Class 5 from this series was used in GCT Episode 338.
00:00:00,800 –> 00:00:04,360
Our second speaker this morning
is Brother Roger Lewis of the
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Christchurch Ecclesia in New
Zealand.
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The theme for Brother Louis’s
classes this week is the House
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of Asaph, Family of Faith and
Masters.
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Of music today’s.
Class is entitled The Spirit of
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the House of Asaph, Brother
Roger.
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Well, thank you, brother
Chairman, and good morning, my
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dear brothers and sisters.
In our opening study yesterday,
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we looked at the story of the
founding of the House of Asaph
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and that moment of time when
Asaph was appointed by David
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that he might lead the
responsibility for matters of
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worship in Israel.
And you’ll remember in the first
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of Chronicles chapter 16, we
read of that special Psalm that
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was delivered to the House of
Asaph, that they might lead the
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children of Israel in praise to
the Heavenly Father.
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And you’ll remember also that we
suggested yesterday that there
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were five key things, five key
principles by which this family
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governed their music of praise
to the Father.
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Now, unfortunately, in our study
yesterday, we didn’t have time
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to look at the first of those.
So I’m going to take the first
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few moments this morning just to
take you through that first of
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those five key principles.
And that idea was that their
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singing always focused on the
supremacy of God.
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You’ll remember we made
reference to that in our closing
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remarks yesterday.
Now look, I’d like you to come
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back to the first of Chronicles
16 and just to see again the
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spirit of this idea in the great
Psalm that was given to this
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family.
First of Chronicles 16 and
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reading from verse 8.
Now I’m just going to read the
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Psalm to you.
And as we read the Psalm, I want
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you just to to capture this idea
that that the whole thing is
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focused on the Father and not on
man.
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So first of Chronicles 16 and
verse 8.
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Give thanks unto Yahweh, call
upon His name, make known that
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His deeds among the people sing
unto Him, sing psalms unto Him.
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Talk ye of all His wondrous
works, glory ye in His holy
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name.
Let the heart of them rejoice
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that seek Yahweh, seek Yahweh
and His strength.
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Seek His face continually.
Remember His marvellous works
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that He hath done His wonders,
and the judgments of His mouth.
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Oh, ye seed of Israel, His
servant, He children of Jacob,
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His chosen ones, He is Yahweh,
our God.
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His judgments are in all the
earth.
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Be mindful always of His
covenant, the Word which He
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commanded to 1000 generations,
even of the covenant which He
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made with Abram, and of His oath
unto Isaac, and hath confirmed
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the same to Jacob for a law, and
to Israel for an everlasting
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covenant.
Saying unto thee, Will I give
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the land of Canaan the lot of
your inheritance, when ye were
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but few, even a few, and
strangers in it.
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And when they went from 1 nation
to nation, from one Kingdom to
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another people, he suffered no
man to do them wrong.
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Yeah, He reproved kings for
their sakes, saying, Touch not
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mine anointed, and do my
prophets no harm.
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Sing unto Yahweh all the earth,
show forth from day-to-day His
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salvation.
Declare His glory among the
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heathen, His marvellous works
among all nations.
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For great is Yahweh, and greatly
to be praised.
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He also is to be feared above
all gods, for all the gods of
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the people are idols.
But Yahweh.
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May the heavens, glory and
honour are in His presence.
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Strength and gladness are in His
place.
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Give unto Yahweh, ye kindreds of
the people.
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Give unto Yahweh glory and
strength.
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Give unto Yahweh the glory Jew
unto His name.
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Bring an offering and come
before him.
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Worship Yahweh in the beauty of
holiness.
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Fear before Him all the earth.
The earth also shall be stable.
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Let it be not moved.
Let the heavens be glad, and let
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the earth rejoice.
And let men say, among the
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nations, Yahweh reigneth.
Let the sea roar, and the
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fullness thereof.
Let the fields rejoice, and all
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that is therein.
Then shall the trees of the
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woods sing out at the presence
of Yahweh, because He cometh to
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judge the earth.
Oh, give thanks unto Yahweh, for
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He is good for His mercy
endureth forever.
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And say, Ye save us, O God of
our salvation, and gather us
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together, and deliver us from
the heathen, that we may give
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thanks to Thy holy name and
glory in thy praise.
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Blessed be Yahweh Elohim of
Israel forever and ever.
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And all the people said, Amen.
Now you know, brothers and
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sisters, when you really think
about that son, where is man in
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these words?
He’s not there.
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The absolute focus of this Sam
is on the the complete supremacy
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of God in all things.
You know, brothers and sisters,
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we live in a world of rampant
humanism.
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We live in a world that tells us
every day that it’s what we
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think, what we feel, what we
want that’s the most important.
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What’s in it for #1 And the
whole focus of this Psalm of
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the, of the family of Asaph was
that the world does not revolve
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around man, but around Almighty
God and His purpose.
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Now you see, we say that we
understand the principle of God
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manifestation, that we
understand the the idea of the
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supremacy of God, but we live in
an age, brothers and sisters,
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that denies this principle day
by day.
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And even though we say we
understand this principle, I
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think sometimes, well, maybe we
don’t understand it as much as
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we should.
You may have heard of this
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saying before where it has been
said, and justly so, that the
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strength of ecclesial life is
measured in attendance at the
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Bible class.
Well, here’s another saying.
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You can tell whether an ecclesia
understands God manifestation by
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its prayers.
Now let me give you just one
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keyword in the first of
Chronicles 16 and in this Psalm.
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That’s absolutely vital in terms
of the spirit of truly seeing
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the supremacy of the Father.
Have a look at verse 35.
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In verse 35 of of this
particular Psalm, it says, and
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say, Ye, O save us, save us, O
God of our salvation, and gather
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us together and deliver us from
the heathen, so that we may give
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thanks to thy holy name.
Now you see, that little word is
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so desperately important in that
Psalm because those who truly
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understand the principle of God
manifestation will never pray
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the fatal prayer of
unconditional deliverance.
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The basis of the prayer here is
not that they should be saved,
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not that they should be
delivered, but that they should
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be saved so that they might give
thanks to the Father.
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That’s a proper understanding of
God manifestation.
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Now you see, this particular
family understood that
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principle.
We haven’t got time to look at
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their psalms, but you’ll find
that they understood that
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principle.
I think that that we, we ought
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to apply the so that rule to our
prayers.
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Now, have you ever heard of
expressions like this in our
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prayers?
