PSALM 78
Instruction to children regarding history verse 1- 8
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
We will not hide them from their children
showing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD
and HIS strength – and HIS wonderful works that HE has done
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
that the generation to come might know them
even the children which should be born
who should arise and declare them to their children
that they might set their HOPE in God
and not forget the works of God
BUT keep HIS commandments
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 steadfast with God
Ephraim forgot the past verse 9- 16
The children of Ephraim – being armed – carrying bows
turned back in the day of battle
They kept not the covenant of God – and refused to walk in HIS law
and forgot HIS works – and forgot HIS wonders
that HE had shown them marvelous things did HE
in the sight of their fathers
in the land of Egypt – in the field of Zonan
HE divided the sea – and caused them to pass through
and HE made the waters to stand as an heap
In the daytime also HE led them with a cloud
all the night with a light of fire
HE clave the rocks in the wilderness
gave them drink as out of the great depths
HE brought streams also out of the rock
and caused waters to run down like rivers
Israel rebelled in the wilderness verse 17- 31
And they sinned yet more against HIM by provoking the most High
in the wilderness
And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust
YEA – they spoke against God
They said
Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
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?
THEREFORE the LORD heard this – and was wroth
so a fire was kindled against Jacob
and anger also came up against Israel
BECAUSE they believed not in God
and trusted not in HIS salvation
though HE had commanded the clouds from above
and opened the doors of heaven
and had rained down manna upon them to eat
and had given them of the corn of heaven
man did eat angel’s food
HE sent them meat to the full
HE caused an east wind to blow in the heaven
and by HIS power HE brought in the south wind
HE rained flesh also upon them as dust
and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea
and HE let it fall in the midst of their camp
round about their habitations
So they did eat – and were well filled
for HE gave them their own desire
They were not estranged from their lust
BUT while their meat was yet in their mouths
the wrath of God came upon them
and slew the fattest of them
and smote down the chosen men of Israel
Correction didn’t convince Israel to be obedient verse 32- 39
For all this they sinned STILL
and believed not for HIS wondrous works
THEREFORE their days did HE consume in vanity
their years in trouble
When HE slew them – THEN they sought HIM
and they returned and inquired early after God
and they remembered that God was their rock
and the high God their redeemer
NEVERTHELESS they did flatter HIM with their mouth
they lied to HIM with their tongues
FOR their heart was not right with HIM
neither were they steadfast in HIS covenant
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
FOR HE remembered that they were but flesh
a wind that passes away – and comes not again
Review of the plagues of Egypt verse 40- 55
How oft did they provoke HIM in the wilderness
and grieve HIM in the desert
yea – they turned back and tempted God
and LIMITED the Holy One of Israel
They remembered not HIS hand
nor the day when HE delivered them from the enemy
how HE had wrought HIS signs in Egypt
and HIS wonders in the field of Zoan
and had turned their rivers into BLOOD
and their floods
that they could not drink
HE sent divers sorts of FLIES among them – which devoured them
and FROGS – which destroyed them
HE gave also their increase to the CATERPILLAR
and their labor to the LOCUST
HE destroyed their VINES with HAIL
and their sycamore trees with FROST
HE gave up their CATTLE also to the HAIL
and their flocks to HOT THUNDERBOLTS
HE cast on them the fierceness of HIS anger
wrath – indignation – trouble
by sending evil angels among them
HE made a way to HIS anger
HE spared not their soul from death
BUT gave their life over to PESTILENCE
And smote all the FIRSTBORN in Egypt
the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham
BUT made HIS OWN people to go forth like sheep
and guided them in the wilderness like a flock
and HE led them on safely
so that they FEARED not
BUT the sea overwhelmed their enemies
And HE brought them 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
Review of the time of the Judges verse 56- 64
Yet they 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
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
and delivered HIS strength into captivity
