Discipling Children – Psalm 78:56-72

In Psalm 78, the Lord urges parents to teach our children to walk with God.

“Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God, and did not keep His testimonies, but turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers. They were turned aside like a deceitful bow. For they provoked Him to anger with their high places and moved Him to jealousy with their carved images.” Psalm 78:56-58

Did you ever test your parent’s patience? Do you have children who test your patience? The children of Israel tested God’s patience by giving the love that was due Him to other gods. God was providing for them and keeping them alive. They were like a deceitful bow because their “arrows” always flew where false gods wanted them to fly and not in God’s direction.

What about believers today? Have we stopped testifying for Christ in public places? Do we support the retelling of pagan tales of Easter bunnies and Santa Clauses more than proclaiming Christ? Do we invest more in bunnies that lay eggs (which is a lie) and in a fat men who slides down chimneys (which is a lie) than in retelling the testimony of what Jesus Christ did for the salvation of human souls? And what about Halloween? Why is there so much excitement about images that relate to demons? God is the One who causes the earth to yield its increase.

Is the generation coming behind us embracing the testimonies in the Bible of God’s greatness?

“When God heard this, He was furious, and greatly abhorred Israel, so that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent He had placed among men, and delivered His strength into captivity, and His glory into the enemy’s hand. He also gave His people over to the sword and was furious with His inheritance. The fire consumed their young men, and their maidens were not given in marriage. Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation.” Psalm 78:59-64

Psalm 78:59-64 refers to 1 Samuel 2:12-17. In this passage, the Lord informs us that Hophni and Phinehas committed adultery with women who brought offerings to the tabernacle in Shiloh. They forcefully took meat offerings that were intended to be offered to God and ate them. In 1 Samuel 4, Hophni and Phinehas carried the Ark of the Covenant into battle. This was their idea, not God’s. They died in battle and the Ark was captured. God’s glory departed from Israel.

Manifest sin in the holy place is a red flag that something is wrong and needs to be discerned and addressed with the help of God.

In 1 Samuel 2:29, God asked Eli, the father of Hophni and Phinehas, “Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?”

In 1 Samuel 3:13, God told Samuel, “For I have told him [Eli] that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.” Soon after Samuel received this prophecy, Eli and his two sons died on the same day.

Healthy food laced with poison is highly dangerous because no one suspects it to kill them. God’s Word blended with lies is highly dangerous because unless our children know God and His Word well, they will be poisoned. In Matthew 15:9, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they taught as doctrines the commandments of men. They mixed their own ideas in with God’s.

God was furious with the priests in Shiloh. He took His presence from them.

Do you sense God’s presence in your worship assemblies?

In Galatians 1:8-9, Paul wrote, “Even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other Gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” The One True God... Father, Son and Holy Spirit must be the focus of our worship and of our teachings in the Church if we want God’s presence among us.

God gave the people of Shiloh over to captivity. He turned them over to the enemy.

In Romans 1:18, Paul wrote that God reveals His wrath against men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. In Romans 1:28, Paul wrote, “Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.” The full Gospel includes a call to repentance of sin, a call to believe in Christ for cleansing from sin and reception of the Holy Spirit for empowerment to live a new life.

“Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a mighty man who shouts because of wine. And He beat back His enemies. He put them to a perpetual reproach.” Psalm 78:65-66

God defended His glory amidst the Philistines. In 1 Samuel 5:1-6:16, the Lord caused the idol of the Philistines to fall flat on its face and break apart. He afflicted the Philistines with tumors to the degree that they were happy to return the Ark of the Covenant to Israel.

“Moreover He rejected the tent of Joseph, and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, but chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved. And He built His sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which He has established forever.” Psalm 78:67-69

The Lord provided a new location for the Ark of the Covenant. He never sent it back to Shiloh where the tribe of Joseph and Ephraim dwelt. The people of Shiloh lost the privilege of hosting it. The Lord moved it to Mount Zion which He loved. Mount Zion is where Christ was crucified and resurrected from the dead. Jesus Christ is also called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. [1]

“He also chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the ewes that had young He brought him, to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.” Psalm 78:70-72

Eventually, God set a good king over Israel. A king after His own heart! He chose David out of all the thousands of Israel, and put the scepter in his hand, out of whose loins Christ was to come, and who was to be a type of him. [2]

God delights to raise the poor out of the dust and to set them among princes. David’s time spent in solitude and contemplation with God proved to be the best of all educations. David was not taken from leading the rams, but from following the ewes... those great with young. He had a tender spot for those of his flock that most needed his care. [3]

At first, God humbled David, but later He exalted him. Thus, by God’s grace, David became skillful and faithful at his task. He fed, taught, guided and protected God’s sheep for God’s glory. In this way, he was a type of Christ. In Isaiah 11:3-4, God foretold that Messiah, would be filled with the spirit of wisdom and understanding and should judge and reprove with equity. [4]

In John 17:6-8, Jesus said to His Father, “I have manifested Your Name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your Word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me, and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You, and they have believed that You sent Me.”

As I prayed over Psalm 78 and John 17:6-8 above, the Lord gave to me a vision of circles in a sea of water. The first circle formed where a stone entered the water. This first circle symbolizes Christ and His Word entering the hearts of my wife and me. Before we can teach and model His truth to others, we must first know the Father and receive His Word directly from Him. Within this first circle are Christ, my wife, and me.

The second circle represents our descendants. God calls us to teach them the truths He has taught us, passing on His love, wisdom, and ways to future generations.

Beyond the third circle are the people of the world who do not yet know the Lord. We desire to share His teachings with them in the same spirit that loving parents nurture and guide their children.




[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary (edited)
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid

God’s Children Have an Eternal Inheritance – Psalm 78:26-55

In Psalm 78:4-8, the Lord urges parents to teach their children His Word and testimonies. They need to know that God loves them, wants to help them, and that He is all powerful. They need to be taught of His grace and forgiveness. Otherwise, they will be ill-prepared to overcome the evil that is in the world. We should teach our children about God because we love them.

“He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens, and by His power He brought in the south wind. He also rained meat on them like the dust, feathered fowl like the sand of the seas. And He let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings.” Psalm 78:26-28

In Numbers 11:31, east and south winds from the Lord brought quail from the sea and left them on Israel’s campground. These birds were spread as wide as a day’s journey on all sides of the camp. Israel was three feet deep in quail. They obtained meat without money. [1]

“So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them their own desire. They were not deprived of their craving, but while their food was still in their mouths, the wrath of God came against them, and slew the stoutest of them, and struck down the choice men of Israel.” Psalm 78:29-31

In Numbers 11:4-6, the mixed multitude [that is the Egyptians] among them craved for meat. Next, the Israelites began to weep. They all wanted meat. They complained about the manna.

In Numbers 11:18-20, the Lord was displeased with them because they questioned why He brought them out of Egypt. Thus, He told them that they would eat meat for an entire month until it was detestable to them. Then, in Numbers 11:31-33, the Lord brought the quail, “but while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was aroused against the people, and the Lord struck the people with a very great plague.”

Israel’s lust for luscious delights yielded death. In Philippians 3:18-19, Paul wept for those “whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.”

“In spite of this they still sinned and did not believe in His wondrous works. Therefore their days He consumed in futility, and their years in fear.” Psalm 78:32-33

God did miracles for Israel. He rescued them from whips of taskmasters. He transformed a sea into a path to freedom for them, but a destroyer of Pharoah and his army. The Lord fed and hydrated the nation of Israel (2-3 million people) in a wilderness.