We desire to be there in the
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Kingdom and Father, we, we pray
that they will grant us all a
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place in that glorious day.
So that and we pray that they
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will bless us with the strength
and the joy of immortality.
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So that you see, brothers and
sisters, you know what I’m
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saying?
I’m not saying that we have to
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even use that word every time.
And yet if you listen to the
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prayers, you’ll find that so
often we pray for things that we
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want and that we desire from the
Father that He should give us
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those things.
But that little word that is
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never there.
And the reason why we should
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pray for the Kingdom is so that
we might praise Him in that day.
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And the reason why we should
pray for immortality is so that
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we can serve Him without the
wearying of our powers.
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That’s understanding the
supremacy of God.
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Now in our hymns of worship,
this has to be one of the key
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things that we therefore take up
that our songs of praise ought
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to truly celebrate our our
understanding of that principle
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that the truth revolves around
the Father and the greatness of
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his purpose.
Now in the time that we have
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left to us this morning, we’re
going to look just briefly at at
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the story of the Psalms of the
House of Asaph.
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We haven’t got time to
investigate these in detail, but
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we do hope to look at at one or
two principles that may be
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helpful in the development of
our story over the course of
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this coming week.
Do you know that there are 12
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Psalms in the book of Psalms
that are attributed to Asaph?
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One of them is in Book 2, which
is Psalm 50, and all the others,
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which is Psalm 73 to 83, are
found in Book 3.
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Perhaps because there are 12
Psalms attributed to Asaph, we
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might conclude that they are
representative of all Israel.
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But the interesting thing about
the Psalms of Asaph are this,
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that when we come to look at
their composition, well, I think
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we we draw several conclusions.
The first is this, that the
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Psalms attributed to the House
of Asaph may certainly have been
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written by Asaph by himself, but
on the other hand they may have
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been written by successive
generations of the same house.
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And the reason why we say that
is this, that when we look at
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those Psalms in greater detail,
you’ll find that they appear to
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spend many centuries of time.
They refer to several great
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epochs in the history of the
nation.
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Now, if those psalms were
written by Asaph in his own day,
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yet reach forward to other
periods that as yet lay in the
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future, those psalms would not
have had great relevance in the
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day of Asaph himself.
In fact, some of those psalms
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would have been an absolute
mystery and a puzzle.
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One of the things about these
Psalms is this, that the very
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writing of these psalms echoes
the language and the incident of
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historical events down through
time.
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The language is fresh and
urgent, as if it is written by
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someone who was really there at
that moment of crisis in the
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history of the nation.
And the strange thing about it
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is this, that of all the times
that we believe the Psalms of
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Asaph refer to, we have on each
occasion an historical reference
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to tell us that why at that very
moment of time in the history of
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the nation, the House of Asaph
was spiritually active amongst
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the children of Israel.
Now by the way, don’t forget
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you’re going to get a summary of
all these overheads at the end
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of the Bible school.
So if you’re worried about
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keeping up with these as I turn
them off, please do not fear.
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You’ll see them all at the end.
If you wish to have a copy, let
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me give you an illustration of
what I mean.
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Now take for example, the 78th
Psalm.
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I believe that the 78th Psalm
was probably written at the time
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of Rehoboam.
Now let’s just take, we’re just
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going to take this particular
one as an illustration.
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And, and because we haven’t got
much time, I’m just going to
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draw a couple of things to your
attention out of several Psalms.
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Well, here’s the first one,
Psalm 78.
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Now a couple of interesting
things about the 78th Psalm.
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You notice this.
We’re told in this Psalm that
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there is considerable judgement
against the children of Ephraim.
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And notice verse 9, verse 8 for
connection, that they might not
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be as their fathers, a stubborn
and rebellious generation, a
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generation that set not their
heart aright, and whose spirit
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was not steadfast with God.
The children of Ephraim, being
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armed and carrying bows, turned
back in the day of battle.
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They kept not the covenant of
God, and refused to walk in His
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law.
Now over the page you notice
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this in the 67th verse at the
end of the Psalm.
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It says there.
Moreover, he refused the
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Tabernacle of Joseph and chose
not the tribe of Ephraim, but
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chose the tribe of Judah, the
Mount Zion, which he loved.
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So the first interesting thing
to note about Psalm 78 is that
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there is comment upon the the
unfaithfulness of the tribe of
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Ephraim.
And the second strange thing
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about the Psalm which appears to
relate the history of the nation
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is that it stops abruptly in the
in the 70th verse with reference
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of the ascension of David to the
throne.
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And at that point the stop in
the the Psalm stops abruptly in
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the story of Israel.
Now where would be the
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appropriate circumstance for the
writing of a Psalm that
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00:15:40,520 –> 00:15:46,640
celebrates two things that
firstly says to Israel David is
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00:15:46,640 –> 00:15:53,040
the chosen man and Judah is the
chosen tribe to be ruler over
218
00:15:53,040 –> 00:15:57,120
the nation.
And the second thing is that
219
00:15:57,120 –> 00:16:02,800
Zion is the chosen place, not
the tribe of Ephraim, not the
220
00:16:02,800 –> 00:16:05,680
capital of Ephraim, and not the
king of Ephraim.
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00:16:05,840 –> 00:16:08,960
You see, I think that the moment
for the writing of this Psalm
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00:16:09,120 –> 00:16:13,120
was when the Kingdom had divided
and the 10 tribes to the north,
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00:16:13,280 –> 00:16:16,880
who cumulatively were known as
Ephraim, had separated from
224
00:16:16,880 –> 00:16:20,280
Judah and from the House of
David and has established a
225
00:16:20,280 –> 00:16:23,200
rival Kingdom to the north.
And I think that it brought
226
00:16:23,200 –> 00:16:29,720
forth this Psalm as a warning to
the 10 tribes that they ought
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00:16:29,720 –> 00:16:35,400
not to forget that David and
Judah and Zion was God’s proper
228
00:16:35,400 –> 00:16:42,240
choice.
Now if that’s so, then it may be
229
00:16:42,240 –> 00:16:48,640
that Psalm 78 was not composed
by Asaph himself, because there
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00:16:48,640 –> 00:16:52,040
is every chance that Asaph may
have been, in fact probably was
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00:16:52,040 –> 00:16:58,280
dead by that time.
Or you might say, well yes, but
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00:16:58,280 –> 00:17:03,120
he could have been alive.
Well, yes, but have a look at
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00:17:03,120 –> 00:17:09,160
this one.
