DBG - July 1 - Psalms 78 & 79

This psalm is a Maschil (song of instruction) by Asaph.  This is a very important psalm.  It rehearses much of Israel’s history and gives Divine insight into it.   Someone wisely said that history is truly “His story”.  God is glorified through His past dealings with man.  One of the primary reasons for this psalm is an explanation of the rise and importance of the house of David.  I think this psalm may have been composed to mark Jeroboam and the Northern Kingdom as traitors to God for rebelling against David’s heirs. 

vs. 1-8 – A call to pass down the history and heritage of the forefathers to the coming generations.  These need to learn from the successes and mistakes made in the past.  The primary lesson that needs to be remembered is that the best life is loving and serving God. 

vs. 9-16 – The exact time that the tribe of Ephraim failed in battle is not certain.  This could be in regard to the conquest of Canaan, but there are other viable options.  The destruction of Shiloh in I Samuel 4 is mentioned latter and this could be related to that loss.  Whatever the occasion was, it is diagnosed here as a symptom of their falling away from God and His Law.  They forgot the might of God that had brought them out of Egypt.

vs. 17-32 – The rebellious nature of the Israelites during the Exodus is highlighted.  They doubted God could provide food in the wilderness in Exodus 16:2-3.  They grew tired of the manna and demanded meat in Numbers 11:4-6.  God judged them by fire in Numbers 11:1-3.  He gave them manna in Exodus 16.  He gave them the flesh of fowls and then judged them for their lust for it in Numbers 11:31-34.  All the miracles, all the provisions, and all the judgments could not prevent the people’s hearts from turning against God.

vs. 33-40 – That vicious cycle of backsliding, judgment, repentance, and restoration that continually repeated for the Jews.  They did not deserve the goodness and grace of God that He showed to them.  Before we point any fingers at them, remember that we are all guilty of the same.

vs. 41-56 – They had forgotten the power God displayed in delivering them from Egypt and establishing them in the Promised Land.  The Ten Plagues are rehearsed as well as the Red Sea crossing.  The settlement of Canaan is mentioned.  All of these they forgot and turned away from God.

vs. 57-64 – Once settled in Canaan, the Israelites forgot God and turned to idols.  For this, God allowed the capture of the Ark of the Covenant and the destruction of Shiloh by the Philistines in I Samuel 4.

vs. 65-72 – The plagues that befall the Philistines when they held the Ark in I Samuel 5 are recalled.  God reveals that it was His Providence that brought the Ark to the tribe of Judah and not another like faithless Ephraim.  God chose both Judah and Jerusalem.  He chose to have the Temple there.  He chose the house of David to be the royal family of Israel.  He called David from being a shepherd to be the king who shepherded God’s chosen people. 

This psalm was written by Asaph.  It is a song of lament for the judgment of God on His people.

vs. 1-4 – God has allowed foreign powers to invade and capture Jerusalem.  The Temple is desecrated and the people are slain without number.  Enemies mock the downtrodden Israelites.

vs. 5 – The burning question is how long God would allow such a horrible thing to stand.  Would He not avenge the crimes against His people.  Would He not restore them again?

vs. 6-9 – A call for God to destroy His enemies, restore His people, and glorify His name.

vs. 10 – A call for God to defend His honor against the slanders of the wicked.

vs. 11-13 – A call for God to deliver His people and pour out His wrath against their persecutors.  The result of these actions is that praise offered by His people for generations.

There is an interesting juxtaposition between these two psalms.  Psalm 78 talks about people who forgot God and were judged.  Psalm 79 has people who are being judged but do not forget God.  There is hope for that second group that after they repent and God has purified them that they will be restored to a place of blessing.  That first group cannot find restoration until they remember God.  We need to remember this lesson.  Stay faithful to God and do not forsake His Word.  In doing so even our darkest hours have purpose and hope.

Our hymn today was written by George Kingsley and first published in 1912 in “The Psalter”.  In that book, it has the title “Religious Training”.  It takes up the themes of the opening section of Psalm 78 and encourages in our duty to train future generations.

O come, my people, to my law
Attentively give ear;
With willing heart and teachable
The words of wisdom hear.

My mouth shall speak in parables
Of hidden truths of old,
Which, handed down from age to age,
To us our fathers told.

We will not from their children hide
Jehovah's worthy praise,
But tell the greatness of His strength,
His wondrous works and ways.

A testimony and a law
The Lord our God decreed,
And bade our fathers teach their sons,
That they His ways might heed.

He willed that each succeeding race
His deeds might learn and know,
That children's children to their sons
Might all these wonders show.

Let children learn God's righteous ways
And on Him stay their heart,
That they may not forget His works
Nor from His ways depart.