Lessons of the Past - 240110

SPEAKER A Hello. I'm Rod Butler. Welcome to let God speak. Many people have been quoted over the years saying variations of the following. If you do not learn from the past, you will be condemned or doomed to repeat it. So how do we learn from our past? Well, it starts with knowing our history and remembering it. Today, we're going to look at five psalms that record parts of Israel history and what we learned from them. On our panel today, we are joined by Hana Nakagawa and Steven Groom. Welcome, Hana. Welcome, Steven. SPEAKER B Hello. SPEAKER A Before we start our discussion, let's bow for prayer. Gracious father, as we discuss these five historical psalms, we ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom. For us, and also for our viewers, we ask in Jesus name, amen. SPEAKER C Amen. SPEAKER A Well, we usually have this preconceived idea that history should only be written in prose. In most societies today, poetry is reserved for the expression of emotions and is not considered a suitable domain for historians. It is an interesting feature of the scriptures that historical events are often narrated in the form of poetry as well as in prose. So, Steven, how do we know that the poetic parts of the Bible are historically accurate? SPEAKER B Yeah, good question. Well, a good example is in Exodus, chapter 14 and 15. Chapter 14 is in prose, and chapter 15 is in poetry or in song. And just looking at the events in chapter 14, it's written in historical narrative. So the author is telling us the events of the children of Israel as they left Egypt, heading towards the promised land of Canaan. And we read about such amazing things as God following them in the sky as a pillar of fire by night to protect them from the snakes and whatever, and then by a cloud during the day to protect them from the sun. And we also see the event of the parting of the Red Sea, where the children of Israel went through the Red Sea. And this saved Israel from the enemies of the Egyptians, who followed after to capture the Israelites. But what was salvation for the Israelites became destruction for the enemies of God because God then closed the sea and then the people were destroyed. To answer your question, how do we know that these are historically accurate? Well, recently, divers have found the remnants of these chariots, actually in the bottom of the Red Sea, where they crossed over. SPEAKER A So we have Exodus 14 and 1515 being in poetry. SPEAKER D Yeah. SPEAKER B And then refers to the same events in chapter 15. It begins, then sang Moses and the church of Israel, this song unto the Lord. So chapter 15 is praises of this salvation event that God did for them, written out in song, which has to be poetic so that it rhymes. But sometimes the rhyme is lost. In the translation. So in Hebrew would be more accurately poetic, right? SPEAKER A Well, many of the psalms are actually called salvation psalms, history psalms, or just historical psalms. So, Hana, apart from describing the history, how could we apply these for us today? Why are they important for us today? SPEAKER C Yes. So those who accepted Jesus as our saviour, Lord and saviour, will become daughters and sons of God. So it's not just like a story that we read and cannot relate. We can actually relate to them. Actually. Galatians, chapter four, verse, verse six and seven. It says that, and because you are sons, God had sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts, crying out, Abba, Father, therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son. And if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. So we are daughters and sons of God. And so know when we see God's faithfulness to Israel, we can relate to them that, wow. Even though we may not be faithful, but God has been so faithful to them, that means he will be faithful to us today as well. SPEAKER D Amen. SPEAKER A So, Steven, the Israelites were to learn their history. How were they to teach their next generation the history? SPEAKER B That was good. So Israel was to teach it to their children regularly in regular events and also all the festivals of the temple services was a repetition of what God had done for them. To answer that question further, I'd like to go to the book of Deuteronomy and chapter six and verses five, six and seven. And it says there that and these words which I command you this day shall be in your heart and you shall teach them, that's your children, diligently unto your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. So here we see that you have to repeat the works of the Lord to your children very regularly, don't you? SPEAKER A So teaching the history was part of their lifestyle, every aspect of their life. They were to teach their children what God has done in the past. SPEAKER B And this would keep you in the straight and narrow, wouldn't it? SPEAKER A It would indeed. Well, let's look at some of these historical psalms. Let's start with psalm 78. I'm just going to read verse three to four. So, psalm 78, verse three to four, it says, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us we will not hide them from the children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord and his strength and his wonderful works he hath done. So how comprehensive was to be their recording of history? Hana? SPEAKER C Yes. So they were to teach their children both good things and bad things as well. If we read verse eight in the same chapter, it says, and may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart all right. And fool's spirit was not faithful to God. Obviously, it was describing those generation. Their heart was stubborn and rebellious. That's not a good example. But