Psalm 78

I hope you have not decided to skip this Psalm because it is so long.  Unlike the longest Psalm (119) which is already divided into stanzas, this second longest of the Psalms cannot be divided.  It is a complete story, one that needs to be heard by the saints.  Please take the time to find a quiet place and read it thoughtfully. 

Let’s begin with some background.  When the Children of Israel were ready to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land God had told them He would choose a place of worship, a place where He would put His name, a place where He would dwell with them (Deut. 12:5).  Did you ever wonder how Jerusalem became that place?  When Israel first entered Canaan the capitol city, and site of the tabernacle was Shiloh, a city of Ephraim (Josh. 18:1; 1 Sam. 1:3).  Now that you know or are reminded of that, do you wonder why the tabernacle and Ark of the Covenant did not remain in Shiloh?  That is the subject of Psa. 78.  We need to hear the reasons God rejected Shiloh and chose Jerusalem.

1 Samuel 4-6 tell the story of Israel’s attempt to gain a victory over the Philistines by taking the Ark into the battle, thinking it’s presence would give them a decisive edge.  Instead the Ark was captured by the Philistines.  But they could not keep it; having it resulted in being under constant plagues.  So they returned the Ark to Israel who did not return it to Shiloh but to the house of Abinadab in Kirjath Jearim (1 Sam. 7:1).  The answer to the question as to why it was not returned to Shiloh but eventually ended up in Jerusalem in the time of King David is in Psalm 78.  The reason involves a history lesson and it’s in Psalm 78.

We are called to listen to a parable (v1-4).  God established His law in Israel (v5-8).  But Ephraim did not keep the covenant (v9-11).  God had done great and marvelous things in Egypt (v12-16) but the people sinned even more, grumbling again and again against God (v17-29) so that His wrath was stirred up against them (v30-31).  Yet they continued to sin (v32) so that they were forced to wander in the wilderness for 40 years (v33).  When they entered the land this continued, rebellion against God followed by God’s punishment followed by a show of repentance followed by God’s mercy (v34-39).  They tempted God and limited God (v41), doubting Him just as the Egyptians had done previously (v40-53).  God eventually brought Israel into the land (v54-55) where they continued to test and provoke the Most High God (v56-58).  Finally God’s anger was stirred up so that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh (v59-64) when He allowed the Philistines to make Israel miserable in defeat and to capture the Ark, the symbol of their special relationship with God.  But then God’s grace and mercy came to the front.  He beat back Israel’s enemies (v65-66) and chose the city he loved, Mount Zion in the tribe of Judah.  And He chose David His servant to become Israel’s shepherd-King (v67-72).

The turning point for Shiloh was when the priesthood had become corrupt, in the time of Eli.  Israel came to put their trust in the Ark rather than in the God of the Ark.  They believed that having the Ark in battle would guarantee a victory.  Instead the result was that the Ark was removed from Shiloh and never returned.

God had predicted this clear back in Genesis 49:8-12 in the prophecy of Jacob concerning Judah.  While Joseph received the double portion of the inheritance given to the oldest son (Gen. 48) the leadership role of the first-born was given to Judah.  The scepter would not depart from Judah, a promise fulfilled in the Davidic Covenant wherein God promised a Son on David’s throne forever.

The story teaches an important lesson of consequences.  Israel’s unbelief when the tabernacle was in Shiloh resulted in its removal from Shiloh.  God kept His promise to make His dwelling with Israel but it would be in Jerusalem, the place established by David, the man after God’s heart.  It would be in the city of Melchizedek, the first godly King and Priest in (Jeru)Salem (Gen. 14:18-24).

God kept His promises to choose a place to dwell; but at the same time, sin brought consequences.  This is the story of Shiloh and Jerusalem.  God’s work is the same today.  Our wickedness will bring harmful consequences and lost opportunities.