and HIS glory into the enemy’s hand
HE gave HIS people over also to the sword
and was wroth with HIS inheritance
the fire consumed their young men
their maidens were not given to marriage
their priests fell by the sword
their widows made no lamentation
Reason for choosing Judah to lead Israel verse 65- 72
THEN the LORD awaked as one out of sleep
and like a mighty man that shouts by reason of wine
and HE smote HIS enemies in the hinder parts
HE put them to a perpetual reproach
MOREOVER HE refused the tabernacle of Joseph
HE chose not the tribe of Ephraim
BUT HE chose the tribe of Judah
the mount Zion which HE loved
HE built HIS sanctuary like high palaces
like the earth which HE hath established forever
HE chose David also HIS servant – and took him from the sheepfolds
from following the ewes great with young HE brought him to feed
Jacob HIS people – and Israel HIS inheritance
So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart
and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 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;” (The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). (Known – 3045 דָּעָה, יָדַע [yadaʿ /yaw·dah/] v. A primitive root; TWOT 848; GK 1977 and 3359; 947 occurrences; AV translates as “know” 645 times, “known” 105 times, “knowledge” 19 times, “perceive” 18 times, “shew” 17 times, “tell” eight times, “wist” seven times, “understand” seven times, “certainly” seven times, “acknowledge” six times, “acquaintance” six times, “consider” six times, “declare” six times, “teach” five times, and translated miscellaneously 85 times. 1 to know. 1A (Qal). 1A1 to know. 1A1A to know, learn to know. 1A1B to perceive. 1A1C to perceive and see, find out and discern. 1A1D to discriminate, distinguish. 1A1E to know by experience. 1A1F to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess. 1A1G to consider. 1A2 to know, be acquainted with. 1A3 to know (a person carnally). 1A4 to know how, be skilful in. 1A5 to have knowledge, be wise. 1B (Niphal). 1B1 to be made known, be or become known, be revealed. 1B2 to make oneself known. 1B3 to be perceived. 1B4 to be instructed. 1C (Piel) to cause to know. 1D (Poal) to cause to know. 1E (Pual). 1E1 to be known. 1E2 known, one known, acquaintance (participle). 1F (Hiphil) to make known, declare. 1G (Hophal) to be made known. 1H (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001).
DEVOTION: I have spent the afternoon and evening with one of my granddaughters! As we were together we had a chance to talk about different events that were taking place. Feeding the birds and riding a bike were a part of the afternoon. In the discussion though we had opportunity to talk about the Lord and how He wants us to be like Him. We talked about a dedication service and the importance of being dedicated to the Lord. The joy sharing God’s ways with the future is exciting and fulfilling! The psalmist says the same thing when he talks about making the testimony and commands of God known to the children. It is a privilege to share the word of God with children and young people. They are the hope of the church and the nation! May we take time to instruct young people of the truths of God’s words and ways! (2 Timothy 2:2)
CHALLENGE: Pray and talk with young people as the Lord opens the doors and tell them the truths of God and His ways! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep HIS commandments. (3689 “hope” [kecel] means confidence, a feeling of trust, have a belief in an object to the extent of placing mental or physical trust in it.)
DEVOTION: The “hope” of Israel just like the “hope” we are to have is to be in the LORD alone. Too often we are like the children of Israel by trying to do things on our own and that always leads to trouble.
The children of Israel had short memories, just like we do, because they forgot all the provisions the LORD had made for them as they were leaving Egypt. The forgot all the times HE provided food and drink. They were a people like us who seem to think that if HE hasn’t done something for us in the last minute than HE is not really providing for us.
The children of Israel like us usually reacted in a bad way when they didn’t get their way. They and us are like spoiled children. We want what we want when we want it. If that is not happening than what good are you.
Too often we think too highly of ourselves. God does love us like HE loved Israel but HE also had to teach them and us lessons regarding what it meant to be a servant of God and to worship HIM in spirit and in truth.
We tend to be ones who what to see God working now and not in a few minutes. We question God and HIS actions. We are never satisfied with what is going on in our life. It is just like the children of Israel.