If you come to the 83rd Psalm,
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00:17:10,280 –> 00:17:15,319
we have a very famous Psalm
about the the enemies of Israel
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00:17:15,319 –> 00:17:20,480
assembled in their confederated
strength against the nation.
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00:17:21,680 –> 00:17:24,359
And I just want to show you one
circumstance out of Psalm 83
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00:17:24,359 –> 00:17:26,720
because we haven’t got time to
dwell on these.
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00:17:26,720 –> 00:17:29,640
But you know, there’s just one
thing about Psalm 83.
239
00:17:30,040 –> 00:17:33,880
Firstly it says in verse five
that there was a great
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00:17:33,880 –> 00:17:38,040
confederacy and then it proceeds
to list all of the nations that
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00:17:38,040 –> 00:17:40,960
were assembled together.
In verse 6 it says there were
242
00:17:40,960 –> 00:17:44,040
there was the Edomites and the
Ishmaelites and the Moabites and
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00:17:44,040 –> 00:17:46,840
so on and so forth.
But when we come down to the end
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00:17:46,840 –> 00:17:49,720
of verse 8, it says it
summarizes it as follows.
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00:17:49,720 –> 00:17:57,720
It says these all have Holpen,
the children of Lot.
246
00:17:58,920 –> 00:18:04,680
So who were the leaders of this
particular campaign against
247
00:18:04,720 –> 00:18:09,160
Israel in the 83rd Psalm?
And the answer is the children
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00:18:09,160 –> 00:18:12,880
of Lot and a great confederacy
with them.
249
00:18:13,840 –> 00:18:20,640
Now who were the children of
Lot, Moab and Amon?
250
00:18:20,680 –> 00:18:23,840
Only those two Moab and Amon.
Now come back to the to the
251
00:18:23,840 –> 00:18:26,520
historical record.
Because you see in the Second of
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00:18:26,520 –> 00:18:30,480
Chronicles chapter 20, we’re
told this in the time of
253
00:18:30,480 –> 00:18:33,080
Jehoshaphat.
I think this is the very moment
254
00:18:33,240 –> 00:18:36,760
when this Psalm was composed.
And God willing in our study
255
00:18:36,760 –> 00:18:40,200
tomorrow morning we may have
occasion to to look at this in a
256
00:18:40,200 –> 00:18:42,960
little further detail.
But it says in the Second of
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00:18:42,960 –> 00:18:48,400
Chronicles chapter 20 and verse
one, it came to pass after this
258
00:18:48,400 –> 00:18:54,440
also that the children of Moab
and the children of Ammon.
259
00:18:55,160 –> 00:18:57,600
Now who’s that?
Why, that’s the children of Lot,
260
00:18:57,600 –> 00:19:02,480
isn’t it?
And with them other beside came
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00:19:02,480 –> 00:19:08,000
against Jehoshaphat to battle.
In verse 2 it says there was a
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00:19:08,000 –> 00:19:15,800
great multitude.
In verse 12 it says there was a
263
00:19:15,800 –> 00:19:20,320
great company.
In verse 15 it says there was a
264
00:19:20,320 –> 00:19:25,400
great multitude, but the
leadership of the confederacy
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00:19:25,560 –> 00:19:29,480
was Aman and Moab.
You see this answers exactly to
266
00:19:29,480 –> 00:19:33,520
the story of Psalm 83, the
children of Lot and the great
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00:19:33,520 –> 00:19:38,440
confederacy of enemies with them
who came against Israel on this
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00:19:38,440 –> 00:19:41,200
occasion.
Do you think Asaph was still
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00:19:41,200 –> 00:19:43,680
alive in the days of
Jehoshaphat?
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00:19:45,760 –> 00:19:51,960
I think not, and yet it says of
Psalm 83 at the head of the
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00:19:51,960 –> 00:19:54,160
Psalm that it was a Psalm of
Asaph.
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00:19:56,120 –> 00:20:01,240
How so?
Come and have a look at this
273
00:20:01,240 –> 00:20:09,920
one.
In Psalm 76 we’re told in the
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00:20:10,040 –> 00:20:14,720
first verse in Judah is God
known?
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00:20:15,960 –> 00:20:21,840
His name is great in Israel.
In Salem also is his Tabernacle
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00:20:21,840 –> 00:20:26,800
and his dwelling place in Zion.
There break he the arrows of the
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00:20:26,800 –> 00:20:30,560
bow, the shield, and the sword,
and the battle.
278
00:20:32,240 –> 00:20:35,520
And then the fifth verse says,
The stout heart are despoiled.
279
00:20:35,640 –> 00:20:39,160
They have slept their sleep, and
none of the men of might have
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00:20:39,160 –> 00:20:42,040
found their hands.
At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob,
281
00:20:42,040 –> 00:20:45,760
both the chariot and the horse
are cast into a dead sleep.
282
00:20:45,960 –> 00:20:47,560
Now where was it, brothers and
sisters?
283
00:20:47,560 –> 00:20:51,400
Or when was it that a great
battle was waged outside the
284
00:20:51,400 –> 00:20:55,280
city of Jerusalem, where God
break the arrow and the bow and
285
00:20:55,280 –> 00:20:59,400
the shield and the sword and the
battle, so that both the chariot
286
00:20:59,560 –> 00:21:03,560
and the man of the chariot were
cast into a dead sleep?
287
00:21:03,720 –> 00:21:08,000
And the answer is, why the time
of Hezekiah when the watchers
288
00:21:08,000 –> 00:21:10,720
went out, and on the morning
they saw the whole host of the
289
00:21:10,720 –> 00:21:14,520
Assyrians strewed across the
plain outside, and as the record
290
00:21:14,520 –> 00:21:23,040
says, behold, the 185,000 of
them were all dead corpses, and
291
00:21:23,040 –> 00:21:27,640
they were all in the sleep of
death, of which Psalm 76 refers.
292
00:21:27,800 –> 00:21:31,320
Some of you may know that over
the head of Psalm 76 in the
293
00:21:31,360 –> 00:21:38,240
Septuagint translation are these
words it says with reference to
294
00:21:38,280 –> 00:21:43,120
the Assyrian.
So Psalm 76 is a Psalm that
295
00:21:43,120 –> 00:21:46,960
celebrates the miraculous
overthrow of the host of
296
00:21:46,960 –> 00:21:49,600
Sennacherib in the days of
Hezekiah.
297
00:21:52,840 –> 00:21:54,720
But it’s described as a Psalm of
Asaph.
