Psalm 78:40-72
Dear RTB’ers,
Continuing Psalm 78… The psalmist first recalls the plagues that the Lord sent against Egypt, then His deliverance of His people. However, once settled in the Promised Land, they returned to their disobedience of His Commandments: Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep His testimonies… For they provoked Him to anger with their high places; they moved Him to jealousy with their idols. When God heard, He was full of wrath, and He utterly rejected Israel. (vv. 56, 58-59) Then we see His rejection of Ephraim (Israel, the Northern Kingdom) in favor of Judah and Mount Zion instead of Shiloh (vv. 60, 67-68). Finally, we see His choice of David as king (vv. 70-72).
Psalm 78 is Israel’s history in shortened form: the plagues in Egypt; the Lord’s deliverance through the Red Sea; rebellion in the Wilderness; settling in the Promised Land; more idol worship; and finally God’s choice of Judah and David. That would take us through the Samuel books and up to the beginning of Kings. Yeah, Israel in a nutshell…
Blessings.
Fred