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Day 149

Psalm 78:52a "But He made His own people go forth like sheep..."

Day 149 – Psalm 78

“But He made His own people go forth like sheep…” Psalm 78:52a

SET APART BY GOD

Moses carefully made notation of the fact that God set apart the children of Israel from the Egyptians, even though they lived in the land. Let us take note of the following statements.

1. Set apart (The plague of Flies Cf. Exodus 8:20-24)

“And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the land.”
Exodus 8:22

2. Differentiated (The plague of Hail Cf. Exodus 9:13-35)

“And the LORD will make a difference between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt. So nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.”
Exodus 9:4

“Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.”
Exodus 9:26

3. Clear distinction (The plague of Darkness Cf. Exodus 10:21-29)

“They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.”
Exodus 10:23

HIS OWN PEOPLE

The psalmist Asaph knew that Israel had taken their standing with God too much for granted. It was such a privilege to be God’s people and he emphasized this in the following text.

“But He made His own people go forth like sheep,
And guided them in the wilderness like a flock.”
Psalm 78:52

1. God’s regard for the children of Israel

a) They were called “His own people”.
b) They were distinguished from the ancient Egyptians, their oppressors.

2. God’s hand in the leading of the children of Israel

a) He was like a Shepherd to them.
b) Israel was like a flock of sheep to the Great Shepherd.
c) He guided them in the wilderness.

3. Appreciating the significance of being God’s own people

a) There should be great gratitude.
b) There should be great joy.