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Senior Sunday School 4 : Psalms Book 3 : Psalm 78 : 2nd July 2023

Text: Psalm 78
2 July 2023

SSS 4 2 July 2023
Book 3
Psalms 73-89

Text: Psalm 78 V

56 Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God,
And did not keep His testimonies,

57 But turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers;
They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

58 For they provoked Him to anger with their high places,
And moved Him to jealousy with their carved images.

59 When God heard this, He was furious,
And greatly abhorred Israel,

60 So that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh,
The tent He had placed among men,

61 And delivered His strength into captivity,
And His glory into the enemy’s hand.

62 He also gave His people over to the sword,
And was furious with His inheritance.

63 The fire consumed their young men,
And their maidens were not given in marriage.

64 Their priests fell by the sword,
And their widows made no lamentation.

65 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
Like a mighty man who shouts because of wine.

66 And He beat back His enemies;
He put them to a perpetual reproach.

67 Moreover He rejected the tent of Joseph,
And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,

68 But chose the tribe of Judah,
Mount Zion which He loved.

69 And He built His sanctuary like the heights,
Like the earth which He has established forever.

70 He also chose David His servant,
And took him from the sheepfolds;

71 From following the ewes that had young He brought him,
To shepherd Jacob His people,
And Israel His inheritance.

72 So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart,
And guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

Psalm 78: 56-72

THE MANY SINS OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL

56 Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God,
And did not keep His testimonies,

57 But turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers;
They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

58 For they provoked Him to anger with their high places,
And moved Him to jealousy with their carved images.

Psalm 78:56-58

1. Testing of the LORD

2. Provoking Him to anger

3. Did not keep His promises

4. Turned back unfaithfully

5. Idolatry

THE JUDGMENT OF THE LORD

59 When God heard this, He was furious,
And greatly abhorred Israel,

60 So that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh,
The tent He had placed among men,

61 And delivered His strength into captivity,
And His glory into the enemy’s hand.

62 He also gave His people over to the sword,
And was furious with His inheritance.

63 The fire consumed their young men,
And their maidens were not given in marriage.

64 Their priests fell by the sword,
And their widows made no lamentation.

Psalm 78:59-64

1. God was furious

2. He greatly abhorred Israel

3. He forsook the Tabernacle of Shiloh (Samuel’s time)

4. His strength (a reference to Israel) went into captivity

5. The glory of Israel went to the hands of the enemy

6. War came to the land (symbolised by “the sword”)

a) Fire
b) Death of young men
c) Marriages scarce
d) Priests fell
e) Wearied widows did not even weep

THE REDEMPTIVE WORK OF THE LORD

65 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
Like a mighty man who shouts because of wine.

66 And He beat back His enemies;
He put them to a perpetual reproach.

67 Moreover He rejected the tent of Joseph,
And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,

68 But chose the tribe of Judah,
Mount Zion which He loved.

69 And He built His sanctuary like the heights,
Like the earth which He has established forever.

70 He also chose David His servant,
And took him from the sheepfolds;

71 From following the ewes that had young He brought him,
To shepherd Jacob His people,
And Israel His inheritance.

72 So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart,
And guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

Psalm 78: 65-72

1. The LORD awoke to the plight of His people

2. He beat back the enemy

3. A new order was instituted

a) Ephraim would no longer be the leading tribe
b) God would choose Judah instead

4. From the line of Judah

a) He loved Mount Zion
b) He built His sanctuary there
c) He chose David as His servant
d) David would shepherd Israel skilfully