How should we respond to God’s Goodness?

Psalm 68:19 supplies us with a pretty good answer! “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.” Yes, simply bless the Name of the Lord!

Today’s Text, Psalm 78:14-17, tells us how NOT to respond!

“In the daytime also He (the Lord) led them (Israel) with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths. He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. AND THEY SINNED YET MORE AGAINST HIM BY PROVOKING THE MOST HIGH IN THE WILDERNESS.” 

Wow!

God was kind, gracious to His people.

And they (Israel, after leaving Egypt and heading toward Canaan) responded by complaining, grumbling, and disobeying Him!

The Shekinah Glory Cloud to guide them! Protecting from the hot sun in the daytime and warming them at night, in the cold desert air. The Hebrew word “shakan” means “to abide, to dwell” with a people! God “at home” in their midst!

Then another miracle … water from rocks! (Split rocks!)

A Picture of Jesus (the Rock of Ages) being smitten, stricken (at the Cross) and thereby giving torrents of refreshing water, the very water of life!

They the people always wanted “more.”

Or what was provided did not satisfy them!

Yes, the “provoked” God Almighty!

The verb “provoke” translates in Hebrew “marah,” the act of being “rebellious, disobedient,” even “bitter.”

Oh, to be more thankful today!

Also to be more content!

Let these words of Jeremiah express our sentiment today. “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Oh, the power involved!

In what the Psalmist covers in just two short verses.

“Marvellous things did He (the Lord) in the sight of their (the Jews) fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He divided the (Red) sea, and caused them to pass through; and He made the waters to stand as an heap.” Psalm 78:12-13

We call this the “Exodus,” don’t we?

And here’s how Moses earlier recorded the event. God is talking: “But lift thou (Moses) up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the (Red) sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.” Exodus 14:16

Then: “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.” Exodus 14:21-22

The descriptions here all agree …

Even with the Psalmist writing at least 500 years after the miracle occurred.

But what’s Asaph’s purpose in relating this sequence?

TO HELP ISRAEL REMEMBER GOD’S MIGHTY ACTS IN HER MIDST!

To rehearse His history with His people!

To help Israel, as the old song says, “COUNT HER BLESSINGS!”

Need I say more?

Today we (you and me) must do the same.

No, I have never had an ocean split in front of me, as I fled an enemy.

But I have been SAVED BY GRACE!

Delivered from Hell.

Prepared for Heaven.

Did you ever think?

All it took for God to deliver Israel was a strong wind.

What it took to get me saved … was the painful, tortuous Death (six hours of untold suffering) of Jesus Christ (God’s Son) on the Cross!

Now … who should be more thankful?

Wow.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

The Jews of “Ephraim” are specifically rebuked, exposed in this paragraph.

Psalm 78:9-11. “The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; and forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.”

This is merely the second generation that left Egypt so miraculously!

One of the largest and strongest Tribes of all Israel … at that early stage seem of her development … seemed to be the Ephraimites. The name “Ephraim” (Grandson of Jacob, Son of Joseph) actually means something like “doubly fruitful!” Oh, the potential in Ephraim and his Brother Manasseh!

And look how well equipped they were, both spiritually and militarily, I believe. Asaph tells us they … “being armed, and carrying bows” … were impressive soldiers.

Yet they … obviously upsetting God … “turned back in the day of battle.”

They did not obey God’s injunctions, God’s Law!

They did not act in faith … against the constantly appearing and reappearing enemies who attacked along the way!

In fact, it’s worse, they “turned back!” A verb that once means “retired!”

And such a lack of action, such a failure to fight …was immediately due to these facts: “They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; and forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.”

It seems to me that today’s Text at least suggests that … a familiarity, a love for the Word of God will … give one BOLDNESS to fight the battles that lie ahead!

Proverbs 28:1 reminds us that “The righteous are bold as a lion!”

Those who do not obey God’s Precepts … often “turn and run!”