they were teaching the later generation not to be that, not to follow that example and teaching not to repeat the same mistakes. SPEAKER B So it was like a warning. SPEAKER C Yes, exactly. SPEAKER D Yes, indeed. SPEAKER A So, Steven, this psalm, psalm 78. What's the historical period we're talking about here? SPEAKER B The period there goes for about approximately 450 years. It starts in the exodus from Egypt in verses nine to 54, then their settlement in Canaan from verses 54 to 64. And finally down to the time of King David in verses 65 to 72. In this period of the exodus, they saw powerful miracles from the Lord, such as the parting of the Red Sea. We looked at before God reigning manna from heaven, and the water coming out of the rock when Moses struck it. And God leading Israel by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. So it's a very comprehensive psalm there, isn't it? SPEAKER D Yeah. SPEAKER A Dealing with the exodus, God's great deliverance. So, Hana, when you read this psalm, and we obviously don't have time to read it fully now, but when you read this psalm, what impressions do you have of the Israelites? SPEAKER C Well, reading psalms or their story, we can wonder how they can be so stubborn, how can they be so rebellious to God? But also we can be like that. We can have that kind of same stubbornness. But the encouraging thing is that even though they were not faithful, God is so faithful. As we read in verse 38 and 39, it says that. 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 stare up all his wrath. For he remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again. And this is so important that God's faithfulness, his compassion, was there for them and for us to remember and not forget his miracle in the past. And it will encourage us to be faithful to God as well. SPEAKER A Yes, because when you think about this, every single day they could see evidence of God, couldn't they? They saw the pillar of fire at night, the pillar of cloud by day, the manor from heaven every day and twice, miracle after miracle every single day. And yet they still rebel. SPEAKER B But aren't we the same? In some ways we see the miracles of God in our own personal life. SPEAKER A Well, there's the lesson for us, isn't it? SPEAKER B Yes. SPEAKER A Not to be the same. Well, let's move on to another psalm. SPEAKER D Now. SPEAKER A Let's move on to psalm 105. Now, this covers a period about 500 years. So, Steven, of that period, what historical events we covering in this psalm. SPEAKER B The worshippers, it states that the Lord had remembered his covenant forever. So because of this verse eight, verse eight says that he has remembered his covenant forever. So the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. So not only God remembered his covenant and he keeps saying that in this psalm, but we are to remember the covenant as well. So there's two sides of it, the contract. So we have to be faithful to God as well in verse seven, verse nine. Verse nine, yeah. It says, his covenant he made with Abraham and his oath to Isaac, and he confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law to Israel for an everlasting covenant forever. So it was fulfilled not just to literal Israel, but to spiritual Israel as well. So that makes it important for us. Yes. So today we must remember that God is the sovereign of all the earth and we are not exclusive of that covenant. God loves all people and invites us to join him in it. And it's not restrictive, but it's actually a blessing to behold that covenant and be a part of it. SPEAKER D Yes. SPEAKER A So, Hana, when you look at psalm 105 and the poetic sort of language here, and you contrast that to psalm 78, 78, what are the differences we see here? SPEAKER C It's very interesting, actually. History is kind of like retold in psalms 105 here. And it is through the lives of Israel's greatest patriarchs here. And it shows God's faithful providential leading and also their patriarchs patient endurance to hardship as well. So actually here they were loyal, they had a perseverance to God and they were richly rewarded. And both psalm 105 and 78 highlights God's faithfulness to his children, both good things. But unlike 78, psalm 105 does not mention the people's past mistake. SPEAKER A Yeah, psalm 105 is almost like it's just focusing on the good stuff. SPEAKER C Yeah, that's right. SPEAKER A And putting aside the bad, that would. SPEAKER B Be good if God did that to us, wouldn't it? SPEAKER A Well, let me just read two verses. This is psalm 105, verse five and seven. It says, remember his marvellous works that he hath done his wonders and the judgments of his mouth. O ye seed of Abraham, his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen. He is the Lord our God his judgments are in all the earth. So what is the significance here, Steven, of addressing this psalm to the seed of Abraham? SPEAKER B It seems that the worshippers are a fulfilment of God's promise to Abraham and his seed that God will make of them a great nation. And so this is not just literal but spiritual. So all of us, in verse seven, it says that his judgments are in all the earth, which reminds us that our God is also the sovereign Lord of the whole world. And so his lovingkindness extends to the whole earth as well. It is a call of faithfulness to every generation of believers. So God's sovereignty is to all people, for all generations. It's not just to the literal children of Israel, which some denominations teach. SPEAKER D Yeah. SPEAKER A Okay, well, look, let's move on. Psalm 105 ends with the Israelites going into Canaan, and then we move on to psalm 106, which sort of picks up the history from them being in Canaan and