In Psalms chapter eighty Asaph said, “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you that lead Joseph like a flock; you that dwell between the cherubims, shine forth”, and in chapter eighty and verse two of Psalms Asaph said to Jehovah God, “stir up your strength”, where we read,
Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up your strength, and come and save us.
The verse begins, “Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up your strength, ...” Asaph began with the words, “Before Ephraim” or “in front and in the presence of Ephraim whose name means double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful and was second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh” “and Benjamin” which means “and Benjamin whose name means son of the right hand and was Jacob's and Rachel's youngest son and Joseph's full brother” “and Manasseh” whose name means “causing to forget” and was “the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh” “stir up your strength” or “rouse, awaken and incite your, Jehovah God's, might, power, bravery and mighty deeds”. Asaph desired that Jehovah God rouse His power and might in the presence of the tribes of “Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh”.
The verse continues, “... and come and save us.” Asaph added the words, “and come” or “and draw near and make progress” “and save us” which means “and rescue, deliver and liberate us, Asaph and the people of Israel”. Asaph called upon Jehovah God to draw near to he and the people of Israel and rescue and deliver them.
When we consider the words in this verse, we discover Asaph's plea to Jehovah God to rouse up His power and might so that He could draw near to and rescue him and the people of Israel. “Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh” were tribes in Israel who suffered from calamities, and Asaph knew to call upon Jehovah God for help. God wants to give aid to everyone who will call upon Him, and since people were separated from Him because of their sins, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross to pay for them. When we call out to God and believe in His Son Jesus, He will rescue and deliver us by forgiving our sins and granting us everlasting life with Him. Let us “call out” to God to “stir up His strength” and deliver us from the bondage of sin.
Next time Asaph says, “turn us again, O God”, 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment