Scripture Reading : Psalm 78
Theme : Lessons from Israel’s History
Psalmist Asaph implored his generation to keep the Law and not forget God’s works and rebel. They should not do as their ancestors in the wilderness did, who were slain by the Lord’s anger, or as a later generation did when Shiloh was plundered before the Lord chose David. The poem is a sad recounting of how their ancestors forgot God’s works, but it also recounts how the Lord graciously delivered them. Just as God used David to deliver the Jews from their idolatry and defeat (Judges 21:25), God will use the son of David, the Messiah, to once and for all deliver the Jews from their idolatry and defeat. David’s work helped the Jews, but it was incomplete and imperfect since Israel fell back to idolatry again and again. But the son of David will take idolatry away from Israel completely and permanently. This He will do on His second coming. His first coming is for the purpose of paying for their sins and the sins of the world.
Praying the Scripture
- Israel’s history is a history of rebellion and God’s grace, which points to the need for a New Covenant through Jesus (Jer. 31:33). The history of the failure of the Jewish’s nation teaches us that humans are incompetent, sinful; therefore, God needs to provide a better salvation than the exodus. Their constant failure illustrates the truth of the doctrine of original sin, i.e., inherent sinful nature in every person to rebel against God. Humans need to be born again, need a new nature/heart. Sadly, many still doubt the doctrine of original sin/total depravity/total inability. This truth is not hard to see in human history, Jewish history and even in little kids. Pray that you firmly believe in this truth, or else you cannot humble yourself to cry out to Jesus for a new heart and be saved.
- The Jews forgot God’s power in miracles. They tested God. They had fake repentance. They were ungrateful for the exodus and the promised land. All these things are written for our instruction so that we will not be like them (1 Cor. 10:11). God is loving but He is also righteous. Learn from history and fear God. Fear His discipline and turn away from evil.
经文：诗篇78
主题：从以色列历史的教训
诗人亚萨恳求他那一代要谨守律法，不忘神的作为而悖逆神。他们不当效法自己列祖在旷野中所行的；他们因此被神的怒气所杀，而神在拣选大卫之前也离弃了示罗，使示罗遭掳掠。这是一首忧伤的诗，回顾以色列的列祖如何忘了神的作为，但也回想起神如何施恩拯救他们。神怎样使用大卫救犹太人脱离偶像崇拜与战败之境（士21:25），就要怎样使用大卫之子弥赛亚一次救犹太人脱离偶像和战败。大卫所行的曾帮助过犹太人，但他的工作是不全也不完美的，因为以色列仍一而再地回到偶像崇拜中。可是，大卫之子要完全并永久地从以色列除去偶像崇拜。祂将在二次到来时行这事。祂首次降世的目的是要代他们与世界偿还他们的罪。
用经文祷告
- 以色列的历史是叙述他们的悖逆与神之恩典的历史，从而指向耶稣所立之新约的需要（耶31:33）。犹太之国的失败教导我们人是无能、罪恶的，因此神需要提供一个比出埃及更好的拯救。他们持续的失败表明原罪教义的真实性，即每一个人与生俱来要反抗神的罪性。人类需要重生，需要一颗新造的心。可悲的是，仍有多人质疑原罪，或人彻底堕落与无能的教义。不论是从犹太人的历史或在年幼孩子中，我们都不难看到这个真理。祷告你会坚信这个真理，否则你是无法谦卑自己恳求神赐你一颗新心，使你得救。
- 犹太人忘了神行神迹的大能。他们试探神，虚假悔改。他们忘恩负义，不为出埃及和应许地感恩。这些事已写在经上，警戒我们不要效法他们（林前10:11）。神是爱，但也是公义的神。要从历史中吸取教训，敬畏神。要惧怕祂的管教，远离罪恶。