Israel’s lack of faith in God yielded futility and fear. According to the Miriam-Webster Dictionary, “Futility is the state of being useless, pointless, or incapable of producing any meaningful result, often characterized by a sense of hopelessness.”

In Hebrews 3:12, Paul wrote, “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”

“When He slew them, then they sought Him, and they returned and sought earnestly for God. Then they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer.” Psalm 78:34-35

Spiritually speaking, we need God to help us “die to self” so that we live for Him. In John 12:24, Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

Water baptism is symbolic of dying to one’s old self and of resurrecting from the dead to a new life in Christ. Only Jesus, our Rock and Redeemer, can create us anew to be like Him.

“Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, and they lied to Him with their tongue.” Psalm 78:36

When a person is genuinely converted by God from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, and filled with His Spirit, they experience love for God and love for people. Otherwise, as Jesus said in Matthew 15:8, we will honor God with our lips but have hearts far from Him.

Martin Luther once famously said: “We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.” Faith is receptivity. It receives Christ and all that He has done for us. Christ has to fill-in what sin took away from us, namely, our faith in God, as well as our love for Him.

God knew the secret intention of Israel was to break their word once their crisis subsided. They did not return to God with their whole heart, but as the Lord says in Jeremiah 3:10, “Only in pretense” or superficially. [3]

“Their heart was not steadfast with Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant.” Psalm 78:37

Typically, a marriage covenant include a vow, such as, “I, [name], take you, [name], to be my wedded [wife/husband], to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”

Trials and temptations test the authenticity of our love for God. Do we really love God or do only turn to Him when we need His help?

In Romans 5:3-5, Paul wrote, “We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” We glory in our sufferings when we receive them as an opportunity to grow in Christlikeness. During our sufferings, the Holy Spirit fills us with God’s love.

In 1 Peter 1:6-8, Peter wrote that our temporary trials come to prove the genuineness of our faith. Our faith is of greater worth than gold. Our faith results in praise, glory and honor to Jesus Christ. The Lord fills with us an glorious joy as we trust in Him during difficulties.

Many of the Church’s well-known hymns were produced by composers who experienced trials.

Prophets and apostles composed books of the Bible while in captivity.

“But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath. For He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again.” Psalm 78:38-39

God could have totally destroyed the Israelites for their constant disrespect and betrayal of Him.

At times, God considered Israel’s time with Him in the wilderness as a honeymoon. In Jeremiah 2:2, God said to Israel, “I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved Me and followed Me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.” But then, at other times, Israel expressed anger with God and betrayed His trust.

God did not give to Israel all the wrath that they deserved. Their commitment to Him was shallow. If He demanded too much of them, they would turn from Him. So, God forgave them and had compassion on them.

In the Gospels, Nicodemus was a Pharisee. Jesus often confronted the Pharisees about their hypocrisy. However, when Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, Jesus lovingly explained to him the way of salvation. Jesus spoke the most well-known verse in the Bible (John 3:16) to Nicodemus. Jesus had compassion on Nicodemus.

“How often they provoked Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.” Psalm 78:40-41

Can you imagine walking up to the most powerful person on earth and provoking him to anger? Would you demand that he prove himself to you? It would not be wise or prudent to do so.

Israel tended to mistreat God. In a similar fashion, in Revelation 18:7, an end times empire will boast against God, saying, “I sit enthroned as queen. I am not a widow. I will never mourn.” In Revelation 18:8, the Lord says, “In one day her plagues will overtake her.... She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.”

“They did not remember His power. The day when He redeemed them from the enemy.” Psalm 78:42

We should read our Bibles daily and attend worship services where God’s Word is preached to keep us mindful of the miracles. We should teach our children about the mighty acts of God, especially about what Jesus did for our redemption on the cross.

The words of the Bible are more than words in a history book. The Bible’s words are eyewitness testimonies of the great things God did. And God has not changed. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” God still does miracles.

“They did not remember, the day when He redeemed them from the enemy. When He worked His signs in Egypt, and His wonders in the field of Zoan. He turned their rivers into blood, and their streams, that they could not drink. He sent swarms of flies among them, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them. He also gave their crops to the caterpillar, and their labor to the locust. He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with frost. He also gave up their cattle to the hail, and their flocks to fiery lightning. He cast on them the fierceness of His anger, wrath, indignation, and trouble, by sending angels of destruction among them. He made a path for His anger. He did not spare their soul from death, but gave their life over to the plague, and destroyed all the firstborn in Egypt, the first of their strength in the tents of Ham. But He made His own people go forth like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. He led them on safely, so that they did not fear. But the sea overwhelmed their enemies.” Psalm 78:43-53

God delivered Israel from the Pharoah with mighty miracles, and the Lord will do mighty miracles in the last days to deliver His people from the antichrist.

In Exodus 7:20, Moses turned the Nile to blood. In Revelation 16:3-4, God will turn the sea and water into blood. In Exodus 10:22, God plague Egypt with darkness for three days. In Revelation 11:9-11, God plagues the earth with three and half days of darkness. In Exodus 8:22-23, the Israelites were divinely protected from plagues. In Revelation 7:3, 9:4, God protects His people from the plagues of the last days.

In Egypt, God plagued evildoers to force them to let His sheep go. As a shepherd separates sheep from goats, God separated His people from those who were not His people.

In Revelation 13:16-17, taking the mark of the beast signifies allegiance to the antichrist. In Revelation 20:15, those whose names are not in the Lamb’s book of life perish.

In Revelation 19:2, God avenges the blood of His servants on the antichrist. In Revelation 19:8, God clothes His peopleis people in bright and clean garments. In Revelation 19:9, they are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb. In Revelation 21:2-4, they are with God in His Holy City.

“And He brought them to His holy border, this mountain which His right hand had acquired. He also drove out the nations before them, allotted them an inheritance by survey, and made the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents.” Psalm 78:54-55

God brought Israel into the Promised Land and He brings those who trust in Him to heaven.

In Jeremiah 29:11, God said to the exiles in Babylon, “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

In Luke 23:43, Jesus said to the believing thief next to Him on the cross, “Today, you will be with Me in paradise.”

God says in Revelation 21:7, “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”

There is too much at stake for us personally, and for our children to neglect our relationship with God. “Holy Spirit, please pour God’s love into us and into our children. Help us to walk with God, and be with God for all eternity. I ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”



[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid

Teaching Children About God – Psalm 78:1-25

“A Contemplation of Asaph.” Psalm 78:1

Asaph was a sweet singer of Israel. In 2 Chronicles 29:30, he is also referred to as “Asaph the seer,” indicating his role in receiving and conveying divine messages. He is credited with writing Psalms 12, 50, 73-83. He calls people to listen to God’s Law.

In Revelation 2-3, Jesus says to us seven times, “Let him that has an ear hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” The Holy Spirit’s goal is to help us hear the prophetic words of Jesus.

“Give ear, O my people, to My Law. Incline your ears to the words of My mouth. I will open My mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old...” Psalm 78:1-2

The root word for, “parable” (מָשָׁל) means to rule. In this case, a reigning principle for people to observe. [1] The word for “dark saying” (חִידָה) refers to a riddle or maxim. [2]

“A maxim is a concise, memorable statement that expresses a general truth or serves as a rule of conduct. It is designed to offer practical wisdom and guide how you should behave in daily life.” [3]

“...which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.” Psalm 78:3-4

In Psalm 78, the Lord urges loving parents to teach their children His praises. Keep them mindful of the testimonies of the Lord. Otherwise, they will be ill-prepared to overcome the arrogance, lies and lusts that are in the world.

In Psalm 78, the Lord urges parents to teach their children of His strength and wonderful works! They need to know that God loves them, wants to help them, and that He is all powerful. They need to be taught of His grace and forgiveness. The world will not teach them these things.