298
00:21:57,160 –> 00:22:01,880
Was Asaph still alive?
I think not.
299
00:22:01,880 –> 00:22:06,480
Come and have a look at this
one.
300
00:22:08,320 –> 00:22:13,480
The 81st Psalm has a couple of
strange features about it that
301
00:22:13,480 –> 00:22:17,760
are worth study.
Two of the great features about
302
00:22:17,760 –> 00:22:24,080
the 81st Psalm of these that
there are a number of references
303
00:22:24,080 –> 00:22:29,760
that take us back to the book of
the Law, and in particular not
304
00:22:29,760 –> 00:22:33,560
just to the book of the Law, but
to Deuteronomy over and over
305
00:22:33,560 –> 00:22:36,600
again.
Psalm 81 has a number of
306
00:22:36,600 –> 00:22:38,640
allusions to the book of
Deuteronomy.
307
00:22:40,800 –> 00:22:42,720
Now, not only are there
allusions to the book of
308
00:22:42,720 –> 00:22:45,840
Deuteronomy, but there are
clearly allusions to a special
309
00:22:45,840 –> 00:22:49,880
feast day that Psalm 81
celebrates, because we’re told
310
00:22:49,880 –> 00:22:53,400
in the third verse it says blow
up the trumpet in the new moon.
311
00:22:53,520 –> 00:22:57,000
In the time appointed on our
solemn feast day, You know,
312
00:22:57,000 –> 00:23:01,400
there were two feast days, two
special feasts of God that began
313
00:23:01,400 –> 00:23:05,640
on the new moon, the Feast of
Passover and the Feast of
314
00:23:05,640 –> 00:23:10,240
Tabernacles.
But I think that of those two,
315
00:23:10,440 –> 00:23:14,840
the indications of Psalm 81, if
you read verses 5 and six and
316
00:23:14,840 –> 00:23:18,560
seven, it is clearly telling us
that the feast that the Psalm
317
00:23:18,560 –> 00:23:20,960
has in mind is the feast of
Passover.
318
00:23:24,440 –> 00:23:26,840
And we won’t go into the to the
to the teaching of the Psalm.
319
00:23:26,840 –> 00:23:29,760
It’s a it’s a wonderful lament
for things that might have been
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00:23:29,760 –> 00:23:32,080
if only the nation had listened
to Almighty God.
321
00:23:32,280 –> 00:23:34,800
But I ask you this one simple
question, brothers and sisters,
322
00:23:34,800 –> 00:23:38,320
what king was famous for these
two notable incidents in his
323
00:23:38,320 –> 00:23:40,800
life?
One, the discovery and the
324
00:23:40,800 –> 00:23:49,080
reading of the book of the Law.
And two, celebration of a
325
00:23:49,080 –> 00:23:53,040
special feast of Passover to
bring the nation back into
326
00:23:53,040 –> 00:23:59,080
covenant with their God.
Why, that’s good King Josiah,
327
00:23:59,160 –> 00:24:00,320
isn’t it?
Of Judah.
328
00:24:02,520 –> 00:24:06,680
And yet Psalm 81 is a Psalm of
Asaph.
329
00:24:06,680 –> 00:24:12,320
Come and have a look at this
one.
330
00:24:15,120 –> 00:24:22,560
In Psalm 74, we’re told this
concerning the circumstances of
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00:24:22,640 –> 00:24:32,880
this particular sun says in the
seventh verse, They have cast
332
00:24:33,720 –> 00:24:40,880
fire into Thy sanctuary.
They have defiled by casting
333
00:24:40,880 –> 00:24:45,680
down the dwelling place of Thy
name to the ground.
334
00:24:50,200 –> 00:24:53,160
When Sennacherib came against
Jerusalem in the days of
335
00:24:53,160 –> 00:24:56,040
Hezekiah, did he, did he burn
the sanctuary with fire?
336
00:24:58,480 –> 00:25:02,400
The answer is no, he didn’t.
In fact, there appears to be
337
00:25:02,400 –> 00:25:06,400
only one reference to 1 occasion
historically where the sanctuary
338
00:25:06,400 –> 00:25:09,080
was ever burned with fire, and
that’s in the Second of Kings
339
00:25:09,080 –> 00:25:11,600
chapter 25.
You might like to come and have
340
00:25:11,600 –> 00:25:13,920
a look at that.
In the Second of Kings chapter
341
00:25:13,920 –> 00:25:17,840
25, we’re told this in the
eighth verse.
342
00:25:30,880 –> 00:25:33,680
Second of Kings chapter 25 and
verse 8.
343
00:25:34,720 –> 00:25:39,040
And in the 5th month, on the 7th
day of the month, which is the
344
00:25:39,040 –> 00:25:41,680
19th year of King
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,
345
00:25:42,640 –> 00:25:46,440
came Nebuzar Aden, captain of
the guard, a servant of the king
346
00:25:46,440 –> 00:25:51,840
of Babylon, unto Jerusalem.
And he burnt the House of the
347
00:25:51,840 –> 00:25:58,320
Lord, and the King’s house, and
all the houses of Jerusalem, and
348
00:25:58,320 –> 00:26:02,120
every great man’s house burnt he
with fire.
349
00:26:04,280 –> 00:26:09,840
And I think that Psalm 74 is
commemorating the day of that
350
00:26:09,840 –> 00:26:13,560
most tragic overthrow of the
sanctuary of God by the burning
351
00:26:13,560 –> 00:26:17,080
of fire that can only take us to
the time of the Babylonian
352
00:26:17,080 –> 00:26:21,240
captivity and and beyond.
And this Psalm, Psalm 74, is a
353
00:26:21,240 –> 00:26:25,200
lamentation of those faithful of
Israel who had seen the
354
00:26:25,200 –> 00:26:28,840
desecration of the temple by the
Babylonian in that day.
355
00:26:28,840 –> 00:26:32,160
It takes us into the very realm
and time of the captivity.
356
00:26:34,680 –> 00:26:37,320
But Psalm 74 is described as a
Psalm of Asaph.
357
00:26:40,560 –> 00:26:42,000
Now you see what we’re
suggesting.
358
00:26:43,760 –> 00:26:46,920
What we believe is that when we
have a description in the book
359
00:26:46,920 –> 00:26:52,680
of Psalms of the Psalms of
Asaph, that these psalms were
360
00:26:52,680 –> 00:26:59,000
actually composed by successive
generations of the same family.
