REMEMBER , AND FEAR, THE L-RD G-D OF ISRAEL!
With Hamas threatening to "liberate Jerusalem" and to ultimately
"free Palestine" from the Jews, and Iran threatening to unleash
a "greater Holocaust," it would appear these anti-Semities have
again forgotten the L-RD G-d of Israel, and that He is to be
feared! No one can threaten to hurt G_d's Chosen People, against
the prophetic purposes of G-d, and survive unscathed!
Ahmedinejad, who presently occupies the seat of power rooted in
the former Empire of the Medes and Persians, is uttering
anti-Semitic threats against the Jews and the existence of
Israel, is supporting Hamas, and has vowed to severely hurt any
nation recommending taking Iran before the UN Security Council,
or imposing sanctions. He is mocking and goading the world's
media regarding the cartoon fiasco, and with an evil eye to
provocation, has called into question the seriousness of the
Holocaust. (By the way, even though he says he does not believe
the Holocaust occurred, or at least that it was not as
horrendous as portrayed, he has turned around and threatened a
greater Holocaust! If he does not believe the Holocaust actually
happened, then how can he threaten a greater? Greater than what?
Aha! So, he actually does know the Holocaust indeed happened!)
Is G-d distracted or asleep? Is G-d intimidated by the
saber-rattling?
More importantly, are the nations remembering the fear of the
G-d of Israel who, historically, delivered the Jews from the
hand of any who seriously threatened to annihilate them? Does
Ahmedinejad know the reputation of the L-RD G-d of Israel? Does
Hamas? Does the UN? Does Russia or the rest of the nations?
And, most importantly, are the Jews remembering the L-RD G-d of
Israel, and are they contritely seeking His mercy, protection,
deliverance, and forgiveness?
We are often excited about seeing the judgment of G-d brought to
bear against the enemy, but forget G-d enacted His might and
deliverance when His people repented in prayer and fasting,
clothed in sackcloth and ashes! This pattern was not, and is
not, merely some fool-proof formula. Rather it is realizing the
L-RD desires His people to repent, and fervently seek to restore
a relationship with G-d Himself, borne of righteousness! When
the Children of Israel cried out to G-d earnestly, G_d
intervened and delivered, and Israel's enemies were either
destroyed or they turned to G-d! It is not enough just to desire
judgments be brought against the enemies of G-d's people!
Is G-d again bringing Israel to a point of desparation? That may
be a good thing, because then it may be possible for redemption
to follow when the Jews gather together to repent and seek
righteousness!
The frustration is that deliverance never seems to come about
until the Jews are backed into an impossible, dangerous corner
first! That is not G-d's best plan. Rather, it is the propensity
of Israel to choose to repeatedly tread that difficult route! I
hope Israel eventually tires of constantly pursuing the same
circuitous weary path!
Is the present situation with Iran and Hamas, and the wayward
nations, finally dangerous and threatening enough to drive the
Jews, world-wide, to fall on their faces before G-d?
Or must the situation become much worse?
Psa 106:1 Praise ye the L-RD. O give thanks unto the L-RD; for
he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 106:2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the L-RD? who can
shew forth all his praise?
Psa 106:3 Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth
righteousness at all times.
Psa 106:4 Remember me, O L-RD, with the favour that thou bearest
unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;
Psa 106:5 That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may
rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with
thine inheritance.
Psa 106:6 We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed
iniquity, we have done wickedly.
Psa 106:7 Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they
remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at
the sea, even at the Red sea.
Psa 106:8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that
he might make his mighty power to be known.
Psa 106:9 He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so
he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
Psa 106:10 And he saved them from the hand of him that hated
them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
Psa 106:11 And the waters covered their enemies: there was not
one of them left.
Psa 106:12 Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.
Psa 106:13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his
counsel:
Psa 106:14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted
G-d in the desert.
Psa 106:15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness
into their soul.
Psa 106:16 They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the
saint of the L-RD.
Psa 106:17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered
the company of Abiram.
Psa 106:18 And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame
burned up the wicked.
Psa 106:19 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten
image.
Psa 106:20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of
an ox that eateth grass.
Psa 106:21 They forgat G-d their saviour, which had done great
things in Egypt;
Psa 106:22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible
things by the Red sea.
Psa 106:23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not
Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away
his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
Psa 106:24 Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed
not his word:
Psa 106:25 But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto
the voice of the L-RD.
Psa 106:26 Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to
overthrow them in the wilderness:
Psa 106:27 To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and
to scatter them in the lands.
Psa 106:28 They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate
the sacrifices of the dead.
Psa 106:29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their
inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.
Psa 106:30 Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so
the plague was stayed.
Psa 106:31 And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto
all generations for evermore.
