In The Promised Land

by D.F. Webster, Liverpool, England | Category: More Meditations In The Psalms | Jul 1992

Under the leadership of the faithful warrior Joshua, Israel entered and began to subdue the land promised to them by God. This was the culmination of a series of events overruled by the mighty hand of God going back to the time Abraham received His promise (1). Despite the long interval in terms of human history, the process was given fresh impetus when God delivered His people from Egypt, entered into a covenant relationship with them and brought them through forty years of wandering in the desert "to the border of His holy land"

(78:54).

Three of the Psalms included in this study (Psalms 78, 105 and 106) are an historical survey of the attitude of a great God to His people and of the response of that people to their God. The fourth (Psalm 133) presents the ideal and a challenge. The references in brackets refer to these four Psalms.

Early Failure (78:56-64; 106: 34-39):

They hardly had long enough to settle down and have a good look at the land before "they put God to the test and rebelled" - straight disobedience in that "They did not destroy the peoples as the Lord had commanded them" (106:34). They preferred to mingle with them rather than maintain their separation and in worshipping their idols they soon became as debased as the Canaanites were. R.K. Harrison comments about the Canaanite religion "that its sordid and debased nature stood in marked contrast to the high ethical ideals of Israel. The absolute lack of moral character in the Canaanite deities made such corrupt practices as ritual prostitution, child sacrifice, and licentious worship the normal expression of religious devotion and fervour" (2) and that was what the people of God found so attractive! The Psalmist calls it a snare, the book of Judges provides the historical details. Even Moses had solemnly warned them about it in his final address to the people, yet they "rebelled against the Most High", they were so "disloyal and faithless ... they aroused His jealousy with their idols" (78:57-58).

In a society so very different in detail, yet as morally bankrupt and as displeasing to God as that of the Canaanites of old, the people of God today need to be careful what they find attractive. John's injunction (3) reminds us that it is still God's will that His people today maintain their separation from the world, and Paul commands us to "have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness" (4). If "the LORD was angry with His people and abhorred His inheritance" (106:40) in those days, what will His attitude be to us now?

God's Work On Their Behalf (78:54-55; 105:44):

It is a sobering thought that, within a generation from the time of Joshua's death and the elders who were his contemporaries, an Israelite in the promised land would have been able to survey a society very different from what God intended (5). He would have seen a society sunk in corruption, ravaged by the sword (78:62), distressed (106:44), intimidated by their foes (106:41) to such an extent that normal social life almost ceased in Israel (78:63). They were obsessed with high places (78:57) and the custom of the nations (106:35), hamstrung by their rebellion (78:56) and defection, spiritually bewildered, ensnared by the idols they worshipped (106:36). Worst of all, they were defiled by the totality of their evil actions (106:33) and as a consequence rejected by the God who had "brought out His people with rejoicing" (105:43) and had made them heir to the lands, houses and similar assets of others.

No blame for this pitiful state of spiritual bankruptcy could be charged to Israel's God. Every circumstance had been provided for, and they entered the land armed with a wealth of experiences to sustain them and promises to take hold of. In shepherd-like terms God is described as bringing them to the land and allocating them the pleasant places, driving the enemy away. Settled in towns they had not built, and living in houses they had not had to work for, they were indeed a privileged people. The Psalmist realized that the land was not simply a convenient place to settle but that it was their inheritance, something given to them by their God to keep and treasure and which was intended to bring them great blessing.

A Lesson Not Learned (106:40-43):

"Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD" (6). That repeated

lament of Israel's sin from the book of Judges contrasts with "Many times He delivered them" of Psalm 106. "The period was a pendulum of punishment and reprieve" (7) testifying to the folly of the people and the greatness of the love and mercy of their God. It is good that we have a merciful God, but bad if we take advantage of such kindness. "Shall we go on sinning", asks Paul, "so that grace may increase? By no means!" (8). Unlike the Israelites who "were bent on rebellion" (106:43) we must make it our aim to be "holy and pleasing to God" (9). But what was it they were doing? Simply trying their best to fit in and be like all the other nations! And this was the very thing that was forbidden to them! Unfair? Rather it was for their spiritual health as well as God's honour. One author puts it like this: Yahweh knew that copying the ways of the nations would disfigure His people's worship and lifestyle. It would blunt their effectiveness as His instrument in history. And it would change their nature. By becoming like the nations, His people would no longer be like Him. They would have lost their holiness (10). This applies equally to the people of God today and we must strive against it. This will surely cost us something in time and effort, simply reading about it will not do!