We should teach our children about God because we love them.

“For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a Law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children, that the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children...” Psalm 78:5-6

In Deuteronomy 6:7, the Lord says to parents concerning His laws, “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Teach them along life’s path as Jesus taught His disciples. Fathers, as the priests of the family, are to teach their children right from wrong, so that every step of the way, the child can identify the right path to take.

“...that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments, and may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.” Psalm 78:7-8

The main trajectory that the Lord wants for our children is transformation into His likeness. The Lord will transform them when they come to abide in fellowship with Him and His Word.

The sinful world wants our children to conform to its image. The devil hits them from every angle to destroy their faith in God.

The Lord says to teach our children to hope in Him. Remember Him! Be faithful to God!

“The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. They did not keep the covenant of God. They refused to walk in His Law and forgot His works and His wonders that He had shown them.” Psalm 78:9-11

The descendants of Joseph via his son Ephraim had the tools to win the war, but not the closeness with God as their forefather Joseph had. Without a foundation in the testimonies of the Lord, and ignorant of His Law, they made disastrous decisions. Psalm 78:9-11 likely refers to the time when the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant and slew the corrupt sons of Eli. After a long digression, Asaph returns to this topic in verse 61. [4]

The tribe of Ephraim was renowned for having valiant men. Joshua was from Ephraim’s tribe. But after they became proud against the Lord, they broke covenant with Him. The turning of their backs on God led to the turning of their backs in battle. [5]

“Marvelous things He did in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He divided the sea and caused them to pass through. He made the waters stand up like a heap. In the daytime also He led them with the cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink in abundance like the depths. He also brought streams out of the rock and caused waters to run down like rivers.” Psalm 78:12-16

Here, the Lord encourages parents to teach their children about the miracles that God has done for His people. In Revelation 1:9, John speaks of experiencing tribulation “for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” God’s Word contains many magnificent testimonies.

The Lord led them by a pillar of a cloud during the day. A cloud, rightly positioned, provided shade for them from the sun. He led them by a pillar of fire by night, thus, providing warmth for them during the cold wilderness nights. The pillar of fire may have also scared the wild beasts away from their camp. [6]

The Lord furnished fresh water for them out of a rock. Out of dry hard rocks streams like rivers flowed as though out of a great depth. In 1 Corinthians 10:4, Paul refers to this miracle as being symbolic of Jesus Christ from whom streams of the Holy Spirit flow in this spiritually dry world. Paul wrote, “All drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”

“But they sinned even more against Him by rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness. And they tested God in their heart by asking for the food of their fancy. Yes, they spoke against God: they said, ‘Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? Behold, He struck the rock, so that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed. Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?’ Therefore the Lord heard this and was furious. So, a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel, because they did not believe in God, and did not trust in His salvation.” Psalm 78:17-22

God blessed them. They rebelled against Him. They severely tried God’s patience. They demanded meat. They wanted to indulge their flesh. They challenged God to give them meat, and, if he did not, they would say it was because He could not. They asked, “Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?” They had manna, but they wanted meat.

Is anything too hard for God? No, all things are possible with God.

In Numbers 11:1, a fire of the Lord burnt among them. God is a consuming fire. Those that will not believe in the power of God’s mercy shall feel the power of His wrath. They trusted not in the salvation He had begun to work for them. If they had, they would not have questioned its progress. [7]

“Yet He had commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven, had rained down manna on them to eat, and given them of the bread of heaven.” Psalm 78:23-24

The Lord had given them undeniable proofs of His power, not only on earth beneath, but in heaven above. God, who has the key of the clouds, opened the doors of heaven, and that is more than opening the windows. [8]

To all who by faith do ask, seek, and knock, doors shall be opened. God is rich in mercy to all who call upon Him. He not only keeps a good house but keeps an open house. [9]

“Men ate angels’ food. He sent them food to the full.” Psalm 78:25

Yes, men as well as women, boys and girls ate angel bread. The weakest stomach could digest it, yet it was so nourishing that it was strong meat for strong men. [10]

Did they question God’s power? Yes, so He demonstrated that He could produce food in the wilderness. Though the winds seem to blow where they list, yet, when He pleased, He could make the winds His caterers of daily cuisine.

In Psalm 78:1-25, the Lord calls us to teach our children to trust in the Lord’s ability to provide for them regardless of their circumstances. God’s goal is to bring them into the Promised Land.



[1] Strong’s Hebrew & Chaldee Dictionary of the Old Testament
[2] Brown-Driver-Briggs (Old Testament Hebrew-English Lexicon)
[3] Miriam-Webster Dictionary
[4] Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
[5] Matthew Henry’s Commentary, see also 1 Samuel 4:10-11
[6] Matthew Henry’s Commentary (edited)
[7] Ibid
[8] Ibid
[9] Ibid
[10] Ibid

Advancing By Prayer – Psalm 77

“To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph. I cried out to God with my voice—to God with my voice. And He gave ear to me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing. My soul refused to be comforted.” Psalm 77:1-2

Asaph cried out to God when he was troubled, He pursued God. Even during the night hours, his hand was uplifted to God. He did not let up. 

Earlier this year, I contracted Covid in the adenoids. Swallowing caused intense pain! Like swallowing razor blades! The doctor had no cure for it, but advised me to take aspirin to ease the pain. Aspirin was ineffective. The next day, I walked about my house with hands uplifted to God, crying out in prayer for deliverance from the pain.

Instead of immediate deliverance, the Lord gave me strength. My petitions switched from prayers for myself to prayers for others. God replaced my normal daily routine with daylong blessings of heartfelt love for others.

The Lord also revealed to me during that time of prayer that if I took small amounts of water into my mouth, allowed the water to warm there, and afterwards swallowed, it was considerably less painful. Hydration was important. The next day, I began to feel better.

Later, I googled to see if what I did was a valid method of easing pain under such conditions. The response was, “Cold liquids can cause sudden muscle spasms in an already inflamed throat, while warm liquids soothe the area. Extreme temperatures can trigger sensitive nerve endings. Room temperature or warm water is much gentler on raw tissue. Taking very small, controlled amounts prevents the painful stretch reflex that happens when swallowing large gulps.”

Matthew Henry wrote that days of trouble must become days of prayer especially when inward distress overtakes us and God seems distant. We must seek Him and continue seeking Him until we experience His response. [1] Some Christians call this approach, “Praying through.”

During his distress, Asaph did not seek relief through entertainment, business, or distraction. He sought God — His favor, His grace, and His presence. We cannot drink or laugh away trouble. We must pray, and act on whatever the Lord tells us to do.

Asaph’s hand was stretched out to God for help in the night because his inward pain had not stopped. His soul refused to be comforted. He did not rest until his troubles were resolved.

“I remembered God, and was troubled. I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah!” Psalm 77:3

One might expect the remembrance of God to bring peace, but at this point, Asaph is crying out to God but is still feeling overwhelmed. God’s silence added to his sense of being in danger.

“You hold my eyelids open. I am so troubled that I cannot speak.” Psalm 77:4

Sleep, which often provides temporary relief from grief and anxiety, escaped him. He lamented because it seemed that God was the One who was causing his body to malfunction. He could not keep his eyelids closed. His mouth had no words to speak. So, earlier he cried out, but now, in the night, he was speechless.

“I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night. I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search. Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more? Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah! And I said, ‘This is my anguish, but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.” Psalm 77:5-10

Asaph balanced the present dilemma of his nation with songs of the Lord and meditations in God’s Word. Rather than turn to worldly sources for answers, Asaph turned to the Lord. He wanted the Lord to close the gap between Himself and Israel. He wanted the Lord to release His mercy, His promises, His grace, and His tender mercies. On the one hand, he experienced anguish due to Israel’s current circumstances, but on the other hand, Asaph let memories of God’s past miracles flood his mind.

