KNOWING GOD – THE GOD OF MIRACLES – Lesson Thirty-nine
TEXT: Psalm 78 (Cont’d.) – V.62-64
[We continue to “consider the marvelous works” listed in this psalm, in keeping with I Samuel 12:24 – But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
Be sure to fear the LORD – Proverbs 19:23 – The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.]
V.62-64 – 62He gave his people over to the sword; he was very angry with his inheritance. 63Fire consumed their young men, and their maidens had no wedding songs; 64their priests were put to the sword, and their widows could not weep.
Like the previous lesson, the text is a continuation of the details of the punishment meted out to them for their rebellion.
He gave his people over to the sword – See 1 Samuel 4:1-10. (V.2 -The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield.
V.10 – So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers.)
Let us thank the GOD OF MIRACLES for John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Fire consumed their young men – The “fire” in this case was the “fire of war,” as the Amplified Bible states; but there had been instances of the literal fire, as follows:
Leviticus 10:1-2 – 1Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.
Numbers 16:35 – And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.
Note Psalm 97:3 – Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side.
Let us therefore ask the GOD OF MIRACLES to help us to have an abiding friendship with Him. John 15:14 – You are my friends if you do what I command.
Their maidens had no wedding songs – This was particularly distressing as, in normal times, weddings were celebrated with great mirth, parts of which were the nuptial songs which were composed in praise of the bride. Note:
Jeremiah 7:34 – I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, for the land will become desolate.
Jeremiah 16:9 – For this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Before your eyes and in your days I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in this place.
Jeremiah 25:10 – I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, the sound of millstones and the light of the lamp.
Note also that Jesus’ first miracle was performed at a wedding. See John 2:1-11. (V.11 – This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.)
Let us ask the GOD OF MIRACLES to help us to “make ourselves ready” for the following glorious event:
Revelation 19:7-9 – 7Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” 8(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
9Then the angel said to me, “Write: `Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
Their priests were put to the sword – Note: Their priests [Hophni and Phinehas] fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation [for the bodies came not back from the scene of battle, and the widow of Phinehas also died that day]. (AMP)
Other instance of priests being killed by the sword: 1 Samuel 22:17-19 – 17Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.”
But the king’s officials were not willing to raise a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.
18The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. 19He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.
Their widows could not weep – This was pathetic, as ceremonial mourning for the dead, with loud lamentations, was an important part of their culture and was only forbidden as a form of judgment. Note Jeremiah 22:18-19 – 18Therefore this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:
“They will not mourn for him: `Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’ They will not mourn for him: `Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’ 19He will have the burial of a donkey– dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.”
Let us thank the GOD OF MIRACLES that we are required to “rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
1 Thessalonians 5:16 – Be joyful always;
Let us especially thank Him for: Hebrews 7:24-25 – 24but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Revelation 1:18 – I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.