Our hope is in HIM alone. Once we realize this fact we will be able to wait on HIM to act as HE sees fit and not in our timing but in HIS.
CHALLENGE: How long is our memory? Are we forgetting what HE has done for us in the past? Are we keeping HIS commandment with the help of the Holy Spirit each day?
: 17 And they sinned yet more against HIM by provoking the most High in the wilderness. (4751 “provoking” [marah] means to defy an authority, such as God or his commands, to be recalcitrant, rebellious, to behave rebelliously, to be contumacious, obstinately, or behave refractorily.)
DEVOTION: Most of us have seen a temper tantrum by a little child in a mall or other places. It is no fun to watch because the parents are in public and don’t want to do anything to cause them to be arrested.
Children know when to act up. It is a learned tract at a young age. They know that if they are in public their parents might not do too much to them because there are other people around.
Here we have a nation doing the same thing. They are acting up because they are not getting what they think they deserve. They want more. The problem with all of us is that we always seem to want more. We are never satisfied with what the LORD gives us.
HE knows what is best for us and only gives us what we can handle at any given moment but we think that we can handle more and so we sin like the children of Israel by complaining about what we don’t have.
God wants to show us HIS love for us but HE knows what we can handle and when we can handle it. If we try to move ahead of God we will be sorry because we are not living the way HE wants us to and HE will have to discipline us for that.
The children of Israel were always seeming to want more than God was giving them. They were disobedient to the commands HE gave them because they thought they were to restrictive. HE wants us to grow slowly in our relationship to HIM. HE wants us to obey in baby steps before we move on to more commands.
Too often we don’t like the way HE moves in our life and want more than HE is willing to give us right now. This was a problem for Israel and is a problem for us.
CHALLENGE: We need to take baby steps in our walk with the LORD before we can run with HIM.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. (8428 “limited” [tavah] means vex, to grieve, to pain, wound, trouble, cause trouble for someone, grieve or cause pain.)
DEVOTION: History! Do you love history? The Psalmist reminds Israel of its history with the LORD. Sometime we have to look back at what God has done in our lives. In looking back we can also see where we were spiritually with God. We can see times of trouble because of our unfaithfulness to HIM. HE chastens those HE loves. HE loved Israel and showed them HIS love by chastening them, so that, they would return to HIM for blessing.
When the children of Israel didn’t believe God and wanted their own way it caused pain to God. HE had given them many signs and wonders of HIS power and ability to get them through all their trials and yet they were shortsighted. HE had fed them in the wilderness. HE has given them an inheritance. HE had won their battles.
Yet they continued to say they were following HIM with their lips but their hearts were far from HIM. It grieved HIM. They had a memory lose. They continued to question HIS ability to take care of them.
In the New Testament we are told that we can “grieve” the Holy Spirit by our sins. Here in the Old Testament the saints of God “grieved” HIM with their sin. It has not changed. We have a short memory. It would be wonderful if we started a journal that recorded all the blessings the LORD has given us. Then we could look back and see what HE has done. However, the Israelites had all HIS deeds written down and recorded in their memories and on parchments but still provoked the LORD to anger. They were supposed to train their children in the LORD. They were supposed to remind their children of how great God was in the past. How HE could take care of them in the present. How he could take care of them in the future.
Are we telling our children how great God really has been in our lives? Do we mention it to them when we see them? Does the command to the children of Israel have any bearing on us? The next generation needs to know who God is. IF we are not telling them – they will grieve HIM!!!
CHALLENGE: Our daily goals should be to not cause God grief and to instruct our children on how to follow the LORD. Study how God worked in the past and watch HIM work in the present. Remember the future is in HIS hands.
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: 72 “So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them
by the skillfulness of his hands.” (“Integrity,” 8537 תֹּם [tom] 23 occurrences; AV translates as “integrity” 11 times, “upright” twice, “uprightly” twice, “uprightness 2,venture” twice, “full” once, “perfect” once, “perfection” once, and “simplicity” once. 1 integrity, completeness. 1a completeness, fullness. 1b innocence, simplicity. 1c integrity [Strong, J. (2001). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software]).