The Spirit of the Lord helped Asaph to redirect his thoughts from grief over his nation’s woes to faith in God’s faithfulness. He held two realities together at once:

• the pain of Israel’s present condition,
• and the certainty of God’s past faithfulness. 

That balance is important. Asaph did not deny anguish, confusion, or grief. He expressed them honestly before God. But he refused to let present circumstances be the final interpretation of reality. Memory became an act of faith.

Themes of mercy, promises, grace, tender mercies, and reconciliation between God and Israel—echo throughout the Psalms of Asaph. The movement from anguish to remembrance is one of the defining spiritual disciplines found throughout the Psalms.

In Lamentations 3:32, we read, “Though He [God] cause grief, yet will He have compassion.”

When fear asks, “Is God’s mercy gone forever?” faith answers: “His mercy endures forever.”

“I will remember the works of the Lord. Surely, I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work and talk of Your deeds.” Psalm 77:11-12

God’s Spirit helped Asaph to replace thoughts of peoples’ misdeeds with glory in God’s deeds.

God’s grace is sufficient to outweigh unresolved self-concerns. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Lord said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Thus, Paul could say in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “When I am weak, then I am strong.”  

“Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary. Who is so great a God as our God?” Psalm 77:13

God’s work is done in the sanctuary, that is, in the place of Bible meditation and prayer.

Dwight L. Moody once said, “He who kneels the most, stands the best.”

In Matthew 26:40, we read that Jesus found His disciples sleeping while He was praying. He asked Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?”

In his book, entitled, “The Hour That Changes the World,” Dick Eastman challenges Christians to spend one hour each day in prayer. His book testifies of numerous answered prayers.

When I lived in Hong Kong, I attended Revival Christian Church. After Pastor Dennis Balcombe read Dick Eastman’s book, he challenged everyone in the congregation to pray at least one hour per day. At first, I found it difficult to pray for so long at one time, but within a month it became a normal routine. The congregation grew greatly through prayer, and my own ministry into Guangzhou prospered as well.

Nowadays, the Lord often blesses me with three prayer times per day. In the morning, I stand with hands uplifted to the Lord as I pray through my prayer list. In the middle of the day, I prayer walk. In the evening, I pray on my knees! Sherry, my wife, usually prays with me during the afternoon and evening prayer times. As a result, God’s Word and the testimony of Jesus is going forth from our lives and touching people in many nations.

“You are the God who does wonders. You have declared Your strength among the peoples.” Psalm 77:14

God declares His wonders and His strength in the Scriptures. In Romans 10:17, we read, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” God builds our confidence in His power and His love as we read, think on and memorize the Scriptures.

“You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah!” Psalm 77:15

The arm by which God redeems His people is none other than His Son Jesus Christ. All other atoning sacrifices that God prescribed in the Old Testament were a foreshadowing of Christ who is the perfect sacrifice. In Hebrews 9:12, we read that Christ did not enter the Most Holy Place with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood. So that, once for all, He obtained eternal redemption for us who believe in Him.

God also redeemed Israel by purchasing their freedom from enslavement to Egypt. He purchased Israel for Himself by mighty miracles.

The mention of “Joseph” alongside “the sons of Jacob” is significant because Joseph firmly believed God’s promise regarding his nation’s future. In Hebrews 11:22, we read, “By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.” Thus, we read in Joshua 24:32 that they brought the bones of Joseph with them to the Promised Land and buried them there.

“The waters saw You, O God! The waters saw You they were afraid, the depths also trembled. The clouds poured out water. The skies sent out a sound. Your arrows also flashed about. The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind. The lightnings lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook. Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, and Your footsteps were not known.” Psalm 77:16-19

At God’s command, the sea opened before Israel. The waters parted instantly, as though they themselves feared the presence of God marching at the head of His people. Even the depths of the Red Sea obeyed His command. [2]

Thunder, lightning, and earthquakes were manifestations of God’s wrath against Egypt. While Israel was sheltered under God’s protection, the Egyptians were overwhelmed by judgment. [3]

“You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” Psalm 77:20

Israel was weak, vulnerable, and prone to wander like sheep. Yet God led them with the tenderness and care of a shepherd. Though God used Moses and Aaron as instruments, it was ultimately God Himself who guided His people.

The faithful administration of leadership and ministry is one of God’s great mercies to any nation or people.

When Asaph focused his mind on God’s mighty works, comfort returned to his soul. His fears suddenly disappeared.

In 1 Samuel 1:18, after Hannah abided in prayer with God, she rose up and “went her way and ate. Her face was no longer sad.” Thus, Paul exhorts us in Hebrews 4:16 to come boldly to the throne of God’s grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid

Preparing to Meet God: Reflections on Psalm 76

“To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song. In Judah God is known. His Name is great in Israel.” Psalm 76:1

God is known in Judah... do you know God?

In Amos 4:12, the Lord says, “Prepare to meet your God!” Our lives on earth are best used when they are lived in expectation of meeting God face to face.

God’s Name is great in Judah... is His Name great in your life? How much respect do You have for God? How confident are you in His love for You and in His power to help You?

In Matthew 19:26, Jesus said, “With God all things are possible.” In John 3:16, Jesus said that God loves the world, meaning the people of our world, that’s you, me and everyone else.

“In Salem also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling place in Zion. There He broke the arrows of the bow, the shield and sword of battle. Selah!” Psalm 76:2-3

Salem (שָׁלֵם - Shalem) is the ancient name for Jerusalem. Salem means peace or wholeness. [1] By using ‘Salem’ alongside ‘Zion’ (the hill where the temple stood), Asaph emphasizes Jerusalem as God’s dwelling place. God’s favorable presence shielded the people of Jerusalem from the fiery missiles launched against them.

Matthew Henry comments:

“When the house of Israel did His will He placed His majesty among them, and there He broke the arrows of the bow. While they kept closely to His service they were great and safe, and everything went well with them.”[2]

The battle was won in the sanctuary as the people brought their petitions before God.

In 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, the Word of the Lord testifies that as King Jehoshaphat and his people sought the Lord in His holy place and worshipped before Him, God caused their enemies to turn against each other and destroy themselves.

“You are more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.” Psalm 76:4

God is more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey, that is, “than the great and mighty ones of the earth, who think themselves firmly fixed like mountains, but are really mountains of prey, oppressive to all about them.” [3]

“The stouthearted were plundered. They have sunk into their sleep.” Psalm 76:5

Israel’s enemies were stouthearted men of courage and resolution. They were confident of success. They had chariots and horses. But their strength was useless when it was levelled against the nation that God protects.

They have slept not the sleep of the righteous, who fall asleep in Lord, but the sleep of sinners that awake to everlasting shame and contempt. [4]

“None of the mighty men have found the use of their hands. At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse were cast into a dead sleep.” Psalm 76:6

When God rebukes chariots and horses, they are cancelled. They cannot stand against the Word of God.

In Hebrews 11:3, we read, “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”

In Matthew 8:8-10, a Roman centurion believed that a word from Jesus could do a miracle. He said:

“Only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard this, He marveled, and said:

“Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!’”

In Matthew 8:13, Jesus said to the centurion:

“Go your way. As you have believed so let it be done for you.”

And his servant was healed that same hour.