361
00:26:59,600 –> 00:27:04,920
These are the Psalms of the
House of Asaph, but Asaph was
362
00:27:04,920 –> 00:27:09,120
their family name.
And so down through the history
363
00:27:09,120 –> 00:27:13,840
of the nation, on successive
occasions, these Psalms were
364
00:27:13,840 –> 00:27:17,840
brought into being by the very
circumstances and extremities of
365
00:27:17,840 –> 00:27:20,880
the time into which the nation
found themselves.
366
00:27:21,040 –> 00:27:24,040
And at that moment of time,
whenever it might be, one of the
367
00:27:24,040 –> 00:27:27,040
sons of Asaph stood up and gave
forth a Psalm.
368
00:27:28,200 –> 00:27:30,600
Now let me tell you something
interesting in terms of why we
369
00:27:30,600 –> 00:27:33,200
think that that is so.
Do you know this, That if we
370
00:27:33,200 –> 00:27:37,400
come to the time of Rehoboam, or
to the time of Jehoshaphat, or
371
00:27:37,400 –> 00:27:41,600
to the time of Hezekiah, or to
the time of Josiah, or to the
372
00:27:41,600 –> 00:27:46,680
time of Ezra and Nehemiah, on
each of those major epochs in
373
00:27:46,680 –> 00:27:50,440
the history of the nation we
will find an historical
374
00:27:50,600 –> 00:27:56,000
reference that tells us why the
House of Asaph was spiritually
375
00:27:56,000 –> 00:28:01,440
active at that very moment in
the history of the nation.
376
00:28:02,840 –> 00:28:06,680
Almost, you see, as if we’re
being given a clue that these
377
00:28:06,680 –> 00:28:10,800
indeed were the Psalms of a
family faithful in their
378
00:28:10,800 –> 00:28:13,600
successive generations.
Do you remember that yesterday,
379
00:28:13,600 –> 00:28:16,520
brothers and sisters, we
suggested that this family was
380
00:28:16,520 –> 00:28:20,000
the most remarkable family that
Israel ever saw in their
381
00:28:20,000 –> 00:28:22,200
history?
I think that this is one of the
382
00:28:22,200 –> 00:28:25,120
reasons why we can justly say
that this is so.
383
00:28:25,320 –> 00:28:28,840
You think of the implication of
these Psalms.
384
00:28:29,680 –> 00:28:33,320
You see, God revealed His word,
did He not, to many faithful men
385
00:28:33,320 –> 00:28:37,760
down through time.
But if this be true about the
386
00:28:37,760 –> 00:28:42,440
writing of these sounds, then
what we’re being told is that
387
00:28:42,440 –> 00:28:49,560
Almighty God was pleased to
grant successive revelations of
388
00:28:49,560 –> 00:28:55,840
His mind to the same family down
through time.
389
00:28:58,040 –> 00:28:59,960
What must that family have been
like?
390
00:29:01,360 –> 00:29:06,440
That God was pleased to reveal
himself over and over again to a
391
00:29:06,440 –> 00:29:13,040
father, to a son, to a grandson,
to to a great, great grandson.
392
00:29:13,040 –> 00:29:17,040
What unique relationship did
this family have to Almighty
393
00:29:17,040 –> 00:29:18,880
God?
Brothers and sisters, they were
394
00:29:19,120 –> 00:29:22,000
like this in the history of the
nation.
395
00:29:22,280 –> 00:29:25,880
And what those Psalms will
reveal to us is that that family
396
00:29:25,880 –> 00:29:29,680
had the same spirit and the same
attitude through many
397
00:29:29,680 –> 00:29:33,840
generations.
So what was their spirit?
398
00:29:36,240 –> 00:29:39,880
Well, it was related to the idea
of the ark, of God’s presence
399
00:29:39,960 –> 00:29:43,320
amongst his people.
That’s what David had asked them
400
00:29:43,320 –> 00:29:45,440
to celebrate.
Remember in the first of
401
00:29:45,440 –> 00:29:49,280
Chronicles 16, he asked them to
stand before the ark and to
402
00:29:49,280 –> 00:29:51,600
celebrate the presence of that
ark in Israel.
403
00:29:51,600 –> 00:29:53,080
Well, let me show you what
happened.
404
00:29:53,400 –> 00:29:57,160
If you come to the first of
Chronicles and the 6th chapter,
405
00:29:57,520 –> 00:30:02,600
we’re told this in terms of of
the circumstances of this family
406
00:30:02,760 –> 00:30:05,800
immediately after David had
appointed them.
407
00:30:16,920 –> 00:30:21,080
In the first of Chronicles
chapter 6 and reading from verse
408
00:30:21,080 –> 00:30:27,120
31 says, And these are they whom
David said over the service of
409
00:30:27,120 –> 00:30:36,400
song in the House of Yahweh.
After that the ark had rest and
410
00:30:36,400 –> 00:30:38,720
they ministered before the
dwelling place of the Tabernacle
411
00:30:38,720 –> 00:30:46,920
of the congregation with singing
until Solomon had built the
412
00:30:46,920 –> 00:30:52,440
House of Yahweh in Jerusalem and
then they waited on their office
413
00:30:52,440 –> 00:30:55,720
according to their order.
Do you know what that verse is
414
00:30:55,720 –> 00:30:57,040
telling us, brothers and
sisters?
415
00:30:58,080 –> 00:31:00,960
Firstly, this.
You see, when David came to
416
00:31:00,960 –> 00:31:03,360
Jerusalem, he brought the Ark of
God to Zion.
417
00:31:03,680 –> 00:31:07,000
Does anyone know how long David
reigned in Jerusalem?
418
00:31:07,000 –> 00:31:12,960
Not in Hebron, but in Jerusalem?
Anyone know 33 years, Absolutely
419
00:31:12,960 –> 00:31:14,680
correct.
Do you know how many years it
420
00:31:14,680 –> 00:31:18,720
took before Solomon completed
the temple from the beginning of
421
00:31:18,720 –> 00:31:23,200
his reign?
11 years we’re told in the first
422
00:31:23,200 –> 00:31:28,120
of Kings chapter 6 and verse 38.
Now even if we deduct the first
423
00:31:28,240 –> 00:31:33,200
3 or 4 years for the reign of
David before he managed to bring
424
00:31:33,200 –> 00:31:37,680
the ark of God to Zion, what we
can say from the first of
425
00:31:37,680 –> 00:31:43,240
Chronicles 6 and verses 31 and
32 is this, that David left the
426
00:31:43,240 –> 00:31:47,480
House of Asaph in front of the
ark, and there they remained
427
00:31:48,000 –> 00:31:53,320
until Solomon had built the
house, and then they waited in
428
00:31:53,320 –> 00:31:56,040
their successive orders.
