in today’s New Testament Church format!)
A King, charged with “feeding” his people! “The Lord chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: from following the ewes great with young he brought him TO FEED Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.”
This verb “feed” translates “raah,” a key Old Testament action word meaning “to see, to oversee, to care for, to keep a careful eye” on one’s charge!
What a concept!
A national leader … caring for his citizenry with concern, pathos, and a mind to their spiritual wellbeing!
What a prophetic picture of Jesus, our Lord!
Listen to Him: “I am the GOOD SHEPHERD: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11, His Death here being emphasized.
And about Him: “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that GREAT SHEPHERD of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21, now His Resurrection is in view.
And also: “And when the CHIEF SHEPHERD shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” First Peter 5:4, finally His Second Coming is highlighted!
Amen!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
God loves His “House,” His Dwelling Place on earth.
All the way through Psalm 78 the Tabernacle is seen. And Psalm 78 is a divinely inspired history of Israel … from her leaving Egypt to the time of David’s reign.
Today our focus verse addresses this theme. “And he (the Lord God) built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.” Psalm 78:69
Note that, first of all, GOD built His Own Sanctuary. Not Moses, not a crew of able workers. God did it himself! All the way from the original plans to the finished product … ordained of God. (This is the Same God Who built the world!) Psalm 139 suggests He also builds every baby in his or her Mother’s womb. Jehovah is a BUILDING God. I love this particular emphasis on God’s Character, His Activity.
The Tent (what the Tabernacle actually is in reality) is called a “Sanctuary” in our text today. The noun is “miqdash,” meaning “Holy Place,” a sanctified, consecrated, dedicated building.
The “high palaces” of our verse translates “rum,” a major Hebrew verb meaning “lifted up.” God has “exalted” His House. Elevated, especially true of the Temple (a later, more permanent manifestation of the Tabernacle), which was built on a “mount.” Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
Also the idea here (poetically) is that of importance! High and Significant in God’s Eyes!
Furthermore, God’s “Building” is “established,” like the earth. (Even the Hebrew noun for “earth” derives from a verb root meaning “to be firm!”) But “established” is “yasad,” simply meaning “fixed, set, sure,” only used 42 times in Scripture.
God’s House is elevated.
God’s House is stable.
Now let’s segue a moment from the literal Tabernacle/Temple to its New Testament “type,” the CHURCH of the living God. Is the Church elevated, high and honored by the Lord? Is she also established, firm and enduring?
Jesus personally tells us. “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18, sounds quite honored to me, enduring as well!
This is being written on Saturday, January 23 of 2016. Tomorrow is Sunday, “the Lord’s Day.” Which means … we are to go to Church! Is such activity important? Hebrews 10:25 answers: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another.” We tomorrow have the privilege of beginning a Revival in a local, New Testament CHURCH! (In the city of LaGrange, Georgia.) Welcome Baptist Church (pretty good name) … a visible, corporal fellowship of believers in Jesus Christ.
A Church which, in God’s eyes, is BUILT … ELEVATED … and ESTABLISHED!
Amen.
Do you love your Church?
— Dr. Mike Bagwell