“You, Yourself, are to be feared. And who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry? You caused judgment to be heard from heaven. The earth feared and was still when God arose to judgment, to deliver all the oppressed of the earth. Selah! Surely the wrath of man shall praise You, with the remainder of wrath, You shall gird Yourself.” Psalm 7-10

According to Revelation 15:2-4, those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name,” stand on a sea of glass, and they sing a song with harps. They sing of God’s marvelous works and righteous ways, declaring:

“Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your Name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.”

God may seem to keep silent while evildoers corrupt and ruin a society, yet in due season He makes His judgment known. His judgment produces songs of victory among those who have trusted in Him.

Praise God that He causes the wrath of man to praise His Name

For example, Mao Zedong wanted the people of China to become literate so they could read his “Little Red Book.” He wanted every village to have a radio so they could hear his speeches. He wanted roads improved so travel would be easier for his officials. Mao once boasted that he would “cut out the tongue of God,” yet today God speaks to millions through the Bible. People listen to Bible teaching broadcast by overseas radio stations, and believers use the roads Mao built to spread the Gospel.

The hardships that we endure for God eventually bring Him glory.

The remainder of wrath God restrains. God sets limits on wrath just as He sets boundaries for the raging sea. He says to the proud waves, “Stop and come no further.” [5]

Once, when a hurricane struck a town where we lived, floodwaters threatened to destroy our home. We prayed and asked the Lord to protect us, and praise God, He stopped the waters just inches from our house.

“Make vows to the Lord your God and pay them. Let all who are around Him bring presents to Him who ought to be feared. He shall cut off the spirit of princes. He is awesome to the kings of the earth.” Psalm 76:11-12

In the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon set out to discover the meaning of life. He conducted a careful search and explored every earthly avenue. In Ecclesiastes 12:13–14, he shared his conclusion:

“Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”

Our lives on earth are best used when they are lived in expectation of meeting God face to face.

[1] Brown-Driver-Briggs (Old Testament Hebrew-English Lexicon)
[2] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] Ibid

Promoted To Glory – Psalm 75

“To the Chief Musician. Set to ‘Do Not Destroy.’ A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.”

The musical score for this Psalm, “Do Not Destroy” is used with Psalms 57, 58, 59. [1] The Psalmist asks that God’s anger be replaced with His favor. It is a cry for a Savior to take away that which is unacceptable to God, and replace it with that which is His delight.

“We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your Name is near.” Psalm 75:1

Twice in a row, do we give thanks to God. We cannot thank God enough for all He has done for us. He provides for us the air we breathe and the ground we walk on. He redeems our soul from the pit. He forgives our sins. He heals our diseases. He provides for our needs. He teaches us and helps us to love as He loves. He gives us grace and helps us to be gracious. Praise the Lord!

“When I choose the proper time, I will judge uprightly. The earth and all its inhabitants are dissolved. I set up its pillars firmly. Selah!” Psalm 75:2-3

God, in due time, perfects that which concerns us. When He judges, He judge rightly. He does not pervert justice. He judges all matters in accordance with His Word in the Bible. He manages our trust in Him with integrity and grace.

When the earth and all the inhabitants are dissolved, it is because God is creating a new heaven and new earth wherein dwells righteousness. Christ set up pillars of the new kingdom when He made atonement for our sins, and sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in us.

“I said to the boastful, ‘Do not deal boastfully.’ And to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn. Do not lift up your horn on high. Do not speak with a stiff neck.’” Psalm 75:4-5

Twice, Asaph urges arrogant sinners not to lift up their horns against God. They should not seek to gore God or His Word as raging bulls gores someone in their space.

A stiff neck does not turn easily. It does not want to turn one’s face toward God. The head of the anti-Christ will raise his horns against God, but only to be broken to pieces. The Pharaoh had a stiff neck. He defiantly said to Moses, “Who is the Lord?” Pharaoh paid a great cost to find out.

“For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge. He puts down one and exalts another.” Psalm 75:6-7

Earthly governors receive their power and authority from God. They don’t earn or deserve it, but God gives them grace to rule for a season.

Humsan kingdoms rise and fall. In Psalm 75, Asaph directs us to look at the author of them. God has the power to build up or tear down, to plant or uproot them. This is what God told Jeremiah before Babylon became a world controlling empire. Babylon eventually conquered Jerusalem.

In Jeremiah 1:10, the Lord said, “See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.”

In Ezekiel 18:21, the Lord says, “If a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.” And then in Ezekiel 18:24, the Lord says, “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does... all the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.” These are the terms by which God tears down and raises up.

There are many merchants who claim to have the remedy to all your problems. They will sell their solution to you for a profitable price to pack their pockets with your money.

In Isaiah 55:1-3, the Lord says to us, “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters, and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you—the sure mercies of David.”

The sure mercies of David is a reference to Jesus Messiah. His righteousness is free of charge because He paid for it when He died for our sins on the cross, and when He resurrected from the dead, and ascended on high, and sent His Spirit to dwell within us. Our relationship with God is a grace-based relationship not a performance-based one. Otherwise, we could never measure up to God’s righteous expectation of us. Jesus Christ fulfilled God’s expectation for us.

“For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red. It is fully mixed, and He pours it out. Surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth drain and drink down. But I will declare forever, I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. All the horns of the wicked I will also cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.” Psalm 75:8-10

The sufferings of Christ are called a cup in Matthew 20:22 and John 18:11. The wine is red, denoting the wrath of God, which is infused into the judgments executed on sinners, and is the wormwood and the gall in the affliction and the misery. It is read as fire, red as blood, for it burns, it kills. [2]

In Jeremiah 1:13-16, God gave Jeremiah a vision of a boiling pot pouring out from the north onto all the kingdoms of the earth including Jerusalem and Judah. This boiling solution was the Babylonian army conquering the kingdoms of this world. This cup was God’s wrath poured out on sin. In Revelation 15:7 and 16:1, we read of the angels pouring out the vials of God’s wrath upon the earth. Some drops of this wrath may impact God’s people as we share in common calamities of our fellow human beings, but the dregs of the cup are reserved for the wicked. In the hereafter, they will experience the torments of hell. [3]

Asaph praised God, and gave to Him glory, which is what the angel of the Lord urges people to do in Revelation 14:7. The angel said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

I praise our heavenly Father for basing our relationship with Him on the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. I could never earn or deserve to come into His holy presence. Thanks to God’s Son atoning work on the cross for me, the righteous Judge of heaven and earth has declared me innocent of all charges against me, and He has adopted me into His family as a son.

Psalm 75:6-7 is true for me, and for all who profess Christ “Exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge. He puts down one and exalts another.” It is via faith in Jesus Christ that God promotes us to glory. Amen!



[1] Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
[2] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[3] Ibid

Arise, O God – Psalm 74

“A Mashcil [instruction] of Asaph. O God, why have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?” Psalm 74:1

God gave this Psalm to Asaph during a day when he was suffering from affliction. God inspired him to write this Psalm to instruct us.

Asaph laments because Israel’s circumstances are causing them to feel rejected by Him. He wants God to clarify the reason “why” He has withdrawn from His sheep. He is their shepherd. It is normal for sheep to worry about wolves, but not about whether or not their shepherd will protect and provide for them. [1]

“Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, the tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed—this Mount Zion where You have dwelt.” Psalm 74:2

In Isaiah 43:3-4, the Lord said to Israel, “I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, and I have loved you, therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life.”

Matthew Henry commented, “Lord, will You now abandon a people that cost You so dear, and has been so dear to You? And if the redemption of Israel out of Egypt was an encouragement to hope that He would not cast them off, much more reason have we to hope that God will not cast off any whom Christ has redeemed with His own blood.” [2]

While on the cross, Jesus cried out, “My God my God, why have You forsaken Me?” It was due to our sins that God turned His face from His Son and let Him die on the cross. We needed a perfect, sinless sacrifice for our sins that would remove them forever with one offering.

After Jewish religious leaders betrayed and crucified Christ, was God done with the Jews? No, Paul wrote In Romans 11:1, “I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.”

We must not think that because we are cast down that we are cast off forever. [3] Those who are done with God cast off those who remain faithful to Him. However, in Hebrews 13:5, God’s promise to us who believe in Him is, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

“Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations. The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary. Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place. They set up their banners for signs. They seem like men who lift up axes among the thick trees. And now they break down its carved work, all at once, with axes and hammers. They have set fire to Your sanctuary. They have defiled the dwelling place of Your Name to the ground. They said in their hearts, ‘Let us destroy them altogether.’ They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land. We do not see our signs. There is no longer any prophet, nor is there any among us who knows how long.” Psalm 74:3-9

Asaph wants the Lord to lift His feet, that is, rise up and inspect the damage. The enemy targeted and destroyed their power plants, that is, the holy places where they appeared before God for His blessing and strength. Like a demolition crew with axes and hammers, they attacked key support beams, toppled meeting places and afterwards burned what remained with fire. Their goal was to eliminate any trace of God from the land. Signs were removed. Prophets disappeared. Was this to be their new normal forever?

Asaph laments the disappearance of God’s holy places. Faith in God is vital to the salvation of peoples’ eternal souls. Abandonment of God does more ruin to a society than any other type of attack. The closure of God’s holy places should grieve us. Jesus taught us to pray to the Father, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done.” May zeal for God’s house consume us!

“O God, how long will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your Name forever?” Psalm 74:10

Asaph wanted to know how long must he hear people misuse and blaspheme God’s Name.

I praise God for my wife. She honors the Name of the Lord. If someone on a TV show even uses the slang words for God such as “Gosh” (God) or “Jee” (Jesus), she turns the show off.

“Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them.” Psalm 74:10-11

The right hand of God is an allusion to Messiah for Jesus Messiah sits at the right hand of God. The right hand is the dominant hand for most people. Asaph wants God to send Messiah to deliver them from their enemies.

Daring defiance against God is detrimental to a society’s development and defense. Israel’s foes took pride in destroying the beautiful carved woodwork in God’s house. God’s house is where God’s Word was read and explained, and where His Name was praised. Israel’s enemies did not want God's worshippers to glorify Him, and edify one another. [4]

Asaph lamented that there were no prophets to tell Israel how long before the spiritual climate improved. People need hope. In Jeremiah 29:11, the Lord gave a word to the exiles in Babylon, saying to them, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

“For God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. You divided the sea by Your strength. You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters. You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces and gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness. You broke open the fountain and the flood. You dried up mighty rivers.” Psalm 74:12-15

Asaph quiets his mind and encourages his soul in the fact that God is the covenant-keeping God. He professes God is my King of old and that He is working salvation in the midst of the earth. God divided the Red Sea before them when they came out of Egypt. He compares the Egyptians with sea serpents, and Pharaoh with Leviathan. [5] In Genesis 3:15, God promised that the Seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent. Although God brought down the Egyptian snake via Moses and the Israelites, Genesis 3:15 is more completely fulfilled in Christ. Jesus Christ redeems His believers from the power of Satan, sin, death and hell.

God broke open the fountain and the flood, and dried up mighty rivers. In Revelation 12:15-16, the Lord gave John a vision of a serpent spewing out water like a flood after God’s people. But God opened the earth’s mouth to swallow the flood. In Revelation 12:17, the Lord told John that the dragon was at war with those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

“The day is Yours the night also is Yours. You have prepared the light and the sun.” Psalm 74:16

God opens the eyelids of the morning light, and draws the curtains of the evening shadow. He has prepared the moon and the sun, the two great lights, to rule by day and by night. [6]

“You have set all the borders of the earth. You have made summer and winter.” Psalm 74:17

All the laws and powers of nature are derived from God. He has certainly all power both to save and to destroy. With God all things are possible! [7]

“Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O Lord, and that a foolish people has blasphemed Your Name.” Psalm 74:18

In Acts 16:16-18, Paul turned toward a slave girl who was possessed with a spirit of divination and said to the spirit, “I command you in the Name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. The Name of the Lord is wonderful and powerful. We should always regard it with the highest respect. Only fools do otherwise. In Luke 10:17, seventy disciples reported back to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name.”

“O do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast! Do not forget the life of Your poor forever. Have respect to the covenant for the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty. O do not let the oppressed return ashamed! Let the poor and needy praise Your Name.” Psalm 74:19-21

In Matthew 10:16, Jesus said to His disciples, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” In Psalm 127:1, the Lord says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”

Having witnessed the destruction of their places of worship, Asaph committed to God the safety and well-being of His servants. Asaph did not want the Lord to forget that many of His servants are poor and that they serve in dark and cruel places. He did not want them to return from their fields of service in shame. To the contrary he wanted them to return as the seventy disciples of Jesus did with joy. Or as David put it, in Psalm 149:6, “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.”

“Arise, O God, plead Your own cause. Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily. Do not forget the voice of Your enemies. The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually.” Psalm 74:22-23

Asaph’s cause is really God’s cause.

Our cause is to praise the Name of the Lord and make His praise glorious. Asaph wanted God to silence foolish talk lest like a tidal wave, it sweep the praise of God’s Name away.

In 2 Timothy 2:16-17, Paul wrote, “Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene.”

Rather than only defend the influence we have in Christ, let us pray for His kingdom to spread through us and advance into new areas of the world.

Acts 13:49 says, “The Word of the Lord spread through the whole region.” Acts 19:20 says “the Word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.”

Two things that I pray daily are, “Thank You Lord that Your glory covers the earth as the waters cover the sea!” and “Lord, please make Your Word run very swiftly today and may human hearts receive You gladly!” For my online publications, I pray, “Heavenly Father, please use 21st Century Jeremiah publications to help your prophetic speakers to accurately align their messages with the Scriptures even as the prophet Jeremiah did in his day.” Please join with me in these prayers so that the light of God will arise and dispel darkness from peoples’ souls.



[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] Ibid
[6] Ibid
[7] Ibid

Truly God Is Good – Psalm 73

“A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel to such as are pure in heart.” Psalm 73:1

In what ways was God good to Israel? In Matthew 5:8, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” The Lord brought Israel out of captivity, purified their hearts through prescribed animal sacrifices, and allowed them to see Him and declare Him to others.

God has also been good to Gentiles. He sacrificed His Son Jesus Christ for our sins. Now, thanks to Christ, when Jew or Gentile believes in Him, He forgives our sins, and purifies our hearts by His Holy Spirit. His Spirit helps us to see God through the eye of the Scriptures.

“But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled. My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride serves as their necklace. Violence covers them like a garment. Their eyes bulge with abundance. They have more than heart could wish. They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression. They speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth. Therefore his people return here, and waters of a full cup are drained by them. And they say, ‘How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?’ Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease. They increase in riches. Surely, I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been plagued and chastened every morning.” Psalm 73:2-14

There is a great difference between the Asaph who is thinking about the goodness of God and the Asaph who is thinking about the ungodly.

In Matthew 5:44-45, Jesus said to us, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

When people are hateful, full of curses, abusive and prejudice against God, it poses a challenge to us to love, bless, do them good and pray for them, but the Lord says that we must do so to be children of our Father in heaven, that is, to be His image bearers.

In Psalm 73:2-14, Asaph sets for us an example of how to grieve when we are mistreated. He doesn’t say to suppress or deny your grief. No, he describes to God what he sees. In 2 Chronicles 29:30, Asaph is referred to as a seer by God.