You see, I believe that that
429
00:31:56,040 –> 00:32:00,560
verse is telling us that the
House of Asaph sang alone before
430
00:32:00,560 –> 00:32:07,440
the ark for 40 years.
For 40 years this family sang
431
00:32:07,440 –> 00:32:10,720
all by themselves before the ark
of God’s presence.
432
00:32:10,960 –> 00:32:13,560
And I can tell you, brothers and
sisters, that during that time
433
00:32:13,800 –> 00:32:19,840
they thought long and hard about
what it really represented, and
434
00:32:19,840 –> 00:32:22,480
they had a crucial leap in their
understanding.
435
00:32:22,680 –> 00:32:26,600
They understood, brothers and
sisters, that the Ark was only
436
00:32:26,600 –> 00:32:30,520
the physical token of a
principle, that the Ark
437
00:32:30,520 –> 00:32:35,640
symbolized an idea that here
between the Caribbean was the
438
00:32:35,640 –> 00:32:39,200
manifestation of the divine
presence, but that the Father’s
439
00:32:39,200 –> 00:32:43,200
physical being was in the
heavens and this family, the
440
00:32:43,200 –> 00:32:46,160
House of Asaph.
They came to understand the
441
00:32:46,160 –> 00:32:52,040
paradox of the Ark, and the
paradox was theirs.
442
00:32:54,000 –> 00:32:58,640
This family learned that it was
possible to physically approach
443
00:32:59,040 –> 00:33:05,640
the symbol of God’s presence and
yet not find him spiritually,
444
00:33:09,040 –> 00:33:13,560
but that the converse also was
true, that they could
445
00:33:13,560 –> 00:33:19,720
spiritually enter into the very
presence of God and yet
446
00:33:19,720 –> 00:33:25,120
physically be unable to approach
the one who dwelled in heaven
447
00:33:25,120 –> 00:33:29,600
above.
And even though they sang before
448
00:33:29,600 –> 00:33:34,280
the ark, which of course they
never saw, they learned,
449
00:33:34,280 –> 00:33:36,640
brothers and sisters, that
whether they were with the ark
450
00:33:36,640 –> 00:33:39,640
or whether they were separated
from it, that they were so
451
00:33:39,640 –> 00:33:44,680
imbued with the majesty of God
as to live constantly in His
452
00:33:44,680 –> 00:33:48,960
presence.
They learned the secret of how
453
00:33:48,960 –> 00:33:53,520
to draw near to God in their
music of praise.
454
00:33:56,560 –> 00:33:59,080
And our music, brothers and
sisters, whatever it is that we
455
00:33:59,080 –> 00:34:06,320
sing to Almighty God must help
us to enter into the presence of
456
00:34:06,320 –> 00:34:10,000
God.
And that was the secret that
457
00:34:10,159 –> 00:34:12,639
this family had in fact
discovered.
458
00:34:13,920 –> 00:34:18,440
And so the key, the key to this
idea was that the catalyst to
459
00:34:18,440 –> 00:34:22,320
drawing near to God was the
principle of spiritual thought,
460
00:34:22,320 –> 00:34:24,520
not emotion, but spiritual
thought.
461
00:34:24,760 –> 00:34:27,920
Their music was based upon
divine principle.
462
00:34:27,920 –> 00:34:32,440
So here’s the second of the of
the great themes of the music of
463
00:34:32,440 –> 00:34:36,440
the of the House of Asaph, which
is to do with the idea of the
464
00:34:36,480 –> 00:34:41,840
preeminence of principle.
The songs of the House of Asaph
465
00:34:42,040 –> 00:34:47,040
reveal the genius of Hebrew
poetry, which lies in its rhythm
466
00:34:47,040 –> 00:34:51,880
of ideas rather than in in the
rhythm of words or sounds.
467
00:34:52,520 –> 00:34:55,320
And although we haven’t got time
to look at it now, the whole of
468
00:34:55,360 –> 00:34:59,560
of that Psalm and the first of
Chronicles 16 is a declaration
469
00:34:59,560 –> 00:35:01,520
of divine principle.
Oh, and you know what the
470
00:35:01,520 –> 00:35:04,200
keyword is in the first of
Chronicles 16.
471
00:35:04,200 –> 00:35:05,360
Just come and have a look at
this.
472
00:35:05,560 –> 00:35:08,080
Here’s the keyword.
You see in in the whole Psalm
473
00:35:08,320 –> 00:35:10,680
that they used to sing before
God.
474
00:35:12,200 –> 00:35:15,600
It’s in verse 11.
Seek the Lord and his strength,
475
00:35:15,600 –> 00:35:18,320
seek his face.
You see the word face in the
476
00:35:18,320 –> 00:35:20,360
first of Chronicles 16, verse
11.
477
00:35:20,360 –> 00:35:23,720
It’s the word panim.
Now some of you may know that
478
00:35:23,720 –> 00:35:28,000
the word parnim literally means
the presence of God.
479
00:35:28,760 –> 00:35:30,600
You see, this is what the act
was all about.
480
00:35:31,440 –> 00:35:34,240
It was the presence of God
amongst his people.
481
00:35:34,400 –> 00:35:38,600
Well, there’s there’s that word
in the first of Chronicles 16.
482
00:35:38,760 –> 00:35:42,080
Now it’s in verse 11.
Seek his parnim.
483
00:35:42,560 –> 00:35:47,400
It’s in verse 27.
Glory and honor are in His
484
00:35:47,720 –> 00:35:51,000
parnim.
It’s in verse 29.
485
00:35:51,240 –> 00:35:57,080
Bring an offering and come into
his Panin, the words before him.
486
00:35:57,560 –> 00:36:03,560
It’s in verse 30, fear in his
parnim, in His presence before
487
00:36:03,560 –> 00:36:07,040
him.
It’s in verse 33, the trees of
488
00:36:07,040 –> 00:36:11,440
the woods will sing out at the
presence, the parnim of Yahweh.
489
00:36:11,600 –> 00:36:13,600
See, this is the keyword of
their Psalm.
490
00:36:13,840 –> 00:36:18,480
This Psalm celebrated the truth
of the presence of God amongst
491
00:36:18,480 –> 00:36:22,240
His people, and this family
understood that principle more
492
00:36:22,240 –> 00:36:26,920
than any other family.
