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

 

Psalm 78 has a “nickname,” really called a “superscription,” a descriptive phrase written above its first verse. That being, “Maschil of Asaph.”

I counted and found 13 times that word “Maschil” appears in Scripture, all of course in the Old Testament. The noun means “instruction,” maybe even “contemplation.” It derives from the Hebrew word “sakal,” involving “prudence, understanding, skill (in godly living),” and 3 times “instruction.”

Psalm 78 is thus a teaching chapter in the Word of God.

In fact, all these “Maschil” Texts are found in the Psalms, and all are superscripts! They are found at the beginning of Psalms 32, 42, 44, 45, 52, 53, 54, 55, 74, 88, 89, 142, as well as here Psalm 78.

Wow!

Chapters written to instruct!

“DO NOT FORGET” chapters!

Furthermore, Psalm 78 names its author, humanly speaking. “Maschil of Asaph.”

This man (at first a musician, then chief song leader, then writer of 12 chapters in the Psalms) has a name meaning “gatherer.” A collector of wisdom and understanding and golden “nuggets” of holy truth!

Yes, Psalm 78 is history.

But it is history as viewed through the eyes of Almighty God!

And ever word of its 72 verses eminently worthy of study!

Let’s do that in the days, weeks ahead!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Yes, I believe the Lord has laid on my heart a verse-by-verse study of Psalm 78, Asaph’s longest Poem. The only “issue” with this great Chapter is its “length!” Seventy-two verses, in total. Today, will you at least read the Text?

One Bible Teacher labels the Psalm … “THE PAST SPEAKS!”

It is indeed a recitation of God’s great works, especially in reference to His “Chosen People,” to Israel. “The Apple of God’s Eye,” she is often called. Deuteronomy 7:6 says to that people: “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.”

Here’s our Text:

Psalm 78

Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. ² I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: ³ Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. ⁴ We will not hide them 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. ⁵ 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: ⁶ That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: ⁷ That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: ⁸ 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. ⁹ The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. ¹⁰ They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; ¹¹ And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them. ¹² Marvellous things did he in the sight of 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 to stand as an heap. ¹⁴ In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. ¹⁵ He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths. ¹⁶ He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. ¹⁷ And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. ¹⁸ And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. ¹⁹ Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? ²⁰ Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people? ²¹ Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; ²² Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: ²³ Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, ²⁴ And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. ²⁵ Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full. ²⁶ He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. ²⁷ He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: ²⁸ And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. ²⁹ So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; ³⁰ They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, ³¹ The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. ³² For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. ³³ Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble. ³⁴ When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God. ³⁵ And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. ³⁶ Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. ³⁷ For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. ³⁸ But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. ³⁹ For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. ⁴⁰ How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! ⁴¹ Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. ⁴² They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy. ⁴³ How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan: ⁴⁴ And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink. ⁴⁵ He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them. ⁴⁶ He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust. ⁴⁷ He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost. ⁴⁸ He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. ⁴⁹ He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them. ⁵⁰ He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; ⁵¹ And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham: ⁵² But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. ⁵³ And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. ⁵⁴ And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased. ⁵⁵ He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents. ⁵⁶ Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: ⁵⁷ But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. ⁵⁸ For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. ⁵⁹ When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: ⁶⁰ So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; ⁶¹ And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand. ⁶² He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance. ⁶³ The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage. ⁶⁴ Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation. ⁶⁵ Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. ⁶⁶ And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach. ⁶⁷ Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: ⁶⁸ But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. ⁶⁹ And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever. ⁷⁰ He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: ⁷¹ From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. ⁷² So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

More tomorrow, the Lord willing.

 

This Lesson is the final installment in this year’s Christmas Series of studies.

The Birth of Jesus is the initial move in His First Coming to earth.

Then came His sinless Life.

And substitutionary Death on the Cross.

Followed by His bodily Resurrection.

And finally His Ascension back to Heaven, to sit at His Father’s Right Hand.

But today, I must tell you about Jesus’ Second Coming!

Yes, the Baby in the manger grew up.

And now from Glory intercedes for us daily!

But some day He will return!

I see the New Testament depicting Jesus’ Second Coming in a twofold manner.

First, what’s often called the Rapture!

Paul writes of it, in First Thessalonians 4:13-17. “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. FOR THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT, WITH THE VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL, AND WITH THE TRUMP OF GOD: AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST: THEN WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS, TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Wow!

Then next, seven years (the Tribulation) later … Jesus comes all the way back to earth! Not just “in the air” as previously during the Rapture.

Revelation 19:11-16, wonder of wonders! “And I (John, from the little isle of Patmos) saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

And Zechariah 14:3-4 further prophesies: “Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight (Armageddon) against those nations (who hated Israel), as when he fought in the day of battle. And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east.”

 

Yes, this is Jesus … coming again to earth!

Wow once again!

So as Christmas fades into the background, this being December 28, 2015, let’s not forget that the Birth of Jesus (a virgin Birth) occurred so that God’s total Plan of the ages might be consummated. His First Coming happened so that His Second Coming might follow, precisely in God’s good time!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Wow!

We’ve just been talking (for nearly a month) about Jesus’ Virgin Birth.

Then suddenly yesterday, His Death.

And now?

His “Ascension?”

His Return to Glory is that important!

Paul wrote, reviewing Jesus’ Life, these words, First Timothy 3:16. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” Note the first and last Events in this Holy Spirit generated list … the BIRTH (“manifested in the flesh”) and the ASCENSION (“received up into Glory”) of our Lord. Surely these “bookends” to Jesus’ Ministry are critically important!

Then again the Apostle John uses this same line of thought. From the little island of Patmos, Revelation 12:5. Speaking of Israel (the woman here) and Jesus (the Child): “And she brought forth a Man Child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her Child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” Again a list that begins with Jesus’ BIRTH (“brought forth a Man Child”) and concludes with Jesus’ ASCENSION (“caught up unto God, and to His Throne”).

Neither of these Passages belittle Jesus’ Death, Burial and Resurrection, of course. That grand Gospel Emphasis (its very crux, its heart) is told elsewhere in the New Testament, again and again.

But these Passages DO show us how vital Jesus’ RETURN TO HEAVEN must have been.

Yes, right now … the little Baby about Whom we’ve heard so much … is now grown and sitting and co-ruling the universe! At the Right Hand of His Father!

He too, as our Saviour and great High Priest … is interceding (praying) for us hour by hour!

Not just a Babe in a manger, is He?

But also … the ASCENDED Lord of life!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell