Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Ps 78:1-2 and following. Indeed, the long Psalm 78 recalls those wonders accomplished on behalf of his own by “the God who works wonders” (Ps 77:12-16). The people are invited to listen to this narrative given to them to instruct them. And as for us Christians, we know that this history of Israel was also written “to serve as a warning to us” (1 Cor 10:11); it is a kind of vast parable (but reports facts that actually happened), according to verse 2 that Matthew 13:33-36 places in the mouth of the Lord Jesus. Finally, verses 4 and 6 show us that this reminder of the wonders of the past listed in verses 12 to 16 is especially aimed at the new generation, with a triple purpose defined by verse 7: first to lead these “sons” to put their trust in God; second, not to forget his works; and finally, to keep his commandments.
Isn’t this also what He expects of us? Let’s ask the Lord to guard us from being like Israel in the wilderness “an indocile and rebellious generation, … and whose spirit has not been faithful to God” (Ezekiel 20:18-20). And let’s know how to let ourselves be taught by the experiences already made: those things “that we have heard and known, and that our fathers have told us.” How have the people responded to God’s wonderful works? Through the “works of the flesh” of which Galatians 5:1-26 gives us the sad enumeration. This chapter 5 of the Galatians reminds us that Christians were freed from slavery, just as Israel was delivered from the slavery of Egypt. But the freedom in which we are now placed must not be an opportunity for the flesh to act as it pleases. So the apostle adds, “Walk by the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Verses 17 and following of this psalm show us how these lusts were awakened in the hearts of the people. Manna (the image of Christ and His Word) has ceased to suffice for him (Nb 11:4-9).
And at the same time disbelief appeared. Despite having witnessed the power of God, Israel is not afraid to tempt him, saying, “Could God set a table in the wilderness?” (2 Kings 7:1-2). To us too, beloved, the Lord has largely “opened the doors of heaven” to bless us. Let us respond to Him with ever more trust and gratitude. The people’s lack of memory and their ingratitude lead God to resume from the beginning the account of what He did for them. The plagues of Egypt are recalled, then the departure, journey and entry of the people into Canaan. Verse 55 summarizes the book of Joshua, while the following verses place us in the time of the Judges and the 1st Book of Samuel. Verses 60 and 61 allude to the Philistines’ taking of the ark (1 S 4:1-18).
Thus, an eminent prophet presents himself in the first two verses of this psalm by declaring that he has great mysteries to reveal. After him, a company of prophets, according to the mission that God has entrusted to them, and as a warning, traces the history of the ways of God in grace, and the ways of Israel marked by the obstinacy of the heart, from the days of exodus to those of David. Thus we find “new things and old things” – new things being those mysteries to which the one who pronounces the first two verses has just alluded- the old things, the well-known history of the Jewish people. We now know that the Lord Jesus Christ came as this eminent Prophet-that prophet who reveals new things; and to some extent the same is true of whoever is made a disciple of the kingdom of heaven (Mat 13:35, 52). In this sense, the least in this kingdom is greater than John the Baptist. Paul was especially one of those educated scribes, aware that it was to announce new things (1 Cor. 2; Eph 3; Collar. 1), things kept secret, hidden mysteries. And there is no scribe made a disciple of the kingdom of heaven, or a true doctor in the present dispensation, who cannot distinguish between “new things and old things.”
But new or old, these things are all on the basis of grace. What distinguishes them is rather that old things are earthly, that is, concern the Jews, while new things are heavenly, that is, concern the Church (John 3:12). That is the difference! But the old things (related to the Jews) of this psalm clearly announce a definitive grace and salvation. For what is recorded here is that Israel brought its own destruction, and that God at the end of time rose to rescue and restore it, according to a grace that was able to establish David and choose Zion and Judah. And it will be the same on the last day. At present, this people, which has once again destroyed itself, is once again in dispersion and under judgment; but again he will be gathered and blessed under the reign of the true David, the true King in Zion, the true Lion of Judah. And in the integrity of a heart that cannot change its purpose, and the intelligence of a hand that cannot be mistaken, he will guard and feed the flock of his Jewish sheep on their native mountains.
For principles of the greatest importance are found in this magnificent Psalm: Considered as established in Sinai on the principle of government, on the foot of the law mixed with compassion, Israel having completely failed, had become an object of horror, was completely rejected. There had been a total rupture; the ark of the covenant, that bond between Israel and God, the place of propitiation and the throne of God, had been left to the enemy. But God, whose sovereign love for His people having intervened in power to deliver, had chosen Judah, Zion, David, and had established a bond in grace, through deliverance, after all had failed. For faith can go back to consider God’s works in redemption, but not man’s conduct under the law. Then Ps. 78 is the opposite of Ps. 77: Nevertheless, in Israel, all this is declared to produce in their hearts what grace will operate on the last day, the value of the law, which will lead them to teach it to their children (Gen 18:17-19; Exodus 34 where mercy still placed Israel under the condition of obedience). Here power delivers the people after they have failed under mercy and judgment has come, God acting according to his thought of love.
In fact, Israel has never been placed purely under the law; for the tables never entered the camp (Ex. 32:19; 2 Co 3): The face of Moses shone only when he had seen God, after having ascended the mountain the second time, being received in grace; but, as for Israel, this covenant brought it back under the law. This law, mixed with grace, introduced after the second ascension of Moses, it is ‘death and condemnation’. But this is impossible, with a substitution; for Moses obviously could not take this place as a substitute: “Perhaps I will propitiate for your sin” (Ex. 32:30); -“Erase me, please!” (Ex. 32:32). To which God answers, “He who has sinned against me, I shall erase him” (Ex. 32:33). This was the law, and as we see here, and as 2 Cor 3 positively states to us, death and ruin.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
The history of Israel, a lesson not to be forgotten:
· Listening ear
Ps 40:7 Tu desires neither sacrifice nor offering, You have opened my ears; You are not asking for a holocaust or atoning victim. Pr 18:15 An intelligent heart acquires science, and the ear of the wise seeks science. Pr 20:12 The ear that hears, and the eye that sees, It is the Lord who made them both. Pr 25:12 Like a ring of gold and a fine gold adornment, so for a docile ear is the wise who reprimands. Mt 13:16 But happy are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear!
· Power of God, general references
1 Ch 29:12 Wealth and glory come from you, you dominate over everything, strength and power are in your hand, and your hand has the power to enlarge and strengthen all things. 2 Ch 25:8 If you go with them, even if you would do acts of valour in battle, God will make you fall before the enemy, for God has the power to help and bring down. Jb 26:12 By his strength he lifts up the sea, by his intelligence he breaks its pride. Ps 62:12 God spoke once; Twice I heard this: It is that the strength is God’s. Ps 65:7 He strengthens the mountains by His strength, He is surrounded by power; Rom 16:25 To him who can strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, in accordance with the revelation of the mystery hidden for centuries,
· Provoke God
Nb 14:11 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? How long will he not believe in me, despite all the wonders I have done in his midst? Dt 9:7 Remember, do not forget how you aroused the wrath of Jehovah your God in the wilderness. From the day you left the land of Egypt until you arrived in that place, you were rebellious against Jehovah. Ezr 5:12 But after our fathers had angered the God of heaven, He delivered them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and took the captive people to Babylon. Ps 78:40, 56 How many times they revolted against him in the wilderness! How many times they irritated him in solitude! 56 But they tempted the Most High God and revolted against him, and they did not observe his ordinances. Hb 3:16 Who, in fact, were those who revolted after hearing it, if not all those who had come out of Egypt under the guidance of Moses?
· Human fragility
1 Sam 20:3 David said again, swearing: Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he will have said, Let Jonathan not know; it would hurt him. But Jehovah is alive and your soul is alive! there is only one step between me and death. Ps 49:13 But the man who is in honor has no duration, He is like the beasts that are slaughtered. Ps 78:39 He remembered that they were only flesh, A breath that goes away and does not return. Ps 103:14 For He knows what we are formed of, He remembers that we are dust. Isa 2:22 Stop entrusting yourselves in man, in whose nostrils there is only one breath: For what value is he? Isa 64:5 We are all like unclean, and all our righteousness is like a filthy garment; We are all wilted like a leaf, and our crimes carry us away like the wind.
From all of the above, we note that wisdom discusses israel’s conduct, historically in relation to all the people, but by highlighting very important principles: There was not only once a redemption to which faith had recourse; a testimony and a law were given to direct the ways of Israel and for fathers to make them known to their children. But the fathers had been an indocile and rebellious generation. But the law and the testimony were given so that the children would not be like their fathers; they were, and it is the story of their infidelities that is exposed here. As a result, God chastised them; there was a direct and manifest government on his part with regard to their ways. For when the chastisement was based on them, they turned to God and sought Him; but they flattered him with their mouths; their hearts were not firm toward him, and they were not faithful in his covenant. Nevertheless, he showed compassion; he forgave them; he remembered that they were only flesh. After the signs operated in Egypt, they had forgotten him; for introduced into the country, they devoted themselves to idolatry. When God heard him, he became very angry and despised Israel strongly. On the foot of this government, based on law and witness, and which nevertheless included tender mercy, Israel was completely abandoned, the tabernacle abandoned and the ark delivered to go into captivity in the hands of the enemies. The people were also left to judgment. May the Lord Jesus preserve us from disobedience. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “the happiness of the man who fears the Lord.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.