Do the wicked prosper? In Matthew 4:8-9, Satan offered to Jesus the kingdoms of this world if He would bow down and worship him. Jesus rebuked Satan for such a thought, but many are happy to sell their soul to Satan in exchange for his “get rich quick” schemes.

Asaph describes the wicked to God as strong and free from trouble. Likely due to the fact that they have paid off crooked authorities to turn a blind eye to their crimes.

The ungodly are proud to be without God. Their eyes bulge as they gaze at their riches. They have more than heart could wish. They scoff at the thought of changing their ways because they perceive themselves as wiser than God. They say, “Is there knowledge in the Most High?”

In terms of wages, Asaph expresses grief that it feels like he cleansed his heart in vain and washed his hands in innocence. While the wicked prosper, he feels that he is chastened every morning and plagued all the day long. To clear out those feelings, he expresses them to God.

It has been said, “You will not feel comfortable sitting with the grief of others, if you are not comfortable sitting with your own grief.” It is not healthy to deny or suppress grief. It can cause unwanted health and mental issues.

In Hebrews 12:15, the Lord warns us, “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.”

“If I had said, ‘I will speak thus,’ behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children. When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me—until I went into the sanctuary of God. Then, I understood their end. Surely You set them in slippery places. You cast them down to destruction. O, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awakes, so, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image.” Psalm 73:15-20

In John 17:19, Jesus said to His Father, “For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.” When Asaph came before God in the holy sanctuary, the Holy Spirit helped him to consider his position of influence among God’s people. He was known as a Seer by God’s people. He was a worship leader as well. He did not want to be untrue to God’s children... on the one hand, leading people to worship God, and on the other hand, harboring bitterness due to the prosperity of ungodly and wicked people.

What’s more, in God’s holy presence, the Lord revealed to Asaph that the ultimate outcome of wicked and ungodly behavior is not favorable. In due season, God humbles proud people. God created people in His image, but the people that Asaph struggled with hated God.

Matthew Henry spoke of Asaph as restraining himself from speaking amiss for the sake of God’s people. If he revolted against God, He would give the greatest offence imaginable to the generation of God’s children. In Proverbs 30:32, the Lord says, “If you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth.” Don’t speak an evil thought. “Though he thought amiss, he took care not to utter that evil thought which he had conceived. It is bad to think ill, but it is worse to speak it, for that is giving the evil thought consent to infect others.” [1]

When Asaph felt hatred toward the wicked, he took the matter to God in prayer not to others. In Matthew 18:6, Jesus said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” In Matthew 18:15, Jesus said, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” Though the ungodly are not “brothers,” we should still consider if we can speak with them directly about their offenses rather than to speak maliciously about them to others. God still loves them.

Asaph could not conquer his thoughts about the prosperity of the wicked by his own strength or reason. So, he went into God’s sanctuary. He consulted with the Scriptures. He prayed. He considered the attributes of God. Then, the Lord opened his eyes to see that even at the height of their prosperity, the wicked were to be pitied not envied. They were ripening for ruin. [2]

“There are many great things, and things needful to be known, which will not be known otherwise than by going into the sanctuary of God by the Word and prayer. The sanctuary is the place for tempted souls.” [3]

The Lord helped Asaph to foresee the ruin of wicked people. By this revelation, he resisted the temptation to speak hatefully against them.

In Ephesians 4:29, Paul wrote, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

In Titus 3:2, Paul wrote, “Speak evil of no man. Don’t be a brawler. Be gentle! Show meekness to all people.”

In Matthew 5:44-48, Jesus said that if we want to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect we must love our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute us. Thus, we shall be children of our heavenly Father.

“The destruction of the wicked and ungodly is sure, sudden, and very great.” [4] In Luke 12:20, God said to the man who was rich toward himself but poor to God, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you. Then, whose will those things be which you have provided?”

In 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. Paul wrote that when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, He will execute flaming fire vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. “These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” Thus, “the prosperity of the wicked and ungodly is not to be envied at all, but despised.” [5]

“Thus my heart was grieved, and I was vexed in my mind. I was so foolish and ignorant. I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless I am continually with You. You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” Psalm 73:21-24

In Judges 14:14, Samson composed a riddle for his foes, saying, “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” The eater was a lion who attacked Samson. The honey was made by bees in the dead carcass of the lion. The Lord is good to bring about honey out of the attacks of our enemies. [6]

When Asaph was attacked by a thought to speak maliciously against the ungodly, he struggled with it, and overcame it by the power of God’s sufficient grace. Rather than curse the thorn in his flesh, he abased and accused himself before God. He confessed to God, “My heart was grieved. I was vexed in my mind. I was so foolish and ignorant. I was like a beast before You.” Thus, the Lord’s presence remained with him. The Lord’s right hand (a reference to Christ) upheld him. The Holy Spirit guided and counseled him, and kept him on the path to glory. [7]

In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, God said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” And Paul responded, saying, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

“Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:25-26

God’s presence was better to Asaph than the portion of the wicked. Closeness with God yielded a better return on investment than participation with sin. God strengthened Asaph with love. Money can buy a house, but only God’s love makes it a great place to live.

“For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish. You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.” Psalm 73:25-26

In Matthew 18:9, Jesus warned us, “If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.”

In James 4:7-9, James wrote, “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.”

See how serious of a matter it is to be close with God! If you are far from Him, don’t spare the tears and tissues, cry out to God to forgive your sins and to return you to nearness with Him.

“But it is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works.” Psalm 73:27-28

In John 15:4, Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” The most vital concern for us is to remain in Christ, and not to be drawn away to other places where Jesus does not go. We might be tempted to think that the wicked and ungodly are our worst nightmare, but in fact, the temptation to distance ourselves from God is our greatest foe.

It is good to draw near to God. It is good to trust in Him. It is good to talk about God’s works.



[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[2] Comments sparked by reading Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[3] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[4] Ibid
[5] Ibid
[6] Comments sparked by reading Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[7] Ibid

Prayers For The King – Psalm 72

“A Psalm for Solomon. Give the King Your judgments, O God, and Your righteousness to the King’s Son.” Psalm 72:1

It is likely that David wrote this Psalm for his son Solomon. The introduction in most Bibles says, “a Psalm of Solomon,” but this is David’s prayer for his son Solomon who became the next king of Israel. What does David ask God to give his son? Divine judgments and righteousness!

Human judgements and righteousness fall short of God’s glory. To judge a nation and lead it rightly as God does, David’s son needed God to reveal His ways to him.

No one ever revealed the Father to us better than His Son Jesus Christ. In Matthew 1:1-17, the earthly genealogy of Jesus is traced back to David. Jesus Messiah fulfilled the prayer for his son Solomon whereas Solomon, being human, could not. There are many allusions to Jesus in this Psalm. In fact, the name Solomon means “peace” or “peaceful one.” In Isaiah 9:6, Jesus is referred to as the Prince of Peace.

David asked God to give his son divine judgments and righteousness. Let us also ask God to give our children discernment between right and wrong, and grace to do what is right. In 1 King 3:9, Solomon prayed a similar prayer for himself, “Give to your servant a hearing heart, to judge your people, to discern between good and evil.” In 1 Kings 3:11, “God summarized Solomon’s prayer as a request for understanding to discern what is right.” [1]

“He will judge Your people with righteousness, and Your poor with justice. The mountains will bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He will bring justice to the poor of the people. He will save the children of the needy and will break in pieces the oppressor.” Psalm 72:2-4

Only God judges righteously. Refuses bribes! Says “no” to public prejudices against innocent people. “The mountains (superior courts) shall bring peace, and the little hills (inferior courts) righteousness when King Solomon ensures there is justice in the courts.” [2]

When Solomon walked with God, he judged righteously, and peace ensued. However, according to 1 Kings 11, toward the end of his life, Solomon’s idolatrous wives turned his heart from the Lord, and he began to oppress, not save, “the children of the needy.”

