Chapter 78: The Past A Premonitor Of The

PRESENT I. PRELUDE OF THE PSALM (1-8). The Testimony. Prominent Fact. The Institution of the Theocracy. 1. Summoning the People (1-2). "I." 2. Sacred 'Resolve (3-4). "We." 3. Specific Reason (5-6). "He." 4. Stressing the Purpose (7-8) "They." II. PROGRESS OF THE PSALM (9-64). The Testings. Prominent Facts. The Interpretation of National History. I. Prevocative Conduct (9-u). 2. Redemptive Mercies (12-16). "Brought out." (a) Deliverance by Wanders. (b) Guidance in the Wilderness. 3. Prevocative Conduct (17-20). 4. Righteous Wrath (21-22). In the Wilderness. Jehovah heard. 5. Israel's Faithlessness notwithstanding Jehovah's Indignation (23-33 ). (a) Provocation (23-29). Lust. (b) Punishment (30-31). (c) Provocation (32). Unbelie£ (d) Punishment (33). 6. Jehovah's Forbearance notwithstanding Israel's Insincerity (34-39). (a) Provocation (34-37). Hypocrisy. (b) Pity (38-19). 7. Prevocative Conduct (40-42). (See 1).

8. Redemptive Mercies (43-55). "Brought in." (See 2). (a) Deliverance by Wonders. (b) Guidance through the Wilderness. 9. Provocative Conduct (56-58). (See 3). 10. Righteous Wrath (59-64). In che Land. Jehovalrheard. (See 4). III. PINNACLE OF THE PSALM (65-72). The Temple. Prominent Fact. The Institution of the Kingdom. I. Smiting the Philistines (65---06). 2. Selection of Zion ( 67---09 ). 3. Selection of David (70-71). 4. Shepherding the People (72). SUPERSCRIPT.-Maschil of (or, for) Asaph, PRIMARY AssoCIATION.-The writer may well be the Asaph of David's day, see notes to Ps. lx:xiii. This is the seventh of the twelve so asciibed. It is also the first and longest of the "historical" psalms,. the others being cv., cvi. and cxxxv. The psalm leads up to God's choice of a site for the Sanctuary. "Asaph here warns Ephraim not to rebel against God's transfer of their prerogative to Zion and Judah." In the outline of the national history, the order is logical rather than chronological. Note the- solemn alternation of Israel's misbehaviour and Jehovah's 1nercy. Mark correspondences in the structure; a good example of extended alternation and introversion. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-This is the twelfth of the Maschils which all contain special instruction for Israel's faithful remnant at the time of the end. During the hour of deepest trial their faith is sustained by the Spirit of God who directs their hearts to the nation's history as supplying needful lessons of warning and encouragement. PERSONAL APPLICATION.-A psalm of forgetfulness, ctr. lxxvii. Here are practical lessons for the people of God in all ages, see I Cor. x. 6, II. We can indicate but a few. Divine precepts are powerfully enforced by illustrations from human history (2). The head of every family is under obligation to instruct his children in the things of God (3-4). Forgetfulness of God's precepts leads to failure among God's people (11, 42). Doubt and disobedience are twin evils. The unbelief which provokes divine judgment is that which arises, not from.want of evidence, but from a rebellious will (20). To put God to the test is the very essence of unbelief ( 18, 41). "Can God?" is the language of unbelief ( 19) ; to limit God is sin ( 8d). Only the obedient can overcome; disobedience leads to defeat (62 ff). God

expects in each of us a spirit of loyalty (8d). They who are divinely equipped should not tum back in the day of battle (9). Hearts not lips determine our true attitude to God (37). Remember, God is our Rock and our Redeemer (3 5). To be sorry for the sufferings is not the same as being sorry for the sins (34). Awful indeed is the righteous-anger of the Almighty (21, 59, 62 ff). Sin is incorrigible and punishment therefore inevitable (32-33). God sometimes punishes men by answering their prayers (29-31). God tolerates no rival (58). Human nature is frail and human life transitory (39). God' ren1embers though His people forget (39 with II, 42). He provided food to nourish a race of mighty men (25). In light of John vi. 57-58 what spiritual heroes Christians ought to be! Note the seven occurrences of" El" (Mighty One), 7, 8, 18, 19, 34, 35 (followed by "Elyon"), 41. Divine mercy often redeems our human mistakes. VERSE NOTES - 2. It is the function of prophecy to interpret the past as well as to foretell the future. It is best to put a full “top at the end of verse and continue. "The things which ... us ••. will not hide from ... " 2. Qtd. Matt. xiii. 34-35. 4. "praises of Jehovah," i.e. His praiseworthy acts. 5. (b) i.e. the express precept indicated next lines, not the law generally. 8. (b) cf. Deut. xxi. 18. (c) c£ 37. (d) br. "not faithful," as in 37. 9. Ctr. Gen. xlix. 24 ; "Ephraim," see Appendix IX. The action of this tribe is typical of all Israel. 12. "Zoan'' = Tanis, capital of the Hyksos dynasty, situated east bank of the Tanitic branch of the Nile. 16. (a) "rock," br. cliff; two incidents ref. to in 15-16, viz. Exod. xvii. 6 and Num. xx. 8 ff. 17-18. Rebelling against and tempting God sum up Israd's behaviour. 20. Climax of unbelief; mercy made an occasion of mockery. 24. " ... gave them the com of heaven "; the manna therefore was not. the exudation of wilderness trees as some allege. RV T' 25. an . . . as . .m.; c . 2 llll. 11. 13. 29. (b) Br. "For He brought them that for which they lusted." 32. Br. "In (or, amid) all this ... " b th " 33. or, ... consume as a rea . 34. Verb tenses denote repeated alternations of punishment and repentance; c£ Judges ii. II ff. 35. Title El Elyon occurring here found elsewhere only Gen. xiv. 18 ff. 36. As though God were a man to be deceived by hypocrisy! 39. C£ ciii. 14.

40 ff. As God multiplied His acts of mercy, Israd multiplied their acts of rebellion. 43. "redeemed"= delivered as in Exod. xiii. r3. 45. Heb. word used only in connection with this p]ague; "of flies," omit; "Swarms" prob. mosquitoes; these and frogs are both connected with marshes. 48. (b) Br. "to fiery lightnings." 49. (c) Br. "A mission of messengers of evil." 50. (c) Ignore margin. sr. Ham was the ancestor of Mizraim = Egypt, Gen. x. 6. 52. C£ Isa. I.xiii. n-r4. 54. "this mountain" may refer to Zion; otherwise as R.V.m. = Canaan. 55. The land of the Canaanites was distributed among the Israelites by lot, Josh. xxiii. 4. • 56. Note title "Elohim Elyon"; (b) "testimonies"= commandments as being witnesses to His will. 6r. "strength . .. glory," i.e. the Ark of Testimony, symbol and seat of divine majesty, I Sam. iv. 64. (a) Prob. re£ to Hophni and Phineas and their companion priests. (b) Amid such widespread distress the customary rites of mourning went unperformed even for a husband, c£ 2 Sam. xi. 26-27. 66. "backward" or, in the rear. 67 ff. When Jehovah interposed once more, He destroyed Israel's adversaries and the sanctuary was restored, but not to Shiloh. The ark was later deposited in a special "tent" at Zion, by David. 70. Saul, the people's choice, is not mentioned here; "His servant"= a title of honour gained by a few persons only. 7r-72. Metaphors peculiarly suitable ,in David's case.