Psalms 78:26

Psalms 78:26 says. He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. Verse twenty-seven adds, He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: Asaph said God brought quail from the south and the east to provide meat for the complaining Israelites.  Though the manna would have sustained them, God provided them with more to eat when they complained, though doing so was not something He had to do.  God may bless us with more than we need, but He certainly doesn't have to, and we certainly shouldn't complain if He doesn't.  Verse twenty-eight continues, And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.  Verse twenty-nine concludes, So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;  The people of Israel didn't even have to hunt the quail, but God dropped thin their midst.  They ate and were filled, because God gave them their own desire.  Though God may bless us with an overabundance in life today, if it is done out of our not being satisfied with what He provides, then I believe that shows a lack of faith.  Verse thirty declares, They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,  The quail were provided because of the lust of the people that they would not give up, then came a but.  Verse thirty-one adds, The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.  While they were still eating, God killed the fattest of the people of Israel and the chosen men of Israel. This was the but caused by their lack of simple obedience to God.  Those that could still not be satisfied with simply what they needed died.  When we make demands on God as followers of Christ for more than He provides to meet our needs, we may be putting ourselves in danger of losing His protection.  God never expects us to be lustful, greedy people.  Verse thirty-two continues, For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.  Even after all that God blessed them with, they still sinned and didn't believe in His wonderous works.  As Christians, we should never fail to believe in the wonderous works of God.  Verse thirty-three states, Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.  Because of the lack of faith by the people of Israel, their days were lived in vanity and trouble.  They wandered in the wilderness until they died.  If we fail to truly put our faith in God as followers of Christ, we may end up wandering in a spiritual wilderness.  Verse thirty-four adds, When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God.  After the generation that lacked faith died, the people of Israel turned to God once more and inquired early after Him.  God always stands ready to receive those who seek Him.  Verse thirty-five continues, And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.  If we allow the lusts of our hearts to cause us to end up in a spiritual wilderness, we need to do as the people of Israel did in that day and remember that God is our Rock and our Redeemer.  Verse thirty-six declares, Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.  Verse thirty-seven adds, For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.  Asaph said that even as the people sought after God, that they lied about believing in Him because their hearts were not right and they were not stedfast in their covenant.  Simply saying the right words does not make us a Christian, if we are not sincere in our faith.  Verse thirty-eight continues, But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.  Because of God's compassion, He did not destroy the rest of the people of Israel.  Because of God's compassion today, He does not just destroy sinners without calling them to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.  It is the choice of each individual whether to accept His salvation or not.  Verse thirty-nine concludes, For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.  Asaph said that God remembered that the life of people was as short as a wind that passes and cannot come again.   God doesn't have to destroy us, because we will one day die anyway.  The question is whether we will die with everlasting salvation through faith in Jesus Christ or not.  We only have this one life to decide which. 

