In Psalms chapter eighty Asaph said to Jehovah God, “Turn us again, O God, and cause your face to shine; and we shall be saved. O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry against the prayer of your people? You feed them with the bread of tears; and give them tears to drink in great measure”, and in chapter eighty and verse six of Psalms Asaph said to Jehovah God, “you make us a strife unto our neighbors”, where we read,
You make us a strife unto our neighbors: and our enemies laugh among themselves.
The verse begins, “You make us a strife unto our neighbors:” Asaph began with the words, “you make us a strife” or “you, Jehovah God, put, place, set and appoint us, Asaph and the people of Israel, as an object of contention” “unto our neighbors” which means “to our, Asaph and the people of Israel's, nearby residents and inhabitants”. Asaph said Jehovah God appointed him and the people of Israel to be a scorn and contention to their nearby residents.
The verse continues, “and our enemies laugh among themselves.” Asaph added the words, “and our enemies” or “and our, Asaph and the people of Israel's, hating foes and adversaries” “laugh among themselves” which means “mock, deride and ridicule in the midst of their own selves”. Asaph said he and the people of Israel's hating adversaries mock and ridicule them in their own gatherings.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how Asaph acknowledged Jehovah God's appointing him and the people of Israel to be an object of contention to their nearby inhabitants, and they were scorned and made a mockery by their hating adversaries. God knew this was happening and allowed it because He knows everything. Sometimes God allows strife and contention from others to get our attention because His desire is to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus. He sent Him into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and have us depend upon Him to contend with the enemies and “neighbors” who rise up against us.
Next time Asaph says, “turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause your face to shine”, 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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