In Psalms chapter seventy-eight Asaph said Jehovah God, “established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children. That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments. And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God”, and in chapter seventy-eight and verse nine of Psalms Asaph shared about, “the children of Ephraim” where we read,
The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
The verse begins, “The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, ...” Asaph began with the words, “the children of Ephraim” or “the offspring, progeny and descendants belonging to Ephraim whose name means double ash-heap or I shall be doubly fruitful and was the second son of Joseph and was sometimes used name for the northern kingdom”, “being armed” which means “existing as put together and equipped with weapons”, “and carrying bows” or “and bearing or shooting bows used for hunting and warfare”. Asaph referred to the offspring of the people of “Ephraim” or the northern kingdom who were equipped with weapons such as bows for shooting arrows.
The verse continues, “... turned back in the day of battle.” Asaph added the words, “turned back” or “retreated, were overthrown, overturned and transformed” “in the day of battle” which means “within the time period when war comes”. Asaph the offspring of “Ephraim” overturned and retreated when they went to war.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how the offspring of the people of “Ephraim” retreated in the time of war. Rather than fight, they fled the scene. God is able to turn the enemies to the place from which they came, and because He loves everyone, He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins and turned our enemy, Satan, away from us. When we believe and trust in Jesus as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and fight for us whenever enemies arise. Let us give praise, honor and glory to Jehovah God for His provision of salvation and victory in the battles through Jesus Christ for all who yield to Him.
Next time Asaph says, “they kept not the covenant of 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".
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