Some of the “names” God chooses to call His people are nearly overwhelming!
John the Disciple could never get over the fact that, because of the eternal Blood of Jesus, we could be called God’s sons! “BEHOLD, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED THE SONS OF GOD.” First John 3:1
In like fashion, in today’s Psalm 78 text we see 4 such surprising “names.” I say “surprising” because the Jews had sinned against God, time and time again. To the point that God was disciplining them, severely too.
I’ve here underlined those four beautiful “names” of honor. In our verses for today …
“And (the Lord) delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand. He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.” Psalm 78:61-62, written in reference to God’s actions toward His children, here the Israelites.
Watch the 4 names or titles God has given them:
One, HIS STRENGTH!
Two, HIS GLORY!
Three, HIS PEOPLE!
And four, HIS INHERITANCE!
Backsliding Israel, so honored, so loved by the Almighty God of Heaven!
Oh, how it must have “hurt” God to send into slavery (captivity) all Israel, called above “His strength!” That little nation was created to show God’s Power, yet she languishes in weakness … due to her sins, her stubbornness, her disobedience.
God gave “His glory” into the hands of an enemy. This could be a veiled reference to the Ark of the Covenant, lost to he Philistines because Israel had denied the strength of God … potential power so freely extended to her. Yet even if so, Isaiah 46:13 directly and specifically calls Israel God’s “Glory!” Here: “I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for ISRAEL MY GLORY.” Wow, this is God Himself talking!
And God, though they have sinned egregiously, additionally calls the Jews (via Asaph’s pen) “His people.” This is a little noun (in Hebrew spelled “am” = in English “people”) meaning one’s “folks,” those to whom you are akin! Part of the family!
Lastly, “His inheritance,” His “possession, property, share, heritage!” No matter how far they strayed, God never disowned them! In fact, it seems He “treasured” them! Ephesians 1:18 says the same thing about us today, we who are part of the New Testament Church!
I am amazed!
Oh, how God loves us.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell