In Psalms chapter seventy-eight Asaph reminded the people of Israel when they journeyed through the wilderness how they “provoked” God, “to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel. So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men. And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand. He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance. The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage”, and in chapter seventy-eight and verse sixty-four of Psalms Asaph said, “their priests fell by the sword”, where we read,
Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.
The verse begins, “Their priests fell by the sword;” Asaph began with the words, “their priests” or “their, the people of Israel's, principal officers, chief rulers and officiating spiritual leaders” “fell by the sword” which means “were cast down, prostrated and attacked through the means of an axe, knife, cutting tool or dagger”. Asaph said the religious leaders of Israel were cast down and prostrated by the means of sharp instruments of battle.
The verse goes on to say, “and their widows made no lamentation.” Asaph continued with the words, “and their widows” or “and their, the people of Israel's, women whose husbands died or were killed” “made no lamentation” which means “did not weep bitterly, bewail or mourn with tears”. Asaph said the women who lost their husbands through death did not cry, weep or mourn with tears concerning them.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Asaph how the religious leaders among the people of Israel were also affected by the judgment of Jehovah God. No one who worshiped idols and made “high places” to practice religious activities apart from Jehovah God was exempt. God wants people to worship Him in “spirit and in truth” (See John 4:23), and He provided the truth through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and keep us from His judgment that is certain to fall upon anyone, priest or otherwise, who refuses to receive Him in the manner He has prescribed.
Next time Asaph says, “the Lord awoke as one out of sleep”, 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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