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

 

 

Personally I am enjoying our time in Psalm 78. I feel this Preacher has learned much in this historical overview of Israel’s history. From the Exodus to the reign of King David, what a critical span of time! That’s the focus of Psalm 78, Asaph’s longest Poem. He wrote 12 Psalms if you recall.

I am writing this lesson early Monday morning, January 18, 2016. Before daylight early! And our next segment of verses (usually however many verses as the Holy Spirit seems to guide me) is relatively short. I generally read through my morning text with you all … and proceed until something “jumps” to my attention, “warms” my heart, “excites” my mind.

This happened today in verses 59-60, again in Psalm 78. Here’s the thought, word for word, as expressed in the King James Version of the Bible:

“When God heard this, He was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel” so that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which He placed among men.”

You might first ask, “Heard what?”

Heard of the disobedience of Israel.

Particularly of her idolatry!

Worshipping false Gods, lewd ones, in the heathen “high places” of the countryside.

Remember the Psalm’s previous few verses? How God had done so much for Israel, “good things” for His people! “He (the Lord) cast out the heathen (nations) also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents. Yet they (the Jews) tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies. But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. For they provoked him to anger with their HIGH PLACES, and moved him to jealousy with their GRAVEN IMAGES.” Psalm 78:55-58

God became righteously “angry” when He saw what Israel had done, forsaking the God Who had so blessed her. Into Whose Hands she had placed herself, promising to live for Him, only for him!

That’s when Asaph told us: “When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: so that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men.”

Note God is not only “wroth” (in Hebrew “abar,” meaning “to leave them alone,” or  “to pass from their presence”) at Israel, but also “abhorred” them, “greatly!” The Hebrew verb “maas” means “to despise!” These people have “become loathsome” to God, making Him “sick!” Literally making him want to “vomit!”

Consequently, God “forsook” the Tabernacle of Israel, with “natash” meaning “to cast off, to leave alone!” By the way, God made the same threat to the Church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7. Precisely verse 5: “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will REMOVE THY CANDLESTICK out of his place, except thou repent.” They had left their “first love!”

Our text for today again: “When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: so that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men.”

The “tabernacle,” forerunner of the great Jewish Temple, utilizes the noun “mishkan,” a “dwelling place” where God can “settle down” and live among his people!

“Shiloh,” also meaning “place of rest,” is the location where the tabernacle was pitched for years, as Israel first approached the land of Canaan. Shiloh, where Joshua divided the land among the people, where Eli ministered (and died), where his sons lived so wickedly. Where Hannah prayed for a son. Where young Samuel was reared, first hearing the Voice of the Lord!

As Israel sinned there (more and more) … God began to withdraw!

Yes, there is a “price” to be paid for sin, even after one has met the Lord.

His Own children … can be chastened by His Mighty Hand!

As in Proverbs 3:11-12. “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: for whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”

Wow!

In keeping with the truth of the Proverbs text I just shared … God became upset with Israel, because of her blatant sin! And he “left” the tabernacle He loved so dearly! As the scripture expresses elsewhere … “The glory departed!” I’m alluding to First Samuel 4:22, some of the saddest words in the Bible: “The glory is departed from Israel.”

May we be warned!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Oh, to live so as NOT to “grieve” the Holy Spirit of God! Not to “quench” His Warmth and Power! To enjoy His Presence and Glory each day we live!

 

Just one verse today, Psalm 78, verse 58. Watch for its “theme,” mentioned twice in these few words. “For they provoked Him to anger with their high places, and moved Him to jealousy with their graven images.” The Jews both “provoked” God and “moved Him to jealousy.” Major mistakes!

How did they accomplish such a disaster?

With idols or idol worship, twice mentioned as well … in a single sentence! That’s certainly the “theme” of which I speak.

Worshipping other gods!

I think today some “defend” such folly. “Individual freedom,” or “freedom of expression” or maybe even “freedom of religion” or an individual simply “expressing his ego,” they call it.

But, for his children, God expressly commanded: “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3, the first of His so-called Ten Commandments.

The verb “provoked” in today’s verse is fully translated “provoked to anger,” spelled “kaas” in Hebrew. It means “to grieve, to make sorry.” The corollary verb “moved to jealousy” is “qana,” meaning “to be zealous, excited to the point of fury!”

I again ask, “Why?”