Psalms 78:12

Psalms 78:12 says, Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.  Asaph reminded the people of Israel of the great things that God did when He brought them out of Egypt.  As Christians, we need to always remember what God did when He delivered us from the death penalty of sin by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place and all that He has done for us since we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse thirteen adds, He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.  God first provided for the people of Israel a way out of Egypt through the parted sea. God first provides for us a way of escape from sin through faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse fourteen states, In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.  After God delivered the people of Israel out of Egypt, He continued to lead them day and night, just as we should allow Him to lead us day and night as followers of Christ.  Verse fifteen adds, He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.  Asaph said that God gave them water out of the rocks to drink.  We have something even greater today, and that is the Living Water that quenches our spiritual thirst.  Verse sixteen continues, He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.  This continues to speak of the abundance of water that God provided for them, and God still provides abundantly for His people today.  Verse seventeen declares, And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. Asaph reminded them that even though God had delivered them and provided them with miraculously with water to drink, they sinned against God.  Even though as followers of Christ God has delivered us from the penalty of sin and provides us with living water to drink, we still too often sin against Him by our lackof attires times.  Verse eighteen adds, And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.  Asaph said that they tempted God by not being satisfied with what He provided, but by instead asking for the meat that they lusted for.  If we begin to see God as existing to provide us with all that we lust after, then we are tempting God.  Verse nineteen continues, Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?  Even after all of God's mighty works in delivering them, the people of Israel still questioned His power.  We need to be careful that we do not confuse not getting what we want as Christians with a lack of power on God's part.  There is never a reason to question the power of God.  Verse twenty asks, Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?  This was just a continuation of the questioning of how powerful God was.  The God Who provided us with salvation can indeed meet our daily needs, though He may not provide for our desires.  Verse twenty-one says, Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;  Asaph said when God heard the people griping and questioning His power that He was angry with them.  As followers of Christ, if we begin to question God's power, we should not be surprised that He becomes angry with us.  His anger is justified because of our lack of faith as Christians.  Verse twenty-two adds, Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:  Asaph said that God was angry with the people of Israel, who were supposed to be His people, because they didn't believe in Him or trust His salvation.  We cannot question God's existence and His provision of salvation and be a follower of Christ.  We must always put our faith in God, no matter what, and cannot allow the circumstances of life to cause us to question Him.  Verse twenty-three states, Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,  Verse twenty-four adds, And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.  Asaph said that the people of Israel questioned God's ability to provide for them even though He had rained down bread from heaven, because they lusted for more.  We too often are not satisfied with what God provides, so we become guilty of sin by lusting after more.  Verse twenty-five continues, Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.  Asaph said that the bread sent from heaven was angel's food and was enough to fill them.  God provides the Living Bread from heaven to satisfy our spiritual hunger today, and it will always be enough to fill us. 

Psalms 78:1

Psalms 78:1 says, Maschil of Asaph. This is another psalm of Asaph, and Matthew Henry says it is a historical psalm, a maschil or psalm of instruction, of the great mercies of God to Israel, their great sins against Him, and His displeasure with their sins.  Verse one then says, Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. Asaph demanded their attention, and we need to first get people's attention when we share the gospel today.  Verse two adds, I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:  Matthew Henry said that dark sayings were those that might be hard to understand but were well worth considering.  God's laws are often hard for people to understand, especially the way Christians are supposed to treat others and their view of material things, but they are all well worth considering, since the bring everlasting life.  Verse three continues, Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.  Asaph said that what he was going to say to them they had heard from their fathers.  We have a responsibility to share the gospel  with our children if we are followers of Christ.  Verse four states, We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.  As Asaph said then, we cannot hide the wonderful works of God from our children and must praise Him for His great strength and mercy.   Verse five adds, 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:  Asaph said that God established a testimony with Jacob and appointed a law to Israel which He told the people to continually make known to their children.  We as Christians cannot neglect to share the gospel with our children, because if we don't share it, then no one will.  Verse six continues, That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:  As this verse states, we must share God's word so that generation after generation will know it.  Verse seven says, That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:  Asaph said that the purpose of sharing God's teachings was so that the future generations would put their faith in God and not forget His works and keep His commandments.  As followers of Christ, we cannot allow future generations to forget the work of Christ when He died on the cross, nor God's laws that should govern those who put their faith in Him.  Verse eight adds, And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.  Asaph said that this was so that the coming generations would not be stubborn and rebellious as their fathers had been.  Our salvation is not based on who our parents are, and even if they refuse to put their faith in God, we still need to hear and accept the gospel of Christ so that we will not be like them.  Verse nine states, The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.  Verse ten adds, They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;  Asaph gave the example of the children of Ephraim, who even though they were armed turned back in battle because they forgot their covenant with God and refused to live by His law.  As Christians, we should never lose our faith and allow the world to defeat us.  As long as we live under the leadership of the Holy Spirit we never will be.  Verse eleven continues, And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.  We as followers of Christ must never forget the works and wonders of God. 

