2002-01-01
Good Morning Faithful Readers,
Yesterday, I promised to cover the journey of the Ark from Sinai and its entrance into Canaan. I think it is useful to remember that PS 68 was written to recall these events and was often used to commemorate the return of the Ark to Jerusalem from its Philistine captors by King David. The overall lesson of this song is a foreshadowing of God’s ultimate victory through Jesus Christ over evil and the establishment of His eternal Kingdom. It is appropriate to go a little further than I mentioned yesterday, so that we can appreciate the full impact of David’s song. So, instead of stopping at verse 10, we will go through verse 14. Here is today’s passage, PS 68: 7-14. “O God, when You led Your people, when You marched across the desert, the earth shook, and the sky poured down rain, because of the coming of the God of Sinai, the coming of the God of Israel. You caused abundant rain to fall and restored Your worn-out land; Your people made their home there; in Your goodness You provided for the poor. The Lord gave the command, and many women carried the news: ‘Kings and their armies are running away!’ The women at home divided what was captured: figures of doves covered with silver, whose wings glittered with fine gold. (Why did some of you stay among the sheep pens on the day of battle?) When Almighty God scattered the kings on Mount Zalmon, He caused snow to fall there.”
It is one thing for us to read the story of an amazing supernatural event such as one finds in EX 19: 18 as a narrative, and it is another to fully appreciate the awesome power of our God in our hearts. Today’s passage begins with a description of the earth shaking and pouring rain [PS 68: 8]. EX 19: 18, “All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord had come down on it in fire. The smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and all the people trembled violently.” This was an event that had tremendous emotional impact. I have been in a serious earthquake in CA. The sounds one hears and the impact of the earth shaking beneath one’s feet is frightening. Add smoke issuing out of a mountain to that, and it certainly gets one’s attention! EX 19: 19 helps us to begin to appreciate the emotion and awesome power of this event. “The sound of the trumpet became louder and louder. Moses spoke, and God answered him with thunder.” At a time like this, mankind is brought face to face with his relative insignificance and weakness in comparison to God. Anyone who thinks he was in control is quickly reminded that he is not. The significance to us of this lesson should not be missed. I never stop being amazed that a source of such indescribable power should be so righteous and loving. The love and wisdom mankind shows pales in comparison.
It helps tremendously to look at Israel’s agricultural year in giving us a more profound understanding of her religion and culture. PS 68: 9-10 speak of rain in the Promised Land to restore the “worn-out” land and “goodness provided for the poor.” The celebration of the seven main holidays of God, holidays Jews are commanded to celebrate in LV 16 and 23, are based on Israel’s agricultural calendar. Passover (Pesach), the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of the First Fruits are celebrated around the time of the flax and barley harvests in the month of Nisan which falls in late March and early April on our calendar. This is followed by the general Spring harvest. Fifty days later in the month of Sivan (around May) comes Shevuot, the celebration of the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai. That was fifty days after the Jews had left Egypt and crossed (with God’s help) over the parted Red Sea. These first four holidays foreshadow Messiah’s sacrifice, so they are at once historical, geological, agricultural, sacrificial, and prophetic. Right after Shevuot comes the first fig harvest followed by summer fruits. Fall begins with the grape harvest just as the month of Elul (August) ends and Tishri (September-Oct.) begins. The remaining three major holidays are celebrated beginning with Rosh Hashanah [this year on Sept. 30th] the Jewish New Year, Yom Kippur [this year Oct. 9th] the Day of Atonement, and Sukkot [this year Oct. 14th] the Feast of Tabernacles (Shelters). Around the time of Sukkot comes the olive harvest. During Kishlev (Nov. to Dec.), grain is planted. DT 8: 7-10 reveals God’s generosity with His children and supports PS 68: 9-10. “The Lord your God is bringing you into a fertile land-a land that has rivers and springs, and underground streams gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land that produces wheat and barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and honey. There you will never go hungry or ever be in need. Its rocks have iron in them, and from its hills you can mine copper. You will have all you want to eat, and you will give thanks to the Lord your God for the fertile land that He had given you.” These last three holidays foreshadow the Messiah’s rule. What a magnificent promise God’s people could anticipate when they trusted our awesome God and obeyed Him!
When God commanded the Israelites to march against the Canaanites, their victory over them was implied in His word. JS 1: 1-9 contains God’s command for Joshua to conquer Canaan. God would have never asked him to do that, if victory over these idolaters hadn’t been His will. With faith, the Israelites went forward into battle, knowing God was with them. Christ’s name, “Immanuel,” described in MT 1: 23, means “God With Us.” I mention this, so that we will focus on the fact that God will never abandon those who remain faithful to Him. That is why we who have faith, who trust God and are obedient to Him, may rest assured that He will establish His Kingdom, and that we will be joint-heirs with Christ to it [RO 8:17]. The language of PS 68: 11-13 is reminiscent of the Song of Deborah in JG 5, which I hope you will read. Note particularly the comparison between PS 68: 12 with JG 5: 29-30 and PS 68: 13 with JG 5: 16. Deborah spoke of God-driven victory over Israel’s enemies and of which tribes were helpful and which were not. In view of Israel’s two harvest seasons [quite a different climate from MN], it is remarkable that God caused snow to fall on Mt. Zalmon [just southwest of Mt. Gerizim and north of Jerusalem] right at the time the Canaanite kings were scattered there. Our God is surely supreme and omnipotent. With this song from King David, Israel (and all of us) are reminded of the fact that Jehovah is our Provider and our Protector. God will truly rout the enemies not only of Israel, but of all of us who believe and are faithful to Him!
PRAYER: O Lord, You cause events to happen that sharply draw our focus on You. By nature, we would like to think that we are in control, but we are not. You are an awesome God Who deserves to be the center of our lives. That is why You created a separate Jewish nation, and that is why You eventually opened Your Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles who will believe. Through Jesus Christ’s Atonement, You opened a path from the desolation of sin in our lives to the Promised Land of eternal forgiveness. You are Jehovah Jireh, the God Who provides. You are also El Shaddai, God Almighty, Who protects us from our enemies. The story of Israel celebrating the journey of the Ark from Sinai on the occasion of it’s return from Philistine hands to Jerusalem reminds us all that one day soon You will establish Your eternal Kingdom. We are encouraged to remain faithful, knowing that You have promised we shall inherit Your Kingdom as joint-heirs with Your Son. For all these blessings of grace, we humbly offer You our adoration, worship, praise, thanks, honor, glory, trust, and obedience. We magnify Your name. In Christ’s name, amen.
Tomorrow, we will look at PS 68: 15-18, the capture of Jerusalem by David, and mine it for its spiritual treasures. We are surrounded by so much evidence of the love God has for us, evidence of His protection and provision. Our God is omnipotent, and He is always righteous. We are truly a blessed people! Our God is an awesome God! Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn