Give Ear, O Shepherd of Israel - Psalms 80:1

Psalms chapter eighty begins with the heading, “[[To the chief Musician upon Shoshannimeduth, A Psalm of Asaph.]]” which breaks down “to the chief Musician” or “to the preeminent, overseeing superintendent or chief choir director” “upon Shoshannimeduth” whose name means “lilies”, “A Psalm” or “a melody or poem set to notes” “of Asaph” which means “belonging to Asaph whose name means gatherer and was a son of Berechiah and a chief Levite musician under David”, and in chapter eighty and verse one of Psalms Asaph said, “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel”, where we read,

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you that lead Joseph like a flock;

you that dwell between the cherubims, shine forth.

The verse begins, “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you that lead Joseph like a flock;” Asaph began with the words, “give ear” or “listen, hearken and perceive”, “O Shepherd of Israel” which means “O teacher, ruler and herdsman belonging to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”, “you that lead Joseph” or “you, Jehovah God, who drives, conducts and guides Joseph whose name means Jehovah has added and was the tribe descended from the eldest son of Jacob and Rachel” “like a flock” which means “in similar manner and likeness to a batch or fold of sheep or small cattle”. Asaph desired that Jehovah God, who was his and the people of Israel's “shepherd”, guide them in the same manner that He did the batch or tribe of “Joseph”.

The verse goes on to say, “you that dwell between the cherubims, shine forth.” Asaph continued with the words, “you that dwell” or “you, Jehovah God, who live, abide, sit and remain” “between the cherubim” which means “in the midst of the angelic beings”, “shine forth” or “send out beams, light and radiant glory”. Asaph desired that Jehovah God, who is seated between angelic beings, send out His light and radiant glory.

When we think through the words in this verse, we see how Asaph wanted Jehovah God to share His light and glory into the world. God is seated in Heaven between “cherubim”, seraphim and multitudes of angels, and He reigns over all mankind. He knows that everyone is in a state of “condemnation” because we all have sinned, (See John 3:17), and we need a “Savior and Lord” to rescue us. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to be crucified for the sins of everyone, and when we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins and grant us everlasting life with Him. God dwells in the midst of angels, and He desires to dwell among us. Let us give Him praise, honor and glory for shining His light upon us.

Next time Asaph says, “before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up your strength”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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