Psalms 77:11

Psalms 77:11 says, I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.  Asaph said he would remember God's works of old, and we should never forget what God has done for us in the past, especially when He sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins.  Of course, we should also acknowledge everything that God does for us each day.  Verse twelve adds, I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.  We should also meditate on all of God's work and tell people about what He has done and is doing in our life and in the world as a whole.  Verse thirteen continues, Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?  I believe that today if we say God's way is in the sanctuary that it is the sanctuary of the heart of those who put their faith in Jesus Christ that we are talking about.  We can certainly ask the question of who is as great as God, and the answer is no one.  Verse fourteen states, Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.  Asaph said that God was the God Who did wonders and that He had declared His strength among the people.  God still does wonders today, the greatest of which is to provide salvation to every sinful person, which is everyone, who will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse fifteen adds, Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.  God has indeed redeemed His people, and today that includes everyone who puts their faith in Christ.  Verse sixteen says, The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.  Asaph then begins to speak of God's power in creation.   Verse seventeen adds, The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.  Asaph said God's power extended into the heavens, controlling the rain and thunder and lightning.  I don't believe that every storm is a direct result of God's action, but God can indeed control all the storms if He chooses to do so.  Verse eighteen continues, The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.  God does have the power to shake the earth with His voice.  The God Who spoke everything into existence can certainly shake His creation with His voice.  This is the power of the God we serve as Christians, the only God there is, so we should never be afraid of anything the world might throw at us.  Verse nineteen says, Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.  Though we can never know the footsteps of the heavenly Father, we can know the footsteps of Jesus Christ, and this is all the knowledge we need in order to attain salvation.  We will never know everything about God in this lifetime, and maybe in the everlasting life to come, but through our faith in Christ we can begin to understand God's ways.  Verse twenty adds, Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.  Just as God led His people by the hand of Moses and Aaron, He leads His people today by the Holy Spirit's guidance.   

Psalms 77:1

Psalms 77:1 says,To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph.  This is identified as another psalm of Asaph, then verse one says, I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.  Asaph said he cried out loud unto God, and God heard him. As followers of Christ, God hears us whether we cry out loud to Him or whether we cry silently to Him.  Verse two adds, In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.  Asaph said he sought the Lord in his day of trouble, but since he was not immediately healed he would not be comforted.  Even if we do not immediately get the answer we seek from God, I believe that simply bringing our concerns to Him should bring us relief, because no matter what happens, He has given us everlasting salvation and victory.  Verse three continues, I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.  Asaph said he remembered God and was troubled and complained because his spirit was overwhelmed.  He evidently didn't see God for Who He really is, allowing his situation to be more powerful than God's love and grace.  We should always rest secure in God's grace and never allow the world to cause us to doubt or question Him.  Verse four states, Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.  Asaph then said that He had reached the point that when he woke that could not even speak because of his troubles.  We as Christians should never allow ourselves to get into this condition.  Our faith should always be stronger than our fears.  Verse five adds, I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.  Asaph said he remembered the times of old when God had blessed him, and this left him even more desolate.  We cannot be discouraged today because things were better in the past.  God is still God whether we are prospering or suffering in life.  Verse six says, I call to remembrance my song in the night: I  commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.  Asaph said he remembered when he sang praises to God in the night.  Verse seven asks, Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?  Asaph questioned whether God would ever be gracious to him again after some soul searching, when he questioned whether he had done something to deserve God's punishment and whether God had cast him off forever.   .  We don't need to question whether God has cast us off forever if we are followers of Christ, because He never will.  Still, if things are going badly in life we might need to do some soul searching to see if we have strayed away from God.  Verse eight adds, Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?  Asaph continued to question God's grace instead of putting his faith in God no matter what.  We should never allow our current situation if things are going badly to cause us to question whether God has abandoned us if we are Christians.  We have everlasting security through our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse nine continues, Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.  Asaph was still attempting to put the blame for his suffering on God.  Too many people today, who have put their faith in Jesus Christ, question God's love and mercy based on their current difficulties in life, and this should not be the case.  We should rest secure in His love and mercy.  Verse ten states, And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.  Asaph then finally said that he would remember the years of God's goodness to him.  We should never allow any current suffering to cause us to forget God's love for us in the past and the present.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are forever secure in our relationship with God, and we should never forget or question this fact.