Yes, the “whole armour” of God is donned in the Scriptures!

Watch how Paul’s great “litany of battle gear” culminates! “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD.” Ephesians 6:10-17

Wow!

The MORE we are “in” the Word … the better we will “fight” for the cause of Christ!

After all, God’s “works” (even His “staggering, shocking” Deeds) and God’s “wonders” (His “hard to understand” actions) are enumerated in his Word!

Lest we forget.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Let’s not let Ephraim’s history be repeated in our lives!

 

I may have never seen such a paragraph, in all Scripture!

Five complete Verses, all focusing on young people, on children and grandchildren!

The generations to come!

Yet such is found in Psalm 78, written by Asaph, Israel’s chief musician.

See if you agree, the continuity is obvious. “We will not hide them (God’s Commandments) from their CHILDREN, shewing to THE GENERATION TO COME the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their CHILDREN: that THE GENERATION TO COME might know them, even the CHILDREN WHICH SHOULD BE BORN; who should arise and declare them to THEIR CHILDREN: that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: and might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.” Psalm 78:4-8

Wow!

Yet this remarkable Passage is really echoing the Pentateuch of Moses. Deuteronomy 6:6-7, for example. “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

This sure puts (to me anyway) an emphasis on activities like Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Neighborhood Bible Classes. Or family altar time, for that matter!

And now I’m thinking of Jesus and His love for the little children!

I once heard a Preacher opine that our greatest need as older Christians was to leave a heritage with the younger generation, the conviction that what we believe is REAL!

Sounds like God feels the same way!

Today, January 1, 2016, begin some sort of regular program through which you teach the young people in your family, in your life, the Word of God.

In the spirit of Psalm 78:4-8.

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Yes, with 72 verses to cover in a month or so, we MUST consider a couple (at least) of verses per day. From beautiful Psalm 78, Asaph’s longest contribution to Scripture.

The “Class” (remember, the Psalm is “instructive, educational”) begins with the teacher making an opening statement, telling us his “goal” really. You might say that the “key” to opening Psalm 78 has been placed at its front door!

Psalm 78:1-3 commands: “Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.”

The verb “give ear” is “azan” in Hebrew, an imperative (requirement, mandate) meaning “to listen,” but to this degree: “to perceive (understand, comprehend) by the sense of hearing.” It also implies “obedience” following the “hearing!”

The noun “people” (in Hebrew “am”) means one’s “folks,” nearly one’s kinsmen!

The word “law” (spelled “torah”) means “instruction.” For example, the first five Books of the Bible (Genesis through Deuteronomy) are called the “Torah,” God’s words of advice, teaching, LAW, to Israel.

“To incline” one’s ears means “to bend down, to learn forward,” that eager to learn!

Asaph has established himself as a teacher in Israel. But here under the direct leadership (inspiration) of the Holy Spirit, the True Author of all the Bible.

In Verse 2 the noun “parable” is interesting. It is “mashal” and means (19 times anyway) a “proverb!” Wisdom is coming! The parallel term “dark saying” however implies something “put forth,” illustrative material. Sometimes not clearly understood! In fact, “chiyad” means “riddle” 9 times in the Old Testament.

But here (in verse 3) Asaph claims no originality to his classroom content. He is teaching them: “dark sayings of old: which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.” Vital Truth which has been passed down through the generations from “old.” From Adam to Enoch to Noah. From Noah to Shem and so forth!

Get ready for a “history lesson” now!

That’s essentially what Psalm 78 is, with God’s interpretative Wisdom alongside!

Verses 1-3 really call the class to order.

Oh, today, how we need to hear God’s word like this.

To read and re-read the Bible Stories of time past.

To observe God’s Mighty Acts … for His people’s sake.

Even more “statement of purpose” is coming tomorrow, really.

Meanwhile, let’s think (ponder, meditate) on today’s Text: “Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.”

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell