Burned with Fire - Psalms 80:16

In Psalms chapter eighty Asaph said, “Return, we beseech you, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine. And the vineyard which your right hand has planted, and the branch that you made strong for yourself.”, and in chapter eighty and verse sixteen of Psalms Asaph said, “it is burned with fire”, where we read,

It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.

The verse begins, “It is burned with fire, it is cut down:” Asaph began with the words, “it is burned with fire” or “it, the land of Israel, is kindled and utterly consumed by the use of fiery fire”, “it is cut down” which means “it, the land of Israel, exists as swept away, destroyed and conquered”. Asaph said the land of Israel was consumed with fiery fire, swept away and destroyed.

The verse continues, “they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.” Asaph added the words, “they perish” or “the destroying foes, adversaries and wild animals vanish, die, are exterminated and strayed” “at the rebuke” which means “at the chiding, unfavorable judgment and rebuke” “of your countenance” or “belonging to your, Jehovah God's, front, face or presence”. Asaph said the opposing forces against the people and land of Israel would be exterminated by the presence of Jehovah God.

When we think through the words in this verse, we see how Asaph declared the land of Israel to be consumed by “fiery fire” and “swept away” by their opposition. When Jehovah God would simply allow His presence to be upon the situation in Israel, anyone and anything against them would vanish. Asaph felt that God had forsaken Israel, however, the people of Israel forsook Him and worshiped other gods. Those “gods” were not really “gods” at all, and they could provide no protection for Israel like Jehovah God. Because God loved the people of Israel, He would hear their cries for help as they humbled themselves and realized their need for Him. God wants to have personal relationship with everyone, and when we surrender our lives to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and become our provision and protection as His “face” shines upon us.

Next time Asaph says to Jehovah God, “let your hand be upon the man of your right hand”, 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".