Psalms

This Psalm was written for the coming generations.  It was written for the children to hear of all the amazing things God had done, and His gracious acts toward the His people.  Part the remembrance passed along to the children was the response of rebellion by the people.  They were ungrateful for all that God had done for them.  If they did a good job teaching the children then maybe the next generation wouldn't repeat the mistakes that the previous generations had made.  How have we done at this?  Has our generation repeated the mistakes of previous generations?

What lessons and history do we pass along to our kids?  Do we pass along heritage of our nation and how God established it?  Or do we leave that for the school system?  What do we give thanks for on Thanksgiving?  What do we celebrate on Memorial Day?  What do we celebrate on Labor Day?

A Contemplation of Asaph.

 ¹ Give ear, O my people, to my law;
         Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
 ² I will open my mouth in a parable;
         I will utter dark sayings of old,
 ³ Which we have heard and known,
         And our fathers have told us.
 ⁴ We will not hide them from their children,
         Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD,
         And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.
Parables are the speeches of wise men.  They are general wise sayings derived from experience.  These are men who have seen some stuff and lived through some things in life.  They've a learned a few things along the way and the next generation can learn from them.  Asaph said he would utter dark saying of old.  The word for 'utter' is picture of pouring forth or a bubbling up.  To rightly understand the history of the nation required the wise old me or the prophets to offer a parable.  This knowledge would bubble up from them.  Have you ever spent time talking to an elderly person?  At first they may not offer an opinion or they comment on how times have changed.  Soon, when you get them going they will tell you how things used to be and how things should be.  They are full of lessons and parables and knowledge.

The lessons and stories of how God dealt with the Israelites were passed down verbally for many generations.  Each generation heard from the previous what their father told them as they grew up.  Asaph said they will not hide them from their children.  They need to know about the Lord and how the previous generations related and responded to Him even when they rebelled.

How have we done at passing along the knowledge of the Lord to the next generations?

 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;
 ⁶ That the generation to come might know them,
         The children who would be born,
         That they may arise and declare them to their children,
 ⁷ That they may set their hope in God,
         And not forget the works of God,
         But keep His commandments;
 ⁸ And may not be like their fathers,
         A stubborn and rebellious generation,
         A generation that did not set its heart aright,
         And whose spirit was not faithful to God.
The Lord established His testimony among His people Israel.  It is from Jacob that the tribes of Israel were born.  And those tribes received the law from God.  This law revealed the perfect nature of a God and that law was passed along to future generations.  The law is still perfect in its purpose, showing men that they cannot measure up and they need a savior. 

Is it possible to come to a full knowledge of the grace of God without a full understanding of the law?  The law helps us understand how serious our problems is ......this makes the remedy all that more amazing and valuable to us.  Each generation was to bring these laws to their children so they were brought up knowing them.  Do we know the laws of God?  Can we name the Ten Commandments?

These commandments keep us humble.  They continually point to a holy and awesome God.  When we forget the law, forget God's nature and high and holy place, we are drawn away from Him.  We become stubborn and rebellious, no different from the Israelites.  In the history of the God's people we see a group who were miraculously delivered by the hand of God from oppression.  Yet, they turned away from God.  We often shake our heads and say, didn't they realize God was moving all around them.  But are we any different?  God has delivered us by His amazing grace, yet we have short memories about our salvation and the life we once lived.   Throughout the history of Israel we see examples of their spirit not being faithful.  This is no different from our rebellious spirit and sinful nature that we war with every day.

         
 ⁹ The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows,
         Turned back in the day of battle.
 ¹⁰ They did not keep the covenant of God;
         They refused to walk in His law,
 ¹¹ And forgot His works
         And His wonders that He had shown them.
When God tried to bring the children of Israel into the Promised Land they lost their faith.  All they saw was giants and these struck fear in them.  Suddenly, the God that had done so many things to save and preserve them from Egypt, was incapable of allowing them to take possession of the land.  God was angry at this and he said no adult of that generation would see that land.  Suddenly they saw they had sinned and tried to make things right.

Deut 1:41-44 (NKJV)

⁴¹ "Then you answered and said to me, 'We have sinned against the Lord; we will go up and fight, just as the Lord our God commanded us.' And when everyone of you had girded on his weapons of war, you were ready to go up into the mountain. ⁴² And the Lord said to me, 'Tell them, "Do not go up nor fight, for I am not among you; lest you be defeated before your enemies." ' ⁴³ So I spoke to you; yet you would not listen, but rebelled against the command of the Lord, and presumptuously went up into the mountain. ⁴⁴ And the Amorites who dwelt in that mountain came out against you and chased you as bees do, and drove you back from Seir to Hormah.

