Tuesday, July 2 – Psalms 78, 1 Chronicles 6
1. What should each generation do with the law of the Lord, and for what purpose? (Psalms 78:5-8)
2. According to 1 Chronicles 6:49, what was the exclusive duty of the sons of Aaron?
Commentary and Reflection:
Regarding Psalm 78, the Adventist Bible Commentary states:
“Psalm 78 is the longest of the national hymns of Israel (see Ps. 105, 106). It surveys the history of Israel from Egypt down to the establishment of the kingdom under David. The psalmist appeals to the past with its recurring events, rebellion, and consequent suffering and punishment, for the purpose of warning Israel to be faithful to God in the present and in the future. The psalm is essentially didactic: it aims to instruct toward righteous living. As such, it does not follow the historical stream with chronological exactness.” (SDABC, Introduction to Psalm 78)
The Hebrew word “Maskil” is translated “with understanding”. In the heading of a psalm, it signifies that the psalm is dedicated to teaching.
Verses 5 to 8 speak of the legacy of the commandments of the Lord, which by mandate must be transmitted to each generation so that the subsequent generation may know them and know His works, incline their hearts toward Him, and have a spirit of obedience.
This psalm recounts the history of the people, their liberation, their conquests, as well as their rebellions and failures. It establishes the reasons why God’s judgments fell upon the people. It is surprising how this song recounts history for the people. We tend to keep silent about the negative passages of our history. Not so in Israel, nor the psalms. They sang the history of failures, aiming for later generations to learn from them. This level of transparency in narrations can also be helpful today for the church and families.
Verses 36 and 37 speak of the disconnect between the tongue and the heart. In times of distress, the people remembered that the Lord was their Redeemer, but even so, “they flattered Him with their mouths and lied to Him with their tongues.” The same may happen with us, that we sing or pray one thing and then do another. The tongue must be connected to the heart. The heart must be given to the Lord, and the evidence of this surrender is not only in words of praise but in obedience. Obedience is the fruit of a surrendered heart.
1 Chronicles 6 discusses the tribe of Levi, its genealogy, and its cities. When assigning the Levites to restore the Tabernacle services, David traced the genealogical line of those designated to Aaron and Levi to establish their right to lead in worship functions.
1 Chronicles 6:31-48 identifies the Levitical genealogical qualification of the choir directors, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan. It is safe to assume that besides having the correct genealogy, they were also good singers.
Verses 49 and 50 establish the Aaronic lineage of Ahimaaz, the High Priest in the times of David and Solomon.
The final verses review the distribution of the Levites throughout the territory of Israel. The Adventist Bible Commentary says, “T The Levites were divided in Israel, but in their division they became a bond of union, bringing the tribes of Israel together and joining all of them to their God. When not engaged in performing the religious duties which were apportioned among them, the Levites were the teachers of the young; the readers, transcribers, and expounders of the law; the annalists and chroniclers who preserved the memory of great events and distinguished personages. They were to bring religion into everyday life, mutually helping one another and their neighbors to realize the unseen, and to attain God’s standard.” (SDABC, Joshua 21:41)
May you have a very blessed day.
Pastor Abel Paulin