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”, and in chapter one hundred six and verse seventeen of Psalms the Psalmist shared how, “the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan” where we read,
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
The verse begins, “The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, ...” The Psalmist began with the words, “the earth opened” or “the land, country, territory, district and ground loosened and was thrown open” “and swallowed up” which means “and engulfed, devoured and destroyed” “Dathan” whose name means “belonging to a fountain” and was “a Reubenite chief, son of Eliab, who, with his brother, Abiram, joined Korah's conspiracy against Moses' authority”. (See Numbers 16:29-33) The Psalmist shared how the ground opened up and engulfed “Dathan” who opposed “Moses” who was God's choice as the leader of Israel.
The verse continues, “... and covered the company of Abiram.” The Psalmist added the words, “and covered the company” or “and overwhelmed, concealed and hid the assembly, congregation and multitude” “of Abiram” which means “belonging to Abiram whose name means my father is exalted or the Exalted One is my father and was a Reubenite and son of Eliab in Exodus”. The Psalmist referred to the way the ground not only engulfed Dathan, but also covered the multitude of people who were with “Abiram”.
When we think through the words in this verse, we see how the Psalmist referred to when the ground opened up and engulfed “Korah, Dathan and the company of Abiram” who came against Moses and Aaron's authority. God appointed Moses and Aaron to rule over the people of Israel in the wilderness, and these people rebelled against them. God took vengeance upon them, and we should learn from their nefarious ways. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus whom He sent into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and remind us that God raises up leadership and puts them down according to His purposes and will.
Next time the Psalmist shares how, “and a fire was kindled in their company”, 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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