We see this and ask how could they forget?  What was the matter with them?  Yet, we are often guilty of similar examples of disbelief.  We have the word of God, the promises of God, and personal experiences where God has moved, yet, fall victim to unbelief when we are in a difficult situation.

         
 ¹² Marvelous things He did in the sight of their fathers,
         In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
 ¹³ He divided the sea and caused them to pass through;
         And He made the waters stand up like a heap.
 ¹⁴ In the daytime also He led them with the cloud,
         And all the night with a light of fire.
 ¹⁵ He split the rocks in the wilderness,
         And gave them drink in abundance like the depths.
 ¹⁶ He also brought streams out of the rock,
         And caused waters to run down like rivers.
These are just some of the amazing examples of God's provision and care for His people.  Yet, we can be sure, while some were experiencing these miracles others were complaining.  Some were said it took too long, or, yea he divided the sea, what was the matter with Him, couldn't He come up with a boat.  While he led them with a cloud in the day and a pillar of fire at night, someone was grumbling that the cloud blocked the sun or they the pillar was too bright and they couldn't sleep.  This is our sinful nature.  Our focus is so intense on our self that we fail to see God moving in amazing ways.  What is it about the Israelites that wouldn't allow them to trust in God especially after the amazing things they've seen?  What is it that keeps us from trusting Him when we've read in the bible of the wondrous things He's done?  How can we trust Him more?  How can we hold tight to the memory of what God has done for us?

         
 ¹⁷ But they sinned even more against Him
         By rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness.

The sin of unbelief became more widespread and prevalent in the wilderness.  The overall affect was a rebellious attitude toward the Most High.  Asaph felt it was important that this response be passed along.

 ¹⁸ And they tested God in their heart
         By asking for the food of their fancy.
God gave them a wonderful provision in the manna.  The Israelites grumbled, manna, manna, manna......all we ever get is manna.  Instead of being thankful they were stiff-necked and rebellious.  They asked for meat and God gave them what they asked for.  They would eat quail until it was coming out their nose.  While the meat was still in their mouth God struck them with a plague. 

 ¹⁹ Yes, they spoke against God:
         They said, "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?

 ²⁰ Behold, He struck the rock,
         So that the waters gushed out,
         And the streams overflowed.
         Can He give bread also?
         Can He provide meat for His people?"
These are sarcastic questions asked by the men in the wilderness.  They saw that He was God but they didn't understand Him and His ways.  Why were things hard?  Why didn't they just have things their way?  Sure, He can make water come out of the Rock, but can He do these harder things?  Yes, of course He can.  Is there anything God can't do?

         
 ²¹ Therefore the LORD heard this and was furious;
         So a fire was kindled against Jacob,
         And anger also came up against Israel,
 ²² Because they did not believe in God,
         And did not trust in His salvation.
 ²³ Yet He had commanded the clouds above,
         And opened the doors of heaven,
 ²⁴ Had rained down manna on them to eat,
         And given them of the bread of heaven.
 ²⁵ Men ate angels' food;
         He sent them food to the full.
The Lord was furious and a fire was kindled against them.  Yet, even though He was mad the Lord brought blessings to them.  He rained down the bread of heaven on them.  Grumbling and wanting food and comfort is one thing but God was really angry at their unbelief and lack of trust in His salvation.  God didn't preserve them in Eqypt all those years so that He could miraculously free them, take them into the wilderness and starve them to death.  That's just a ridiculous thought.  Did they really believe God had forgotten them?

Our response is very similar.  God saved each of us out of the darkness.  Where would we be without the salvation of the Lord?  How much has our life changed because we've been saved by Him?  How quick are we to forget and lose faith in the circumstances of our life?

         
 ²⁶ He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens;
         And by His power He brought in the south wind.
 ²⁷ He also rained meat on them like the dust,
         Feathered fowl like the sand of the seas;
 ²⁸ And He let them fall in the midst of their camp,
         All around their dwellings.
 ²⁹ So they ate and were well filled,
         For He gave them their own desire.
 ³⁰ They were not deprived of their craving;
         But while their food was still in their mouths,
 ³¹ The wrath of God came against them,
         And slew the stoutest of them,
         And struck down the choice men of Israel.
Have we ever had an overwhelming desire that we sought after, craved and prayed for over and over?  Then, when we get it, it isn't quite as good as we thought it might be or it was quickly forgotten.  God gave them the desire of their heart.  If our heart isn't inclined to the Lord in every way, these desires are dangerous and they bring judgment.  The wrath of God came again the men of Israel after they got their hearts desire. 

