Sunday, December 15, 2013

The needs of Israel yesterday and Today

Read Psalm 105.

The psalmist taught the nation the word of God and its history through song.

1. Genesis (vv.8-24)
The nation of Israel began with the LORD's unconditional covenant with Abraham.  God promise a land, innumerable descendants, and blessing upon them forever.  The covenant passed from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob and so on.  The book of Genesis concludes with Joseph's rise to power and all the Jews moving to Egypt.

2. Exodus (vv.25-43)
After 400 hundreds years, the Jews had heavily populated the best of the land of Egypt.  They became a threat to Pharaoh.  His response was to put them in slavery.  But God raised up Moses and Aaron to demonstrate His power in the ten plagues.  The Jews left Egypt "with joy and singing."

3. Joshua (v.44-45)
Joshua had been mentored by Moses.  He was the obvious choice as the next national leader.  He led the Jews in taking back the land God promised Abraham and his descendants.  Why did God want them on that land of promise?  So "that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws."  In other words, this was the place for them to live and worship the LORD in freedom and obedience.

That was history.  What did the nation need now? (vv.1-5)
-Give thanks
-Call on His name
-Make known His deeds
-Sing to Him
-Tell of His wondrous works
-Glory in His name
-Rejoice
-Seek the LORD
-Remember who He is and what He has done

This list provides the elements of worship for all of us who know the Lord Jesus Christ.
For Israel today, "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved." (Romans 10:1)

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