In Psalms one hundred six the Psalmist said concerning the people of Israel who were wandering in the wilderness, “They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD. The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram”, and in chapter one hundred six and verse eighteen of Psalms the Psalmist shared how, “and a fire was kindled in their company” where we read,
And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
The verse begins, “And a fire was kindled in their company;” The Psalmist began with the words, “and a fire was kindled” or “and a fiery flaming fire burned, consumed and started burning” “in their company” which means “within the presence of Korah, Dathan and the company of Abiram”. (See Numbers 16:35-40) The Psalmist referred to the burning fire that burned within the presence of the people who opposed Moses and Aaron as God's leaders of Israel.
The verse goes on to say, “the flame burned up the wicked.” The Psalmist continued with the words, “the flame burned up” or “and the fiery tip like a spear scorched, kindled and blazed up” “the wicked” which means “the criminal, guilty of sin, ungodly and ones who did wrong”. The Psalmist mentioned how fiery flames with spear like tips consumed and destroyed the ungodly one who rebelled against Moses and Aaron.
When we consider the words in this verse, we see how the Psalmist remembered the “flaming fire” that was produced by Jehovah God to consume “Korah, Dathan and the company of Abiram”. These men and the people with them made a critical mistake that cost them their lives. God sets up leadership over people, and He did the same for Israel. Because of their jealousy and envy, the people who opposed Moses and Aaron not only were “swallowed up” by the ground beneath them, they were also burned up in the process. What a horrible fate. God's desire is to save every person from an eternal state of separation from Him, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind so those who believe in Him could be rescued. When we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and deliver us from an eternal fate that is much worse than we can ever imagine or conceive.
Next time the Psalmist shares how the people of Israel, “made a calf in Horeb”, 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