Do we really want out hearts desire or do we want what the Lord has for us?

         
 ³² In spite of this they still sinned,
         And did not believe in His wondrous works.
 ³³ Therefore their days He consumed in futility,
         And their years in fear.
The Lord continually corrected them and chastened them in an effort to humble them.  Yet, they continued to find new ways of sinning.  They didn't believe His wondrous works.  Because of this.......their days He consumed in futility and their years were consumed in fear.  Instead of a life lived for the Lord in faith and trust, lived out in love, these people's lives were lived in futility and fear. 

It seems like so much of our culture has made this same choice.  They hear about God, they see the works of this hand in creation.  There is testimony all around.  Many men and women continue to choose to be their own Lord and to do things their own way.  Because they want to hold tightly to their own pride and sin, they turn from the Lord.  And a life lived apart from the Lord is a life characterized by futility and fear. 

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 ³⁴ When He slew them, then they sought Him;
         And they returned and sought earnestly for God.
 ³⁵ Then they remembered that God was their rock,
         And the Most High God their Redeemer.
Asaph documents the chronic problem his people had in forgetting to keep their eyes on God.  It was a cycle of God blessing them, the people taking it for granted and falling away, God chastening them, and they return in repentance.  With each return they come to the same knowledge that previous generations had come to.  God was their Rock and the redeemer.

What can we do to keep from repeating the mistakes of the previous generations?

Spurgeon said:

While thousands died around them, the people of Israel became suddenly religious, and repaired to the tabernacle door, like sheep who run in a mass while the black dog drives them, but scatter and wander when the shepherd whistles him off.-Treasury of David, The

he alone had been their shelter, their foundation, their fountain of supply, and their unchangeable friend. -Treasury of David, The

What could have made them forget this? Was it that their stomachs were so full of flesh that thy had no space for ruminating upon spiritual things?-Treasury of David, The

 ³⁶ Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth,
         And they lied to Him with their tongue;
 ³⁷ For their heart was not steadfast with Him,
         Nor were they faithful in His covenant.
Verse 34 says they sought Him earnestly, but since their heart wasn't steadfast with Him they fell away.  In spite of coming to the realization that God was their rock and redeemer they failed to abide in Him continually.  They thought they could fool God with their flattery and their lying tongue.  Their prayers weren't sincere, their worship was empty.  They sought Him only to see their physical circumstances change, then they turned away.  They weren't sincere in their seeking after the Lord.  There was no relationship but only religion.  What they did was empty and rote.  It was so clear that their heart was not steadfast in Him. 

 ³⁸ But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity,
         And did not destroy them.
         Yes, many a time He turned His anger away,
         And did not stir up all His wrath;
 ³⁹ For He remembered that they were but flesh,
         A breath that passes away and does not come again.
Praise God for his long suffering.  He is full of compassion and wants to forgive our sins.  Yet, He is also a just judge that requires sin to be judged.   There are many places where God turned His anger away and didn't bring His wrath on someone.  Yet, He won't do that forever. 

We are dust.  Our lives are so delicate that we are but a breath away from death.  We shouldn't forget that God could wipe us out with a thought.  But He loves us and is patient and merciful with us.  Will His mercy won't endure forever?  I think the answer is yes for those who are in Christ Jesus.

How gracious on the Lord's part to make man's insignificance an argument for staying his wrath.-Treasury of David, The 

        
 ⁴⁰ How often they provoked Him in the wilderness,
         And grieved Him in the desert!
 ⁴¹ Yes, again and again they tempted God,
         And limited the Holy One of Israel.

Their own provocation and tempting of God limited God.  He wanted a relationship with his people.  He wants to bless them and give them the desires of their heart.  But their desires were foul and God held back the blessings they didn't deserve as well as the wrath they did deserve.
 