Now, you see, this is important
493
00:36:26,920 –> 00:36:30,800
in terms of our own songs of
worship, you see, because when
494
00:36:30,800 –> 00:36:34,600
we compare therefore, the
biblical basis of songs of
495
00:36:34,600 –> 00:36:39,400
worship, the songs that the
House of Asaph sang, and we look
496
00:36:39,400 –> 00:36:43,480
at modern scriptural music or
modern religious music, modern
497
00:36:43,480 –> 00:36:47,240
Christian music, we find in fact
that there is a very great
498
00:36:47,240 –> 00:36:51,800
difference between the two.
You see, the biblical idea of
499
00:36:51,800 –> 00:36:56,320
worship is where the emphasis
falls on the words, not the
500
00:36:56,320 –> 00:37:00,040
music.
The thoughts and ideas expressed
501
00:37:00,040 –> 00:37:02,920
are crucial.
The music is an adjunct, but
502
00:37:02,920 –> 00:37:07,160
only an adjunct to infuse the
words with feeling and power.
503
00:37:07,880 –> 00:37:11,160
The emphasis of the words, in
turn, falls on the noblest
504
00:37:11,160 –> 00:37:15,000
ideals and deepest truths found
in the Holy Writ.
505
00:37:15,880 –> 00:37:19,920
Where thought and sound thus
combine, the effect is the quick
506
00:37:19,920 –> 00:37:23,800
and heart and mind to the
exhilaration of the true worship
507
00:37:23,800 –> 00:37:26,480
of the Deity.
It’s spiritual principle,
508
00:37:26,480 –> 00:37:29,920
brothers and sisters, that will
cause us to come into the
509
00:37:29,920 –> 00:37:37,000
presence of God in our singing.
But modern gospel music is
510
00:37:37,000 –> 00:37:40,360
fundamentally a corruption of
this principle.
511
00:37:41,520 –> 00:37:47,120
Here the emphasis falls on the
music and not the words.
512
00:37:48,400 –> 00:37:54,960
That being so, the essential
elements are melody, rhythm and
513
00:37:54,960 –> 00:38:00,040
beat, whilst the words become
subservient to the music itself.
514
00:38:01,360 –> 00:38:03,640
Feeling is a matter of heart,
not mind.
515
00:38:04,280 –> 00:38:07,840
The words themselves, whilst not
necessarily untrue, are often
516
00:38:07,840 –> 00:38:13,520
shallow, repetitious, banal, and
disturbingly empty of hearty and
517
00:38:13,520 –> 00:38:17,320
vigorous declaration of
doctrines which form the very
518
00:38:17,320 –> 00:38:21,320
foundation of our love for God.
We don’t need, brothers and
519
00:38:21,320 –> 00:38:26,960
sisters, the music of the
churches, because they don’t
520
00:38:26,960 –> 00:38:31,640
know the secret of the House of
Asaph, that it is spiritual
521
00:38:31,640 –> 00:38:35,320
thought that brings us into the
presence of the Father and not
522
00:38:35,320 –> 00:38:38,680
merely the beating of emotional
hearts unrelated to an
523
00:38:38,680 –> 00:38:41,280
appreciation of divine
principles.
524
00:38:41,400 –> 00:38:44,240
That’s not the heritage that we
ought to be following.
525
00:38:44,520 –> 00:38:47,840
Some of you may have seen this
article before, but it’s an
526
00:38:47,840 –> 00:38:51,400
intensely interesting one if I
can just but find it.
527
00:38:54,200 –> 00:38:58,440
It’s an article written by a
professor of university here in
528
00:38:58,440 –> 00:39:02,640
Kentucky about 3 or 4 years ago,
and he said this.
529
00:39:03,760 –> 00:39:05,880
So this is a non
Christadelphian.
530
00:39:07,200 –> 00:39:11,600
He said hymnody was an important
part of Christadelphianism from
531
00:39:11,600 –> 00:39:14,440
its very beginning, and along
with the journal the
532
00:39:14,440 –> 00:39:18,120
Christadelphian gave independent
ecclesias a broader fellowship.
533
00:39:18,600 –> 00:39:22,240
Hymns reflected the essential
doctrines and principles of
534
00:39:22,240 –> 00:39:24,880
their faith.
These principles were anti
535
00:39:24,920 –> 00:39:27,560
trinitarianism.
They also believed that God
536
00:39:27,560 –> 00:39:30,480
would establish his Kingdom on
earth through the return of
537
00:39:30,480 –> 00:39:34,280
Jesus to reign 1000 years in
Jerusalem.
538
00:39:35,560 –> 00:39:39,240
Considering the scope of hymnic
literature by Christadelphians,
539
00:39:39,480 –> 00:39:44,320
we might conclude that few
branches of Christianity can
540
00:39:44,320 –> 00:39:48,240
claim such a close relationship
between hymn writing and their
541
00:39:48,240 –> 00:39:51,480
own religious development.
Such a high percentage of
542
00:39:51,480 –> 00:39:55,120
hymnists in their membership.
As the hymns become better
543
00:39:55,120 –> 00:39:59,320
known, this close relationship
will reveal that the heritage
544
00:39:59,560 –> 00:40:03,840
and faith of Christadelphians
has been enhanced through a
545
00:40:03,840 –> 00:40:08,520
strong emphasis on hymnody from
their beginnings to the present
546
00:40:08,520 –> 00:40:11,360
day.
Do you know what that article
547
00:40:11,360 –> 00:40:12,760
was saying, brothers and
sisters?
548
00:40:14,320 –> 00:40:17,560
It’s saying that the hymns that
we sing from our Christadelphian
549
00:40:17,560 –> 00:40:22,280
hymn book express the truths we
believe and the doctrines we
550
00:40:22,280 –> 00:40:26,920
understand, and that that those
hymns have helped us to preserve
551
00:40:27,120 –> 00:40:29,480
the heritage of the faith that
we have.
552
00:40:31,200 –> 00:40:34,600
We ought to treasure that.
We ought to never underestimate
553
00:40:34,680 –> 00:40:38,720
the power and the majesty of
those hymns to help us enter
554
00:40:38,720 –> 00:40:42,040
into the presence of God.
And we ought to be wary of
555
00:40:42,200 –> 00:40:46,680
modern gospel music which does
not illustrate those principles
556
00:40:46,680 –> 00:40:49,840
of the truth.
Just by way of illustration.