then moving into the wilderness and finally into the promised land and into the period of the judges. So looking at psalm 106, Hana, this is a question for you. Psalm 106, what are the high points of this psalm 106? SPEAKER C Yes, let me read psalms 106 and we will read one to five. It says, praise the Lord or give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? Who can declare all his praise? Bless are those who keep justice and he who does righteousness at all time. Remember me, o Lord, with the favour you have toward your people. Oh, visit me with your salvation, that I may see the benefit of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance. This is a powerful verses. And it's not just like wishing something or thinking of just wish. It's more like the claiming the promises and having the assurance because they have this faith of because God has already delivered us in the past, he will do it again. So this verse is more of claiming the promises and relying on the promises of God. SPEAKER A And how important is that for us today to claim those promises? Because we've got turbulent times in our world, we've got to claim those promises that God will look after us, he will care for us. SPEAKER B And I think it's also important to see the rebellion of Israel and compare it to ourselves and to warn ourselves that we don't follow in the same attitude. SPEAKER A Yes, well, look, looking at this, psalm 106, apart from being a different historical period because it follows on from 105, how is it different to psalm 105, Steve. SPEAKER B The difference is striking. Actually. Psalm 105 does not mention the unfaithfulness of the people. However, psalm 106 does like psalm 78, which tells you about the grumbling of the Israelites when they grumbled for the food back in Egypt. It shows how chronic Israel's disloyalty and lack of faith was. And the awful consequences suffered as a result of their sin. And because of this, I'd just like to read what happened to them as a warning to us. If we go to verse 40 to 42. It says, therefore, because of their grumbling. Was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people. Inasmuch that he abhored his own inheritance. And he gave them into the hand of the heathens. And they that hated them ruled over them. Their enemies also oppressed them. And they were brought into subjection under their hand. It'd be well for us to remember what happened to them. To see what might happen to us if we follow the same way. SPEAKER D Yes. SPEAKER A Just following on that, Steven, if I read verse 13, verse 13 said they soon forgot his works. They waited not for his counsel. Okay, so that's the mistake. They didn't wait for his counsel. And I guess, from my perspective, is it easy for us today? Where do we get our counsel from? SPEAKER B From the word of God. SPEAKER A From the word of God. So is it easy for us today to forget our counsel? SPEAKER B Yeah. And this is speaking in general, really. But we've got very specific counsels, don't we, in the word of God that we're not looking at today in every areas of our life? SPEAKER D Yeah. SPEAKER A Correct. What do you think, Hana? Is it easy for us to forget? SPEAKER C I guess, yeah. I really think so. Yes. Actually, Luke 21, verse 34, it says that, watch out. Don't let your heart be doed by corrosing and drunkenness. And by the worries of this life. Don't let that day catch you unaware. And he also, Jesus continued in the same book, Luke, chapter eight, verse 14. Talking about the parable of Soa. He says this now, the ones that fell among stones are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches and pleasures of life. And bring no fruit to maturity. So even though we hear the word of God, Jesus is saying that those seed fell among the thorns. And the cares of the world. The riches or pleasure of the world kind of choked the world. So it is quite possible that because of the love for the world can just distract us from. SPEAKER A So we may know the promises are there, but because of all that's going on in our life. It takes us away from focusing on the word of God. We forget. SPEAKER B And the world is an idiom in the Bible for Satan's kingdom. And Satan likes to sugarcoat sin, doesn't he? And make it look attractive. But the Bible tells us the end of following the world is death, isn't it? SPEAKER A Let's move on to our next psalm, which is psalm 80. Now, this takes a different historical approach. It was written at a time of great national distress. So, Steven, how does this psalm portray Israel in its history? SPEAKER B Yes, a very figurative language. It says that Israel is portrayed as a vine coming out of Egypt, which he placed in the promised land of abundance. The image of a vineyard conveys God's election of Israel and how much he cares for them. He created it. They did nothing to inherit this or to make these vineyards. God just placed them in this very abundant place. But because of Israel's disobedience, God's vineyard is under his wrath. This metaphor of the vine we can also see in Isaiah, chapter five, verses one to five, and also Jeremiah. And I'd like to turn there if I can. Jeremiah, chapter two, verse 21. And it says, yet I have planted you a noble vine, wholly a right seed. How then are you turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine to me? So the growing of this vine as a vine grows rather quickly demonstrates how well it grows. Does it grow the way that the Lord says we should grow, or does it grow rebelliously like he is saying. SPEAKER A That Israel went and Jesus focused on that parable he did of the vine, didn't he? I'm the vine, you are the branches. We've got to be connected to the vine all times or we bring forth. SPEAKER