Psalms 76:1

Psalms 76:1 says,To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. This is identified as a psalm of Asaph, then verse one says, In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.  Asaph says that God is known in Judah and His name is great in Israel.  Those were the people known as God's people, and today the people of the church are known as God's people and His name should be great among us.  Verse two adds, In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.  God's tabernacle and dwelling place were seen as being in Judah and Israel.  We know that God is not limited to any specific country or place though, but He lives in the hearts of His people wherever they are.  Verse three continues, There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.  Asaph then speaks of a great victory that God had given His people in battle, and God has already won the victory for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse four states, Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.  Asaph proclaimed God's superiority over the mountains of prey, those that saw themselves as all powerful and did not mind preying on those who were weaker.  Many people today see themselves as all powerful and prey on those who are physically or even financially weaker.  Verse five adds, The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.  Asaph said these people had faith in their strength and ability to defeat an opponent.  There are nations today that believe their military might gives them the ability to defeat anyone, and many not only don't worship God or even deny His existence or worship some other God.  Verse six continues, At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.  Asaph said that God was more powerful than these enemies though, and He still is today.  There is nothing that we as followers of Christ need to fear today.  Verse seven says, Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?  Asaph said God was to be feared when He stood against those who would destroy His people, and asked who could stand against His anger.  There never has been nor ever will be anyone or any group of people who can stand against God.   Verse eight adds, Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,  Asaph says that God's judgment came from heaven and the earth heard and was still.  When God speaks in judgment, as He one day will, all the earth will listen, even if too many people refuse to do so beforehand.  Verse nine continues, When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.  Asaph said that when God rose in judgment that He would save all the meek of the earth, those who humbly submitted to God's will instead of proudly declaring their own might.  Verse ten states, Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.  God does restrain the wrath of evil in the world, even when it seems like evil is winning.  Through faith in Jesus Christ, we as followers of Christ will always be victorious from the perspective of our everlasting life with God.  Verse eleven adds, Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.  Just as the people then were called on to worship and praise God, so must we today as Christians.  We are to give all that we are or have to God.   Verse twelve concludes, He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.  God was, is and always will be more powerful than anyone or any group of people.  We can rest easy in God's victory over evil in the world, no matter what happens in our life. 

Psalms 75:1

Psalms 75:1 says,To the chief Musician, Altaschith, A Psalm or Song of Asaph.  This is stated to be another psalm of Asaph, then verse one says, Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.  Matthew Henry says this probably applied to David, and was written by Asaph from as speech of David.  As followers of Christ, this should be our promise as well.  We should give thanks to God because of Who He is, and not because of what He can do for us.  Verse two adds, When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.  When the one the psalmist was writing about came to power, he promised to judge uprightly.  When people come into power today, especially Christians, we need to judge uprightly, or under the leadership of God.  Verse three continues, The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.  He also promised to restore the government to a righteous state.  Again, if we are in positions of leadership today, no matter what had been the standard before, we must work to restore righteousness to our place of leadership.  Verse four states, I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:  The psalmist warned the foolish, those who did not believe in or follow God to not deal foolishly with others and for the wicked to not to attempt to exert their power.  We need to be speaking out against those who do not follow God's laws today and attempt to exert their influence on others.  Verse five adds, Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.  This is a continuation of the warning to those who act foolishly or in wickedness.  We should also warn people of the danger of doing so today, even if they are stiff necked, or stubborn in their refusal to follow God's laws.  Verse six declares, For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.  Verse seven adds, But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.  The psalmist said that true power does not come from anywhere in the earth, but from God Himself.  Though someone may be placed in power by the people that they govern, true leadership comes only from those who put their faith in God.  Verse eight states, For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.  The psalmist then compares God's leadership to a cup of good wine versus a cup of dregs. Matthew Henry says this could point to the cup of Christ.  Either we choose to drink or it, or we drink from the dregs of wickedness.  Verse nine says, But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.  The psalmist said that he would declare the goodness of God forever and sing His praises.  So must we as followers of Christ.  Verse ten adds, All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.  The psalmist said that God would cut off the horns of the wicked, or remove their power, but He would exalt the righteous.  If not before, this will happen when Jesus Christ returns in judgment.