⁴²They did not remember His power:
         The day when He redeemed them from the enemy,
 ⁴³ When He worked His signs in Egypt,
         And His wonders in the field of Zoan;
 ⁴⁴ Turned their rivers into blood,
         And their streams, that they could not drink.
 ⁴⁵ He sent swarms of flies among them, which devoured them,
         And frogs, which destroyed them.
 ⁴⁶ He also gave their crops to the caterpillar,
         And their labor to the locust.
 ⁴⁷ He destroyed their vines with hail,
         And their sycamore trees with frost.
 ⁴⁸ He also gave up their cattle to the hail,
         And their flocks to fiery lightning.
The same day they were redeemed from the enemy, they didn't remember His power.  They saw that God delivered them, but they didn't believe He could do it again at the Red Sea.  They didn't think He was big enough to deal with the giants in the land.  God used the plagues to mock the gods of Egypt.  The Egyptians worshiped the flies and frogs and gnats as well as the water of the Nile.  These idols they had in their life became their judgment.  These small things became a great source of pain and affliction for the Egyptians.  He showed Himself to be the Living God and there is no other. 

Can you think of times you placed limits on God?

The wilderness was a place of manifest dependence, where the tribes were helpless without divine supplies, yet they wounded the hand which fed them while it was in the act of feeding them.-Treasury of David, The

 ⁴⁹ He cast on them the fierceness of His anger,
         Wrath, indignation, and trouble,
         By sending angels of destruction among them.
 ⁵⁰ He made a path for His anger;
         He did not spare their soul from death,
         But gave their life over to the plague,
 ⁵¹ And destroyed all the firstborn in Egypt,
         The first of their strength in the tents of Ham.
 ⁵² But He made His own people go forth like sheep,
         And guided them in the wilderness like a flock;
 ⁵³ And He led them on safely, so that they did not fear;
         But the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
 ⁵⁴ And He brought them to His holy border,
         This mountain which His right hand had acquired.
 ⁵⁵ He also drove out the nations before them,
         Allotted them an inheritance by survey,
         And made the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents.
This was their adventure in the Lord.  If they had kept their eyes on Him and trusted wholly in Him they would have seen the divine hand of God deliver them.  The way had been prepared for them.  God took care of them.  There was purpose in every move.  Nothing was chance or luck. 

Yet the people grumbled and failed to see the deliverance coming from a loving God to His children.

         
 ⁵⁶ Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God,
         And did not keep His testimonies,
 ⁵⁷ But turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers;
         They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
 ⁵⁸ For they provoked Him to anger with their high places,
         And moved Him to jealousy with their carved images.

Isn't it stunning that after all these people saw they still worshiped carved images?

Yet, we look at our selves and ask what idols do we continually turn to instead of the Lord?

 ⁵⁹ When God heard this, He was furious,
         And greatly abhorred Israel,
If God was furious at Israel for their idols........what does He think about us?

 ⁶⁰ So that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh,
         The tent He had placed among men,
 ⁶¹ And delivered His strength into captivity,
         And His glory into the enemy's hand.
 ⁶² He also gave His people over to the sword,
         And was furious with His inheritance.
 ⁶³ The fire consumed their young men,
         And their maidens were not given in marriage.
 ⁶⁴ Their priests fell by the sword,
         And their widows made no lamentation.
Those who trust in the Lord see these types of things and see the judgment of God.  To the godless they appear to be a run of bad luck. 

God turned away from where He met with men.  The Ark, the very thing that was representative of Him, was given to the enemy.  God allowed war to overtake His people.  The vitality and the future of the nation, in the young men and women, was ruined.  The priest were killed showing that they weren't needed or protected.

         
 ⁶⁵ Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
         Like a mighty man who shouts because of wine.
 ⁶⁶ And He beat back His enemies;
         He put them to a perpetual reproach.
 
 ⁶⁷ Moreover He rejected the tent of Joseph,
         And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,
 ⁶⁸ But chose the tribe of Judah,
         Mount Zion which He loved.
 ⁶⁹ And He built His sanctuary like the heights,
         Like the earth which He has established forever.
 ⁷⁰ He also chose David His servant,
         And took him from the sheepfolds;
 ⁷¹ From following the ewes that had young He brought him,
         To shepherd Jacob His people,
         And Israel His inheritance.
 ⁷² So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart,
         And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

God had every right and reason to wipe the Jews out.  Yet, He didn't.  Instead He blessed them and established Mt Zion and put David on the throne.  He established his covenant that brought the messiah that brought salvation to all men.

Was the wisdom of Asaph passed along?  Do we pass along the wisdom of our elders and forefathers?  Has wisdom & knowledge changed over the ages?  Or, do we just place a different value on it?