B Wild fruit, don't we? SPEAKER A Correct? SPEAKER D Yeah. SPEAKER A So this psalm has a sort of a negative overtone. But, Hana, how can we derive hope from this psalm? SPEAKER C Yes, if we focus on verse 3719, we will see the very similar language in these verses. It says, turn us again, o God, and cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved. So God's action in the past is the assurance that he would also save us. He will save us from the trouble today and tomorrow in the future as well. And that is amazing thing that we can remember what he has done so that he will do it again. And God is faithful, that he's faithful to his promises. He is not like us. He's not like us in a way that we break the promises or covenant he has promised. He has given us the covenant to his people to give them the promised land as well. And he's always ready to show his mercy to us and our children, even though we may make mistakes as well. So we should always remember his love for us and to our church. SPEAKER A It comes through all these historical psalms, God's faithfulness and love and grace and mercy and forgiveness, doesn't it? All the way through. Okay, well, let's turn to our last psalm, psalm 135. And of this psalm, Steven, just talk us through what are the historical events that are covered in psalm 135. SPEAKER B Yes, in verses five to seven, the psalmist praises God for his goodness and faithfulness demonstrated in creation. And I just like to look at some wording there. He says, for I know that the Lord is great and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatsoever the Lord pleased that he did in heavens and in earth, in that he caused the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth. So, yeah, speaking of creation, in verses eight and nine, he portrays Israel's salvation history in the time of the exodus. And I'll just read that. Who smote the firstborn. Speaking of God of Egypt, both of man and beast. And he sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh and upon all his servants. And then from verses ten to twelve, the psalmist praises God in conquering the nations and killing the mighty kings in Canaan who fought against Israel. I'll read that one. SPEAKER A Well, just on that, Steven, I just want to throw another question your way then, because I want to go back to the full circle, back to the introduction. If we don't learn from the past, we'll be condemned or doomed to repeat it. So from these historical psalms, what's the takeaway that we can take for ourselves today and apply for ourselves today? SPEAKER B Okay, so one, that God is a personal God, isn't he? He's not some being in the past only. He is intimately involved in the affairs of human beings in all our lives. Our happiness and joy comes from loving God. In Malachi three, both in Old and New Testament. Malachi three, six, I am the Lord, and that word is Yahweh. I change not. He does not change. The way he treated Israel in the past is how he treats us. Hebrews 13 eight. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever. God does not change. He does the same for his people today. We can claim the promises in the Bible. He is faithful, and it's our privilege to see his deeds in our daily lives. SPEAKER A That's the key point, isn't it? God doesn't change. SPEAKER D Yes. SPEAKER A So all the things we've seen God do in the past. We can take to the bank that God's going to be doing it in the future. If we claim those promises and if. SPEAKER B We are right towards God, he will be good to us as well. SPEAKER D Yeah. SPEAKER A What are your thoughts, Hana? SPEAKER C Yes, in verse six it says, whatever the Lord please, he does in heaven and earth, in the sea and in all deep places. He's sovereign God, he's in control. Everything in the world. That's a lot of things happening and there may be a time that we think, why? But God is in control. His way is higher than our way. So, yeah, I believe that we can trust God fully, even when we do not understand. SPEAKER A Hana, I just want to flick back to psalm 135 again and just got a question there from psalm 135. What can we draw from the psalmist from that psalm? SPEAKER D What are your thoughts there? SPEAKER C Yes, there are a lot of things to cover, but. Well, firstly, in verse four, it says that the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his special treasure. There's nothing good about Israel itself, but because of God's grace and his goodness, Israel was chosen. And yeah, it really shows us his God's greatness compared to nothingness of all the idols. So we can fully trust, put our trust in God. SPEAKER D Yeah. SPEAKER A Thank you. Look, that's all we have time for. Thank you, Hana. Thank you, Steven, for your insights and discussion today. Look, the psalms are songs and poetry, yet are legitimate forms of expression that record historical events of God's people. The Bible writers, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, recorded the good and the bad things. Today we can read the psalms and see how God delivered his people and we too can be confident that he will deliver us. Why not put your faith and trust in God today? We're glad you joined us today on let God speak. If you are blessed by this programme, tell your friends and tune in again. And remember, all past programmes plus teachers notes are available on our website, 3abnaustralia.org.au. Email us on lgs at 3abnaustralia.org.au. Join us again next time and God bless. SPEAKER C You. You have been listening to let God speak, a production of 3ABN Australia television. To catch up on past programmes, please visit 3abnaustralia.org.au. Call us in Australia on 02 4973 3456. Or email [email protected]. we'd love to hear from.