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Psalm 78:67 - Who's in charge here? Day 145

God uses repetition for emphasis.  First we have the history of Israel in the "history" books.  But then He repeats the lessons of history in the Wisdom book of Psalms.  Can it be any clearer that the message of history is really important and that Israel didn't get it?  Then the Spirit says "What about you?"

Blessings,

Jeff

This Psalm rehearses the checkered history of Israel up to the time of David.  Deliverance followed by decline.  Exodus, Judges and Saul were not great examples of Israel's obedience.  

God chooses the tribe of Judah and David in particular instead of "tent of Joseph, tribe of Ephraim" i.e. the symbols of the tribes that did not initially follow David. 

Point seems to be that even within His chosen people, the tribes do not have equal roles.  The constant testing to see if the nation will submit to God's choice or seek their autonomy.  The transition from Judges to Kings is story of Israel rejecting God as their King.  But we must not think that God is surprised by this.  God's command at Sinai was walk in my ways and listen to my voice.  Israel generally failed all the way to King Saul.  

Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Romans 7:7 strikes a similar note in relation to the law.  Law is about the heart and not the external acts.  Jews in general and Pharisees in particular never got this idea.  So too, the social/political life of Israel was about submission to God via his chosen individual.  Never got this idea either.  

So what about me? What about the Church?  Do I submit to God's word or come up with my own way of doing things?  I talk about Jesus as King of kings,, but still find reason to not submit to His rule over all things for the church.  O Lord,  I repent. 


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