ASAPH'S PSALMS - Part 1
There are many things we know about Asaph, the Psalm writer, that we can glean from scripture. He was David's musical director and he wrote Psalm 50 and Psalms 73-83. He was also a Levite, brought up in a God fearing and God serving family, a home of faith.
"And the Levites who were musicians - Asaph, Heman, Jeduthan, and all their sons and brothers - were dressed in fine linen robes and stood at he east side of the altar playing the cymbals, harps and lyres..... they raised their voices and praises the Lord with these words: "He is so good! His faithful love endures forever!" 2 Chronicles 5:12&13
He was at David's side through all his failures and tribulations. After the death of David he becamed disillusioned with the new king, David's son Solomon.
"Solomon built shrines for all his foreign wives for use for burning incense and sacrificing to their gods. The Lord was angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to Him twice." 1 Chronicles 11:8&9
In the later part of his life, Asaph witnessed the division of Jerusalem, it's destruction by the Egyptians and the death of his God fearing family who served in the temple, including the assassination of his brother Zechariah. *1 (1 Kings 12:2; 2 Chronicles 10,12).
"You will become guilty of murdering all the godly people from righteous Abel to Zechariah, son of Barachiah, whom you murdered in the temple, between the altar and the sanctuary."
Matthew 23:35
Yet, as his psalms show us, Asaph's early upbringing and the hope He had in God as His `strong tower', kept him looking forward to the coming Messiah.
"But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honours Me. If you keep to My path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God." Psalm 50:23
Although Asaph's psalms are filled with predictions of destruction and devastation, which he ultimately saw in his lifetime; they are also filled with thanksgiving and promises of God's mercy and salvation.
These are promises that we too can cling to, if we like Asaph, become disillusioned. Best of all, we don't have to wait, for this mercy and salvation is available to us today. The Messiah has come - He died, He rose, and we can have a relationship with Him. What a fulfilment of HOPE!!
"You can be happy, so very happy, if you have Jesus living in your heart.
You can be happy, so very happy, right now you only have to start.
He's standing here, He's reaching out, all you must do is take that step of faith.
He'll take your hand, He'll hold you to Him, and you'll be as happy as can be." *2
1. Wikepedia - Psalms of Asaph.
2. 3rd Verse, `I'm Happy' - `In the Palms of His Hands' (1990) Ruth Cheater.
"And the Levites who were musicians - Asaph, Heman, Jeduthan, and all their sons and brothers - were dressed in fine linen robes and stood at he east side of the altar playing the cymbals, harps and lyres..... they raised their voices and praises the Lord with these words: "He is so good! His faithful love endures forever!" 2 Chronicles 5:12&13
He was at David's side through all his failures and tribulations. After the death of David he becamed disillusioned with the new king, David's son Solomon.
"Solomon built shrines for all his foreign wives for use for burning incense and sacrificing to their gods. The Lord was angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to Him twice." 1 Chronicles 11:8&9
In the later part of his life, Asaph witnessed the division of Jerusalem, it's destruction by the Egyptians and the death of his God fearing family who served in the temple, including the assassination of his brother Zechariah. *1 (1 Kings 12:2; 2 Chronicles 10,12).
"You will become guilty of murdering all the godly people from righteous Abel to Zechariah, son of Barachiah, whom you murdered in the temple, between the altar and the sanctuary."
Matthew 23:35
Yet, as his psalms show us, Asaph's early upbringing and the hope He had in God as His `strong tower', kept him looking forward to the coming Messiah.
"But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honours Me. If you keep to My path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God." Psalm 50:23
Although Asaph's psalms are filled with predictions of destruction and devastation, which he ultimately saw in his lifetime; they are also filled with thanksgiving and promises of God's mercy and salvation.
These are promises that we too can cling to, if we like Asaph, become disillusioned. Best of all, we don't have to wait, for this mercy and salvation is available to us today. The Messiah has come - He died, He rose, and we can have a relationship with Him. What a fulfilment of HOPE!!
"You can be happy, so very happy, if you have Jesus living in your heart.
You can be happy, so very happy, right now you only have to start.
He's standing here, He's reaching out, all you must do is take that step of faith.
He'll take your hand, He'll hold you to Him, and you'll be as happy as can be." *2
1. Wikepedia - Psalms of Asaph.
2. 3rd Verse, `I'm Happy' - `In the Palms of His Hands' (1990) Ruth Cheater.
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