DEVOTION: This psalm rehearses all the God did for the children of Israel while in Egypt and how they continued to disobey Him throughout the journeying in the wilderness enroute to the Promised Land. They continued to ignore His providence and continued to complain about all that they had to go through. This psalm ignores Saul’s reign as king, but concludes with an association of God’s providence with the anointing of David to be king of Israel.
One character quality that David had was integrity. This is a sense of being both honest and upright. David was described as a “friend of God,” which means that he had a close walk with God. In the sin with Bathsheba which he is known most for, David finally came clean and confessed what he had done (Psalm 51). He became one of the most transparent people in the Bible.
So integrity means that I want to walk with God more than I want to live my life according to my own desires. It also does not mean that I am perfect, but that I am willing to admit to the Lord when I have failed Him and come to Him for His forgiveness. There is a sense of humility and simplicity that is associated with integrity, and this was probably what gave David his charisma as a leader. It is also what is to characterize us in our jobs (Colossians 3:23).
CHALLENGE: Are you able to say that you want to do all that you do with integrity, even at your job? Are you willing to confess any situations where you have messed up? Ask the Lord now to help you be full of His integrity at work tomorrow. (Dr. Marc Wooten – board member)
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Enquired early after God verse 34
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Praise the LORD verse 4
Sanctuary verse 54
Tabernacle of Shiloh verse 60
Built sanctuary in Judah verse 69
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Law verse 1 , 5, 10
Testimony verse 5, 56
Commandment verse 5, 7
Covenant verse 10, 37
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 4, 21
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 7, 8, 10, 13, 18, 19, 22, 31,
34, 35, 56, 59
Hope in God
Works of God
Keep HIS commandments
Covenant of God
Tempted God
Wrath of God
Divided the sea
Led with a cloud verse 14
All the night with a light of fire verse 14
Commanded the clouds verse 23
Opened the doors of heaven verse 23
Provided manna (corn of heaven) verse 24
Most High verse 17
Wrath of God verse 21, 31, 38, 59
Rained flesh on Israel verse 27- 30
Wonderous works verse 32
Rock verse 35
High God their redeemer verse 35
Full of compassion verse 38
Forgave Israel’s iniquity verse 38
Holy One of Israel verse 41
Guided Israel verse 52
Most High God verse 56
Abhorred Israel verse 59
Gave HIS people over to sword verse 62-64
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 65
Smote enemies of Israel verse 66
Chose the tribe of Judah verse 68
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Angels’ food verse 25
Evil angels verse 49
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Land of Egypt verse 12, 43
Field of Zoan verse 12
Flesh verse 39
Enemy verse 42, 53, 61, 66
Plagues of Egypt verse 44- 51
Firstborn of Egypt verse 51
Heathen verse 55
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Stubborn verse 8
Rebellious verse 8
Heart not set right verse 8, 37
Not steadfast with God verse 8, 37
Not keeping covenant of God verse 10, 37
Refused to walk in HIS law verse 10, 41, 57
Forgot works and wonders of God verse 11, 42
Sinned still verse 17, 32
Provoking God verse 17, 40, 56, 58
Tempted God verse 18, 41, 56
Lust verse 18, 30
Spoke against God verse 19
Believed not in God verse 22, 32
Trusted not in HIS salvation verse 22
Their own desire (lust) verse 29, 30
Sinned still – after gift from God verse 32
Vanity verse 33
Years in trouble verse 33
Flatter verse 36
Lied verse 36
Iniquity verse 38
Grieve God verse 40
Limited Holy One of Israel verse 41
Heathen verse 55
Tempted and provoked the Most High verse 56
Kept not HIS testimonies verse 56
Unfaithfully verse 57
Deceitful verse 57
High places verse 58
Graven images verse 58
Forsaken by God verse 60
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Dark sayings verse 2
Parents teach children God’s truth verse 3- 8
Praises verse 4
Share faith with children verse 5, 6
Hope verse 7
Not forget works of God verse 7
Keep HIS commandments verse 7
Covenant verse 10
Leading of the LORD verse 14, 53
Provision verse 15, 16, 20,
23- 29, 72
Salvation verse 22
Return verse 34
Inquired verse 34
Remember verse 35, 39
Redeemer verse 35
Compassion verse 38
Forgave verse 38
Guided verse 52, 72
Sheep verse 52
Feared not verse 53
Inheritance verse 54, 55, 62