A God who Takes Notice (78:65-67; 106: 44-48):

Although judgement follows disobedience God is never indifferent to His people's distress. In Psalm 78 the analogy is with a man awakening from sleep or from intoxication and exercising his strength once again. Perhaps that's how it looked from the human perspective. Psalm 106 looks at it from God's side: He took note; He heard; He remembered; He relented! Crying to God coupled with true repentance brings divine power to His people. We should never be slow to confess our failings and ask for forgiveness, nor should we be reluctant to cry out to the God who is able to deliver us when we are in trouble.

A Spiritual Peak (78:68-72; 133:1-3)

Reality constrains the Psalmist to confess "We have sinned" (106:6) and to relate the sad history of Israel's failure. Yet there is cause for rejoicing and praise. Psalm 78 concludes on a high note: God's purposes are not frustrated by anything His people do. God is sovereign and remains in control. He rejects and He chooses. Judah becomes the honoured tribe into whose territory the ark was entrusted after its return from the Philistines, and where in Jerusalem "Mount Zion which He loved" (78:68) was situated and from where David ruled as a man after God's own heart (11), bringing Israel to a spiritual peak not to be repeated until our Lord Jesus comes to reign.

That united kingdom over which David ruled was to be a "good and pleasant" place to dwell in. The people were to enjoy the fellowship described by David in Psalm 133. Unity is precious to God because it is a witness to the character of God. Unity is seen in the people coming to God on His terms and in obedience. Like the consecrating oil that flowed down from the head of the High Priest consecrating him entirely or the mountain dew that makes the whole of Hermon fruitful, so is unity based on allegiance to the Lord and it produces the conditions where the Lord can bestow blessing.

Obligations and Privileges (78, 105, 106):

Psalm 78 opens with an invitation to pay attention to God's law, emphasizing the importance of teaching or doctrine to the people of God. As the historical review clearly shows, it is not good enough to be in the land and numbered among God's people if no attention is paid to the detailed directions for daily life or to the divine demarcation between acceptable and

unacceptable behaviour. It also stresses the obligation to pass these truths on to subsequent generations together with "the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, His power, and the wonders He has done" (78:4).

In Psalm 105 it is the nations outside of Israel who are to be told about the greatness of God, a vision of outreach, while the people of God, in an attitude of worship, sing praises, glory in His name and rejoice. We should examine ourselves today: how effectively are we telling the peoples about our great God? How eager are we to sing praises and rejoice? It is a Psalm which overlooks the failure and rebellion and reminds us of how God sees us in Christ. By way of contrast Psalm 106 does go into such detail yet its climax testifies to the value in returning to the Lord and to His willingness to respond to our cries of "Save us" (106:47).

The people responded with an "Amen". Sadly such spiritual appreciation so often seemed to be short-lived. By the time many generations had passed and the Lord Himself walked among His people, their own traditions had taken precedence over God's law and those outside of themselves were regarded with disdain (12).

It is a solemn lesson to the people of God at the end of the twentieth century.

All references are from the New International Version

1. Genesis 17:8.

2. Old Testament Times IVP.

3. 1 John 2:15-17.

4. Ephesians 5:11.

5. See Judges 3:7-14.

6. See Judges 3:12, 6:1, etc.

7. L.C. Allen The Psalms The International Bible Commentary.

8. Romans 6:1.

9. Romans 12:1.

10. Alan Kreider Journey Towards Holiness Marshall Pickering.