Because she (Israel) visited “high places.” Raised hills or mountains where the “best” of the land was (sinfully) set apart for some sort of idol worship. Praying to false gods, and cavorting sensually often, under the guise of worship.

And because of her “graven images,” the stock Old Testament name for those idols. The noun is “pesiyl.” The term is 3 times translated “carved images” in the Old Testament. Made out of rock, in this case.

May I make an announcement?

GOD IS JEALOUS, AND RIGHTLY SO.

He created us.

He, at least in that sense, owns us too.

He thus expects (a weak word here) our adoration and thanks and veneration.

Our worship.

Not to properly esteem Him … results (immediately or ultimately) in judgment, punishment, discipline, chastening from His Righteous hand.

Even in the New Testament Jesus said: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Matthew 22:37

Good advice!

God is worthy of all our worship!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Today’s two-verse “couplet” from Psalm 78 is so typical of Hebrew Poetry. Yet it also tells its story with drama, real impact! I see two properties in this Text that must be shared with you. These might even help you better read the Bible, especially parts of the Old Testament.

First, Psalm 78:56-57 …

“Yet they (the Israelites while in the wilderness on their way from Egypt to Canaan) tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies. But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.”

First, watch the “parallelism” in the Pericope. The verbs in this case. A list (litany) of them, with about the same meaning, synonyms.

Tempted.

Provoked.

Kept not.

Turned back.

Dealt unfaithfully.

Turned aside.

The first two, “temped” and “provoked,” have already been used of the Jews in this very Psalm! See verse 41 for tempted” (in Hebrew “nasah”) and verses 8 and 17 for “marah,” (translated here as “provoked,” but there as “rebel” or “rebellious”).

“Kept not,” they did not listen! Or obey, “shama” in Hebrew.

“Turned back” is “sug,” rare in the Bible, found only 14 times. It means “to backslide!”

“Dealt unfaithfully” means more than its surface suggests, it’s “bagad” (49 times in Scripture) and insists on an underlining of “deceit!”

But after all this negativity … the last verb becomes “passive” in voice. As if (literally, grammatically) God TURNS THEM ASIDE! Look at it, “they were turned aside!” Spelled “haphak,” it means “to overthrow!” God actually killed off one generation, and waited until another had grown up to take its place!

The second trait here is that of picturesque language. “Like a deceitful bow!” That’s a “crooked” bow, a “faulty” bow, a “defective” bow, a bow that can’t aim straight! One commentator says “crooked as a corkscrew!”

Yes, the Psalms … Proverbs too … are replete with such “word pictures.” In fact, many of Job’s chapters are that way as well. All Old Testament Poetry.

God wanted Israel to be a “straight shooter!”

Instead she became “perverted, twisted, inaccurate” as a weapon in God’s Hands!

Two thoughts from as many verses in Psalm 78, on a rainy Friday morning.

Lord, help us to stay straight.

Not to renege on Thy Word!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Today our Text reads:  “And he (the Lord) brought them (Israel, the Jews) to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased. 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.” Psalm 78:54-55

Wow! The Bible just called the Land of Israel, that piece of Real Estate, “His Sanctuary,” God’s Property! God eventually led Israel to the very boundary line of Canaan! It took the people 40 years (due to their sins) to make what was originally an eleven day journey!

The Verses here actually say God “purchased” that land for His people.

“This mountain” likely refers to Mount Zion, the Jerusalem area. The place where worship would be centered for many, many years.

But getting them there was only part of God’s Goal!

Next he expelled the wicked inhabitants of the territory. The verb “cast out” is “garish” in Hebrew, meaning “to thrust away,” even “to divorce” twice in the Old Testament. This process is described in the Book of Joshua largely.

Next God allotted to each family in Israel their own land, a farm, really. All but the children of Levi, that is. They were to be salaried in another way.

Then God made Israel “dwell” in their homes, tents, using “shakan” as the verb, “to settle down, abide, be at rest.”

What provision!

By the way, as Christians today God is still caring for us.

Paul promised so. “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19, it’s true!

Absolute Faithfulness … that’s God’s Record.

Being true to His Word, His Promises.

Both in days long past and yet to this very hour!

Tomorrow as well.

In fact, for eternity!

Praise His Name.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

The Lesson is a little shorter this morning. I have a full day of driving in order to preach tonight and tomorrow night in one of our “end-of-week” Revivals. Pray for my safety please.