Chosen verse 68, 70
Loved verse 68
Servant verse 70
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Asaph – writer of Psalm verse 1- 72
Open mouth in parable
Fathers of Israel verse 3
Testimony of Jacob verse 5
Law in Israel verse 5
Responsible to teach next generation verse 6
Children of Ephraim verse 9, 67
Kept not the covenant of God
Refused to walk in HIS law
Smote the rock verse 20
Jacob verse 21, 71
Israel verse 21, 59, 71
Chosen men of Israel killed verse 31
Sanctuary verse 54, 69
Tribes of Israel verse 55
Tempted and provoked the most high verse 56
Tabernacle at Shiloh verse 60
Tabernacle of Joseph verse 67
God refused Joseph and Ephraim verse 67
Chosen tribe of Judah verse 68
Mount Zion verse 68
David verse 70- 72
Chosen
Feed Jacob and Israel
Integrity of his heart
Guided them skillfully
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
This could be sub-titled, in view of verses 12 and 68, From Zoan to Zion, for it reviews the turbulent adolescence of Israel from its time of slavery in Egypt to the reign of David. Like the parting song of Moses (Deut. 32) it is meant to search the conscience: it is history that must not repeat itself. At the same time, it is meant to warm the heart, for it tells of great miracles, of a grace that persists through all the judgments, and of the promise that displays its tokens in the chosen city and chosen king.
The Christian user of the psalm knows that history did repeat itself, and that finally the chosen tribe refused its King, and did so in the chosen city (68); but he also knows that God has more than kept the promise to David, and has established a Mount Zion that is ‘the mother of us all’ (Gal. 4:26, av). He can also reflect, however, that just as Israel’s story in the psalm breaks off abruptly, for subsequent generations to complete and to learn from, so the New Testament breaks off its history of our own beginnings (Acts 28:30f.), for us to continue with the fidelity which is expounded in verse 7. (Kidner, D. (1975). Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 16, pp. 310–311). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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The emphasis is not on man’s deserts but on God’s ‘own purpose and … grace’ (2 Tim. 1:9). To this, Zion owes its stability (69); to this God’s people owe the gift and gifts of David as their skilful shepherd. If Israel’s record is her shame, God’s persistent goodness emerges as her hope (and ours) for the unfinished story. (Kidner, D. (1975). Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 16, p. 316). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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78:65–72. Asaph then reminded the people how the Lord awoke, figuratively speaking, like a mighty man and saved His people from their enemies. But then He rejected the tents of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim (see comments on vv. 9–11), representing the Northern tribes, and chose Judah’s Zion for the location of His sanctuary, and David His servant to be His king. The disbelief and disobedience that brought disaster at the Battle of Aphek (1 Sam. 4:1–11) marked the turning point to a new priesthood and a new sanctuary, and a king to lead the people, God’s inheritance (cf. Pss. 78:62; 79:1; see comments on Deut. 4:20). (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 851–852). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The statement in verse 65 is metaphorical, for the Lord neither gets drunk nor goes to sleep. During the time of Samuel and Saul, with the help of young David, Israel beat back her enemies, but it was when David ascended the throne that the nation achieved its greatest victories and experienced the greatest expansion of its boundaries. This is one reason why God rejected the tribe of Ephraim and chose the tribe of Judah, and why He abandoned the tabernacle at Shiloh in Ephraim and chose Mt. Zion for the site of the temple. Jacob had prophesied that the king would come from Judah (Gen. 49:10), and King Saul was from Benjamin. When the Lord directed David to capture Mt. Zion and make Jerusalem his capital city, it was an act of His love (47:4; 87:2). If Asaph wrote this psalm after the division of the kingdom, then he was reminding the people of Judah that they were privileged indeed to have Jerusalem, Mt. Zion, and a king from the line of David, from which line the Messiah would come! (See Luke 1:30–33, 66–79; Matt. 2:6.) If they appreciated these privileges, they would not follow the bad example of the Northern Kingdom and sin against the Lord by turning to idols.
