In Psalms chapter seventy-nine Asaph asked, “How long, LORD? will you be angry for ever? shall your jealousy burn like fire? Pour out your wrath upon the heathen that have not known you, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon your name”, and in chapter seventy-nine and verse seven of Psalms Asaph said, “they have devoured Jacob”, where we read,
For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.
The verse begins, “For they have devoured Jacob, ...” Asaph began with the words, “for they have devoured” or “because, since and on account that they, the heathen and kingdoms who did not know nor call upon God, consumed, burned up and destroyed” “Jacob” whose name means heel catcher or supplanter and was the “son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the twelve patriarchs of the tribes of Israel”. Asaph said the reason Jehovah God should be “angry” at the “heathen” and the realms who did not “call upon” Jehovah God's name was because they consumed and destroyed the people of “Jacob” or “Israel”.
The verse continues, “... and laid waste his dwelling place.” Asaph added the words, “and laid waste” or “desolated, stunned, stupefied and appalled” “his dwelling place” which means “his, Jacob's, habitation, abode and home”. Asaph shared how the “heathen nations” and unbelieving “kingdoms” destroyed the habitations and abodes of “Jacob”. Asaph knew to call upon God for rescue, and anyone who is in a personal relationship with Him may do the same. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die for the sins of all mankind so that when we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sin, grant us everlasting life and come to our aid when unbelievers rise up against us.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see why Asaph wanted Jehovah God to pour out His “anger” upon the “heathen” and unbelieving “kingdoms”. They were destroying “Jacob”, and they were making desolate their abodes. God desired a personal relationship with the people of Israel, but they forsook Him and became subject to the vicious will of nations and people who did not believe in Him. God invites everyone to believe and trust in His Son Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”, and when we surrender to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and protect us according to His divine will and plan.
Next time Asaph says, “remember not against us former iniquities”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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