Psa 106:32 They angered him also at the waters of strife, so
that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:
Psa 106:33 Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake
unadvisedly with his lips.
Psa 106:34 They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the
L-RD commanded them:
Psa 106:35 But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their
works.
Psa 106:36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto
them.
Psa 106:37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters
unto devils,
Psa 106:38 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons
and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of
Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
Psa 106:39 Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went
a whoring with their own inventions.
Psa 106:40 Therefore was the wrath of the L-RD kindled against
his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
Psa 106:41 And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and
they that hated them ruled over them.
Psa 106:42 Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were
brought into subjection under their hand.
Psa 106:43 Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him
with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.
Psa 106:44 Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he
heard their cry:
Psa 106:45 And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented
according to the multitude of his mercies.
Psa 106:46 He made them also to be pitied of all those that
carried them captives.
Psa 106:47 Save us, O L-RD our G-d, and gather us from among the
heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in
thy praise.
Psa 106:48 Blessed be the L-RD G-d of Israel from everlasting to
everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the
L-RD.
The interesting thing about Psalm 106 is that it falls on the
heals of Psalm 105! Now, before you think I have just suddenly
become aware of a logical numerical sequence that even a
first-grader recognizes, let me explain.
Psalm 105, coinciding with the year 2005, expounds upon the
seriousness of the Covenant G-d made with Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob regarding the Land of Canaan.
Psa 105:7 He is the L-RD our God: his judgments are in all the
earth.
Psa 105:8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word
which he commanded to a thousand generations.
Psa 105:9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto
Isaac;
Psa 105:10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to
Israel for an everlasting covenant:
Psa 105:11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the
lot of your inheritance:
Psa 105:12 When they were but a few men in number; yea, very
few, and strangers in it.
Psa 105:13 When they went from one nation to another, from one
kingdom to another people;
Psa 105:14 He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved
kings for their sakes;
Psa 105:15 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets
no harm.
God's warning imperative of verse 15, delivered through the
Psalmist, addressed tampering with the Covenant! That caution
was ignored, and Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in
August of 2005. Those who spoke out against the withdrawal as
being in violation of the Covenant were, and still are,
vilified, not just by non-Israelis, but more seriously by fellow
Jews within Israel! Amona is a piognantly sad fall-out of that
sin against G-d regarding the Covenant G-d made with Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob (Israel). And, even though it may not be a
particularly popular thing to point out, the threats by Israel's
enemies are also a result!
Who was being cautioned regarding the Covenant in Psalm 105?
Anyone who might question Israel's Covenant right to occupy the
Land of Promise! Both names for Israel are used in Psalm 105
verse 10, "And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to
Israel for an everlasting covenant:" indicating the L-RD will
not be ignored regarding His Covenant, and thus will bring
discipline to bear against those who sin against it, causing the
nation to sin! Transgression of a law is sin! Why? Because the
Covenant is not to be set aside! In fact, it cannot ultimately
be side-stepped, because it is everlasting! The Covenant of the
Land will be brought to fruition whether Jacob (the Supplanter)
who was re-named Israel (the prince who has power with G-d and
with man) wants it to be or not!
In Psalm 106 we are reminded of the works of the L-RD revealed
through the historical record of several deliverances from
Israel's enemies, and His mercy and forgiveness even when Israel
transgressed. Each time the L-RD was wroth against his people
according to Psalm 6 verse 40! And, each time this sequence
occurred, there was a promise or directive of G-d involved that
was ignored or violated. The sin was non-compliance, followed by
enemy threats, and/or dangerous situations allowed by G-d to
discipline His people, bringing about a cry for mercy, and
heart-felt repentance. Then G-d would remember their affliction,
and his Covenant, and would have mercy, hear their cries, and
deliver them out of their troubles.
I do not think the content of Psalm 106 following Psalm 105 is
prophetically accidental in light of last year's Unilateral
Withdrawal, and this year's afflictions, and the current threats
by Israel's enemies. Psalm 106 verses 43 to 48 are therefore
particularly relevant for the nation of Israel at this juncture!
Psa 106:43 Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him
with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.
Psa 106:44 Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he
heard their cry:
Psa 106:45 And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented
according to the multitude of his mercies.
Psa 106:46 He made them also to be pitied of all those that
carried them captives.
Psa 106:47 Save us, O L-RD our G-d, and gather us from among the
heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in
thy praise.
Psa 106:48 Blessed be the L-RD G-d of Israel from everlasting to
everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the
L-RD.
Is Israel ready to repent, or in the mode to bring to
remembrance the mercies and deliverances of the L-RD?
Or, will Israel continue to desire to follow after the ways and
wishes of the other nations? Must there yet be more threats and
atrocities perpetrated by Israel's enemies?
I guess Israel, (and indeed all nations) must decide!