Kings were called “shepherds” (Jer. 23:1–6; Ezek. 34) because God’s chosen people were the sheep of His pasture (v. 52; 77:20; 100:3), and no one was better qualified than David to hold that title (2 Sam. 5:1–3). He loved his “sheep” (2 Sam. 24:17) and often risked his life for them on the battlefield. His hands were skillful, whether holding a sword, a harp, a pen, or a scepter, and, unlike his predecessor Saul, his heart was wholly devoted to the Lord. (On “integrity,” see 7:8; 25:21; 26:1, 11; 41:12.) Integrity and skill need each other, for no amount of ability can compensate for a sinful heart, and no amount of devotion to God can overcome lack of ability. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be worshipful (1st ed., pp. 257–258). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)
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67–69. The ark, after its return, went no more to Shiloh, which was in the tribe of Ephraim, the son of Joseph, but was brought first to Kiriathaim, 1 Sam. 6:21, a city of the tribe of Judah, and from thence, after a short stay at the house of Obed Edom, to Mount Sion, (1 Chron. 14 and 15,) which was the chosen and highly favoured mount; where was afterwards erected, by Solomon, a magnificent and permanent habitation for the God of Jacob, during the continuance of the old dispensation; a resemblance of that eternal temple, in which all the fulness of the Godhead hath since dwelt bodily. The divine presence removed at this time to the tribe of Judah, because out of that tribe, after the rejection of Saul, came the great representative, as well as progenitor of King Messiah. (Horne, G. (1856). A Commentary on the Book of Psalms (p. 286). New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.)
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69 And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath †established for ever.
His sanctuary; the temple of Solomon. High palaces; magnificent and glorious. Established for ever; not now to be removed from place to place, as the tabernacle was, but as a fixed place for the ark’s perpetual residence, unless the people by their apostacy should cause its removal. (Poole, M. (1853). Annotations upon the Holy Bible (Vol. 2, p. 127). New York: Robert Carter and Brothers.)
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Ver. 69. And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, &c.] The temple at Jerusalem, called a sanctuary, or holy place, because separated and dedicated to holy use and service; where the holy God had his residence, and was worshipped, and was a figure of the holy place not made with hands: this is said to be built by the Lord, because the materials provided for it, and which David and his people so willingly offered, were his own; of his own they gave him; as well as the pattern after which it was made was had from the spirit of God; and it was the Lord that put it into the heart of David to set such a work afoot, and encouraged Solomon to begin and finish it, and gave wisdom, health, and strength, to the workmen to accomplish it; and in reference to this are the words in Psal. 127:1 except the Lord build the house, &c. and this he built not like the high places, where idolatry was committed; the temple was not built in imitation of them; but like what high and eminent men, like such buildings as they erect; like stately palaces, so Aben Ezra and Kimchi, built for kings and great personages; and such a building was the temple, the most magnificent in all the world, as built by Solomon, and even as rebuilt by Zerubbabel, and repaired by Herod; see Mark 13:1 or it was built on high, as the Syriac version, on a high hill, Mount Moriah: the Targum is, “as the horn of the unicorn;” and so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions. Jarchi interprets it as the high heavens, of which it was a figure; it was like them for magnificence and glory, and like the earth for stability, as follows: like the earth, which he hath established for ever; as to the substance of it; though as to the qualities of it, it will be done away, and a new one arise; otherwise it will abide for ever, Eccl. 1:4 this respects the continuance of the temple during the Jewish dispensation, when the Gospel temple, or Gospel church, should take place, which will continue to the end of the world: this is opposed to the frequent removes of the tabernacle and ark before the temple was built, when there was no abiding habitation provided for it. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 4, p. 37). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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69. “And he built his sanctuary like high palaces.” The tabernacle was placed on high, literally and spiritually it was as a mountain of beauty. True religion was exalted in the land. For sanctity it was a temple, for majesty it was a palace. “Like the earth which he hath established for ever.” Stability as well as stateliness were seen in the temple, and so also in the church of God. The prophet saw both in vision. (Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 56-87 (Vol. 3, p. 346). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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The Lord is pictured as David’s shepherd, leading him in righteousness.
