KNOWING GOD – THE GOD OF MIRACLES – Lesson Forty
TEXT: Psalm 78 (Cont’d.) – V.65-69
[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.65-69 – 65Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, as a man wakes from the stupor of wine. 66He beat back his enemies; he put them to everlasting shame. 67Then he rejected the tents of Joseph, he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim; 68but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loved. 69He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth that he established forever.
Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, as a man wakes from the stupor of wine – Parallel passage: Isaiah 42:13 – The LORD will march out like a mighty man, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.
Thus it is declared: Psalm 135:13-14 – 13Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, through all generations. 14For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.
It is assumed that the Lord’s action was in response to their repentance, having been “trained by the discipline.” Hebrews 12:11 – No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Note Psalm 106:43-45 – 43Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin.
44But he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; 45for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented.
They then experienced: Psalm 30:5 – For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:11-12 – 11You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.
Psalm 147:3 – He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
He beat back his enemies; he put them to everlasting shame – Example: See 1 Samuel 5:6-12.
He rejected the tents of Joseph, he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim – Reiteration of v.60 (He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent he had set up among men.) The GOD OF MIRACLES is highlighting the seriousness of sin.
Note the following, which is stated by Paul who had experienced the dreadful consequences of sin:
Romans 6:1-2, 15 – 1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
Let us therefore ask the GOD OF MIRACLES to help us to “wholeheartedly obey Him” as the Romans did: Romans 6:17-18 – 17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
But he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loved – Let us thank the GOD OF MIRACLES for His love for us also. Ephesians 5:25-27 – 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth that he established forever – Referring to Solomon’s Temple. See 1 Kings 6.
Let us thank the GOD OF MIRACLES for the privilege of being a part of the “spiritual temple.” Ephesians 2:21-22 – 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
1 Peter 2:4-5 – 4As you come to him, the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him– 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 3:6 – But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.
It is by faith that we will “hold on.” Note Mark 11:20-25 – 20In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
21“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
NIV note: 25 Some manuscripts sins. 26But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your sins.