April 11, 2015 – Saturday

Start Time:  5:40 AM

End Time:   6:56 AM

Title: A Maskil Of Asaph. 

Scripture: Psalm 78:1 – 72

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ In this chapter, Asaph decided to teach and addressed the people directly.  He started by telling them to listen to his words for he spoke of a parable that many already heard and known.  He encouraged others not to hide it from the younger generation and speak of the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.  We know that Asaph lived in a time when the Lord hid His face.  People were oppressed and struggling and they can't seem to see the light of day.  Yet Asaph chose to remember the good old days with God and today, he encouraged others to do the same and to never stop telling of the glory and power of the Lord.  Many times in our lives, it is easy to forget the good things happened in the past especially when things are going south in our present situation.  It feels dumb or crazy to speak of the great things of God when God is nowhere to be found today.  But Asaph, urged others to all the more speak about God and His glory when the time is hard and dark.  It is important to remember.  Note that Asaph was doing this on his own but he didn't stop there, he had to inform others to do the same.  So Asaph by nature is a teacher too.  This teaches us today that it is not enough to care for our own being but it is crucial to care for others too.  It is important to share God to others in a time when we cannot feel or see Him so everyone will continue to trust in God and not forget all the things He did for us and for us to keep His commands.  We are to build a loyal and faithful heart to God not only in ourselves but to the younger generation who had missed out on the great things God did - that's why it is very important to share God and His works to others.

Asaph then continued with a story (fact) about Ephraim (the tribe) who rebelled against the Lord and decided to trust their own selves; they have forgotten that the source of everything is God so they lived as if God is not alive or He is nothing.  So when God heard and saw this, He became furious and fire broke out against Jacob and Israel for they did not believe in God or trust in His deliverance.  But note in verse 23, after God became furious of what happened, God opened the skies to rain down manna, gave His people bread to eat.  What an amazing God we have!  Clearly, He lives by His words.  He said, do not fight evil with evil but win over evil with good.  And God just did that by raining manna to His people when they were all complaining and whining.  But when the people's greediness and selfishness showed, God put to death the sturdiest among them.  But men continued to sin and God slew them and then men will return and seek Him.  So this has become the cycle of man's life.  Yet God is merciful and always forgives and hold off His wrath.  Time after time, God restrained His anger and controlled it so HE doesn't kill them.

Asaph, continued telling of the story of men in the wilderness and God.  How the men are stubborn and rebellious but God merciful and just!  They put God to the test and did not keep His statutes.  They angered God and stir His wrath against them. And so God rejected them completely and abandoned the tabernacle.  He allowed the ark into captivity and His people captured in the hands of the enemies. 

But then the Lord can never truly abandon us.  He woke up from His sleep and beat back the enemies.  He put them to shame but at the same time he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim and chose the tribe of Judah instead.  Note that Ephraim could have been the lineage where Jesus was born but because of Ephraim's stubbornness and rebellion, God chose the tribe of Judah (means praise; Judah was the 4th son of Joseph and Leah).   Note that Ephraim was the descendant of Joseph (the beloved of Jacob and Rachel), God worked greatly in the life of Joseph but his lineage was not the chosen path for Jesus to be born.  Instead God chose Judah, who we heard nothing much of.  We know he was the 4th son of Leah and Jacob and that he was the one who suggested to place Joseph down the well instead of killing him for he wanted to save Joseph, yet apart from that, nothing much going on in his life worth telling.  And God chose His lineage to produce great Kings like David and Jesus.  So we see here that our background, what we do, our accomplishments or successes are not considerations to God when He chooses us.  One thing I learned though that Judah may be one of the least among the brothers but he sure had a humble beginning.  So key is humility because Judah had nothing to boast about clearly so all the great things will be credited to God.  Unlike Ephraim, whose name is already double portion or fruitful so he started great and that's why his tribe murmured or complained a lot during the time in the wilderness.  Just like God chose David who was just a shepherd and became one of the greatest kings on earth.  Hallelujah!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, great and mighty One!  Thank You for your Grace that is present since the beginning of time even to this day and throughout eternity.  Lord thank You because You have taught me so many lessons today.  First is the importance of sharing You to others.  It is crucial to speak and share Your work, Your words and my testimonies about You so people will remember and trust and obey Your commands.  Thank You Lord for teaching me to be humble always and not to murmur or complain and to focus on Your works in my life and Your presence and not the negative things in my life.  Lord help me to have a life that is humble and pleasing before You Lord.  I want to be chosen like Judah and I know You have chosen us all and I am privilege and blessed to be part of Your majestic plans.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!