INSIGHT
Perhaps the most outstanding characteristic of sheep is that they cannot take care of themselves. The demands of life exceed their intelligence and their abilities. They must have a shepherd. Man is the same. While there is a vast and gratifying difference between men and sheep, the demands of life for men exceed their intelligence and abilities. We also need a shepherd, the Lord. He is the Great Shepherd. He will lead us. The question is: Will we follow? (Quiet Walk)
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AN ALL-INCLUSIVE PROMISE
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Let us look at the all-inclusiveness of the promise–“all things work together for good.” It is generally agreed that the “all things” has special reference to trials and tribulations. Here is one of the most remarkable claims ever made for Christianity. Here is certainly the boldest justification of God’s ways to man.
Let us observe what this verse says. Perhaps we shall best be able to grasp its significance if we approach it along the negative route. We see clearly that, as Christians, we are not promised an easy time in this world. Our Lord Himself in His teaching told the disciples that they would have tribulations and trials and sufferings. And in the same way Paul teaches that “unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake” (Philippians 1:29). The Christian’s view of life and of the world is realistic, not romantic. He does not avoid troubles and problems. Neither does he try to minimize the seriousness and the greatness of the troubles and problems. The glory of the gospel is that it faces the whole situation without shirking anything, and yet shows the way out.
Some of the older versions bring out this feature in our text very clearly by adding the word “God” to “all things work together for good”–i.e., that “God works all things together for good to them who love him.” And that is undoubtedly what the apostle teaches. These trials are not to be ignored; neither are they without any explanation whatsoever. God uses them to our advantage in order to bring His own great purposes to pass. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” That is the ultimate justification of God’s ways; that is the ultimate answer to all our questions as to why God allows certain things to happen.
A Thought to Ponder: God uses our trials to our advantage in order to bring His own great purposes to pass. (From Why Does God Allow War? pp. 116-117,119, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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On Being A PASTOR by Derek J. Prime & Alistair Begg
With both a job and a home – and perhaps a family – to care for, a wife is going to be hard pushed to give the hospitality her husband’s calling so frequently demands. Second, while a wife is at work, there will be unexpected female callers through a variety of emergencies, which can make her husband more vulnerable than he would be if she were there. (p. 258)
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Her principal contribution is her support of her husband and the care of her family. (p. 259)
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Loneliness, the temptation to jealousy, and the burden of confidentiality are three problems wives face about which we need to be sensitive. (p. 260)
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To make friends outside the church fellowship, or with other pastor’s wives, is particularly helpful, but not always easy. Our wives need friends as all do, and we should pray specifically that God will raise up one or two friends, whether within or outside the church fellowship, who will be a special encouragement to her. If they are within the church, God can give them understanding to be discreet and thoughtful. (p. 261)
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A wife’s most important contribution to her husband’s usefulness is her ability to be his best critic. Our wives may be relied upon to be honest with us as no one else, whether we want to know how our teaching came across or the rightness of an immediate response to a crisis or a decision that must be made. It may not always be easy to accept what our wives say because of its honesty, but it is the one judgment we can entirely trust because of the love behind it. (p. 262)
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