557
00:40:50,040 –> 00:40:53,240
Let me give you one of those by
way of conclusion.
558
00:40:55,600 –> 00:40:59,200
This is a modern hymn on the
atonement to modern Christian
559
00:40:59,200 –> 00:41:03,440
peace.
See my Jesus on the cross, the
560
00:41:03,440 –> 00:41:07,680
people crying, looking on a man
who’d think that such a tragedy.
561
00:41:07,680 –> 00:41:11,200
But what the world could not see
is that when they nailed them to
562
00:41:11,200 –> 00:41:16,400
that tree, it broke the chains
of sin and set me free.
563
00:41:17,280 –> 00:41:23,640
Love grew where the blood fell.
Flowers of hope sprang up for
564
00:41:23,640 –> 00:41:26,640
men in misery.
Let me tell you, sin died when
565
00:41:26,640 –> 00:41:30,200
the blood fell.
Oh, I’m so glad His precious
566
00:41:30,200 –> 00:41:33,920
blood covers me.
Thorns of violence, thorns of
567
00:41:33,920 –> 00:41:36,840
hate were growing wildly.
And through the pain that sin
568
00:41:36,840 –> 00:41:39,360
had caused, you know, it was so
very plain to see.
569
00:41:39,360 –> 00:41:42,840
But when the blood came
streaming down the cross, when
570
00:41:42,840 –> 00:41:47,880
my Savior bled and died, it
broke the chains of sin, and he
571
00:41:48,480 –> 00:41:52,520
set me free.
Love grew.
572
00:41:53,320 –> 00:41:58,360
When the blood fell, those
flowers of hope sprang up for
573
00:41:58,360 –> 00:42:01,760
men in misery.
Oh, sin died when the blood
574
00:42:01,760 –> 00:42:05,160
fell.
Oh, I’m so glad His precious
575
00:42:05,160 –> 00:42:10,480
blood covers me now.
Let me tell you just a couple of
576
00:42:10,600 –> 00:42:13,360
interesting statistics about
that particular piece.
577
00:42:14,760 –> 00:42:16,400
This is a hymn about the
Atonement.
578
00:42:17,840 –> 00:42:22,800
Guess how many times God has
mentioned in the hymn answer?
579
00:42:23,600 –> 00:42:27,880
Never.
Guess how many times the Lord
580
00:42:27,880 –> 00:42:29,960
Jesus Christ is mentioned in the
hymn?
581
00:42:29,960 –> 00:42:31,840
Answer?
6 times.
582
00:42:33,280 –> 00:42:38,080
Guess how many times I’m
mentioned in the hymn?
583
00:42:39,000 –> 00:42:43,360
Why 9 times?
After all, we should get our
584
00:42:43,360 –> 00:42:48,640
priorities right, And the whole
focus of this hymn is what
585
00:42:48,640 –> 00:42:52,360
Christ can do for me, that he
set me free.
586
00:42:52,360 –> 00:42:55,400
Oh, I’m so glad what’s been done
for me.
587
00:42:55,600 –> 00:42:59,720
He paid the price and I’m free.
That’s the doctrine of
588
00:42:59,720 –> 00:43:05,720
substitution, isn’t it?
You know what’s really sad about
589
00:43:05,720 –> 00:43:10,520
that, Brothers and sisters?
That’s on a Christadelphian CD.
590
00:43:13,720 –> 00:43:15,640
That’s not the heritage of the
House of Asaph.
591
00:43:17,720 –> 00:43:20,040
That’s not divine principle
taking us into the presence of
592
00:43:20,040 –> 00:43:24,400
the Father.
We won’t draw near to God with
593
00:43:24,400 –> 00:43:29,400
hymns that are very emotional
but lack the substance of divine
594
00:43:29,400 –> 00:43:34,320
truth.
Now compare that with this peace
595
00:43:34,320 –> 00:43:38,480
that we know and love and sing
heartily all around the
596
00:43:38,480 –> 00:43:41,880
ecclesial world, and just look
at the difference.
597
00:43:44,160 –> 00:43:51,040
We praise the heavenly Father,
we thank the Lord, that still
598
00:43:51,320 –> 00:43:56,480
the word of Thy salvation works
out Thy sovereign will.
599
00:43:56,480 –> 00:44:00,480
Or where’s the emphasis of this
hymn but on the majesty of the
600
00:44:00,480 –> 00:44:02,960
purpose of the Father being
fulfilled.
601
00:44:03,200 –> 00:44:06,520
A hymn, brothers and sisters,
that saturated in its successive
602
00:44:06,520 –> 00:44:08,880
verses with scriptural
illusions.
603
00:44:09,520 –> 00:44:12,840
Verse one tells us that the
sovereign majesty of God’s
604
00:44:12,840 –> 00:44:16,800
purpose has touched us, that we
might manifest in both now and
605
00:44:16,800 –> 00:44:20,200
in the age to come.
Verse 2 says we need to practice
606
00:44:20,200 –> 00:44:23,400
the positive and negative
aspects of the atonement in our
607
00:44:23,400 –> 00:44:26,840
own lives, death to the flesh
and life to the spirit.
608
00:44:27,120 –> 00:44:30,400
Verse 3 says that the
representative nature of our
609
00:44:30,400 –> 00:44:34,520
Lord’s offering means that we
must identify with him fully to
610
00:44:34,520 –> 00:44:38,600
share in the victory issue.
Here is a hymn that celebrates
611
00:44:38,600 –> 00:44:41,040
what we really we believe about
the atonement.
612
00:44:41,280 –> 00:44:45,120
No other Christian Church
understands the atonement as we
613
00:44:45,120 –> 00:44:46,840
do.
Brothers and sisters, why would
614
00:44:46,840 –> 00:44:49,960
we want the hymns of the
churches to celebrate this?
615
00:44:51,040 –> 00:44:54,120
We have our own.
Who wrote that hymn?
616
00:44:54,120 –> 00:45:00,800
By the way, Brother Charles
Ladson is expressive of the
617
00:45:00,800 –> 00:45:06,200
truth.
And when I sing that hymn, I
618
00:45:06,200 –> 00:45:11,080
come into the presence of God.
Now this family, brothers and
619
00:45:11,080 –> 00:45:13,920
sisters, brothers and sisters,
understood that secret.
620
00:45:14,920 –> 00:45:19,080
And God willing, in our
subsequent studies, we will try
621
00:45:19,080 –> 00:45:23,880
to understand how they imparted
that secret to their family.
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