“The oppressive policies and spiritual decline during Solomon’s reign had lasting consequences for the kingdom of Israel. After Solomon’s death, the kingdom was divided as a direct result of his actions. In 1 Kings 12:4 , the people approached Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, saying, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.’" [3]

When Jesus Messiah was on earth the first time, He healed and fed the poor. He broke the oppressive power of death over children when He raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead, and when He resurrected the widow of Nain’s son from the dead! He also casted a demon out of a Syro-Phoenician woman’s daughter. When Jesus Messiah returns, all oppression shall end.

Governing authorities should especially attend to the poor and needy. They may be too timid or too proud to ask for help. Can they afford a good lawyer? Probably not! Can the rich take advantage of their lack of legal defense? No, not if the judges are paying close attention to what is going on in their district, and ensuring all citizens are treated equally under the law.

In 2 Kings 4:1-7, a widow of a prophet had creditors threatening to take her two sons as slaves to pay off her deceased husband’s debts. The Lord used the prophet Elisha to help her. He told her to gather as many empty jars as possible from her neighbors. She did. Afterwards, her single small jar of olive oil kept pouring and filled every single jar she had. Then, Elisha instructed her to sell her surplus oil to pay her debts. She did and kept her sons. God saved a poor and needy woman from losing her sons.

“They shall fear You as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, like showers that water the earth. In His days, the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.” Psalm 72:5-7

The fear of God shall remain as long as the sun and moon endure. Christianity shall remain until the end of time here on earth.

Christ gives believers in Him the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is like rain upon mown grass. Though His convictions cut them to the heart and leads them to repent, He also comforts them with the Gospel, saying, “Your sins are forgiven. You are saved.” Thus, they rise up stronger than before.

When Solomon walked with God, some of the aspects of Messiah’s rule happened in Israel, but his rule was imperfect. Matthew Henry wrote, “Solomon indeed built the temple, and the fear and worship of God were well kept up, for some time, under his government, but it did not last long.” Thus, this passage must point to Christ’s kingdom.

Righteousness and peace rain down when people call on the Name of Jesus. There is power and authority in the Name of Jesus. In Luke 10:17, seventy disciples reported to Jesus with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name.”

Jesus endues His followers with His Spirit so that they listen and act on the cries of the poor and needy. Jesus saves souls that are condemned to hell by proclaiming the Gospel to them through His servants. Precious is their blood in His sight. It is the Name of Jesus Christ that shall endure forever! All nations shall call Him blessed.

In Revelation 14:6-7, John receives a vision of an angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. He says with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give glory to Him! For the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” The action the angel seeks from the nations is twofold: “Fear God! Give Him glory!” In other words, repent and believe! Relinquish sin and receive Christ! Stop denying God’s existence and importance! Acknowledge Him and worship Him!

When Christ returns, righteousness shall be preferred and practiced. Righteousness shall abound and be popular. The righteousness of Christ empowers people to be honest and just, and to love one another, and thus, it produces abundance of peace. Holiness and love shall be perfect in Christ’s kingdom, and never diminish.

“He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him, and His enemies will lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles will bring presents. The kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts. Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him. All nations shall serve Him.” Psalm 72:8-11

Christ’s kingdom shall be extended far, and wide, even to the end of the world. He shall have dominion from sea to sea. Solomon had dominion from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. According to 1 Kings 4:21, Solomon’s area of influence was great. But according to Matthew 24:14, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ shall reach to all nations, and according to Revelation 11:15, the kingdoms of the world shall become His kingdoms. [4]

When Solomon walked with God, his influence reached even to those who dwell in the palaces. According to Psalms 72:10, kings of Tarshish, Sheba, Seba and the isles shall bring presents to Him that they may hear His wisdom. The kings in Solomon’s day did this, but it was really the wisdom of the Lord that they came to hear and to support.

In 2 Chronicles 9:23-24, all the kings of the earth sought the wisdom of Solomon, and brought presents to him. In Matthew 2:11, wise men of the east, probably men of the first rank in their own country, came to worship Jesus and bring Him presents. [5]

In Romans 12:1, the Scripture urges us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. The best present we can bring to Christ is our lives laid down for His glory. Offer to Him spiritual gifts of prayer and praise! [6]

According to Revelation 7:9, redeemed people from every nations shall worship the Lord.

“For He will deliver the needy when he cries, the poor also, and him who has no helper. He will spare the poor and needy and will save the souls of the needy. He will redeem their life from oppression and violence, and precious shall be their blood in His sight.” Psalm 72:12-14

In 1 Kings 3:16-28, at the beginning of his reign, Solomon personally judged the case of two poor women who argued over whose baby died and whose baby lived. These two women shared a house together. One night while all were asleep, one woman rolled over on her baby, and he died. So, she got up and took the other woman’s living baby out of her bed, and replaced him with her dead baby. Then, insisted from then forward that the living baby was hers. The Lord gave to Solomon a word of wisdom by which the lying woman was exposed.

In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Jesus Christ did numerous miracles for the poor and needy. John 21:25 says that “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” The greatest miracle that He did for all poor souls was redeem our lives from oppression and violence of sin, death and the devil. Precious is our blood in His sight!

“And He shall live! And the gold of Sheba will be given to Him! Prayer also will be made for Him continually, and daily He shall be praised. There will be an abundance of grain in the earth, on the top of the mountains. Its fruit shall wave like Lebanon. And those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.” Psalm 72:15-16

According to 1 Kings 10:10 and 2 Chronicles 9:9, the Queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon 120 talents of gold—which equates to roughly 4.5 tons.

Just in my short lifetime, I have managed ministries for the Lord where I have witnessed millions of dollars donated for the support of the ministry of the Gospel. Personally, I am not rich, but the Lord gave me the privilege of facilitating the donations of others to support His ministry.

Prayers shall be made continuously for the king, and daily he shall be praised. As people prayed for Solomon, God made his reign a blessing to them. An earthly king can do some things to help his people and his lands to flourish, but with God’s intervention all things can be blessed.

A handful of the Gospel seed sown in the mountainous and barren soil of the Gentile world, produced a wonderful harvest gathered in to Christ, fruits that “wave like Lebanon.” [6]

In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, believers in Christ are urged to make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, for kings and all in authority. So, we should praise the Lord when our nation prospers under their guidance, for the Lord is the one helping them to do what is right.

Jesus Christ does not need our prayers to do what is right. He always does what is right. But the Old Testament saints prayed for His coming. And now that He has come, let us pray for the success of His Gospel and the advancement of His kingdom, and pray for His second coming. [7]

“His Name shall endure forever. His Name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him. All nations shall call Him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only does wondrous things! And blessed be His glorious Name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.” Psalm 72:17-20

While Solomon’s name is still well-known on earth, it is the Name of Jesus Christ that is exalted above all other names. Jesus Christ is also a descendant of David. People in all nations call Him blessed. They speak well of Him, and are happy in Him. The Name of Jesus shall be celebrated from now and throughout eternity. Every tongue shall joyfully confess His Name and every knee gladly bow before Him. In Christ, people “live happily forever after.” The whole earth will be filled with His glory! On this note, David ends his prayer. “Amen!”



[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] Biblehub.com
[4] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[5] Ibid
[6] Ibid
[7] Ibid