Bible Study with Fred # 501, Exodus 17: 1-7; the Hebrews complain

Psalm 35 comments on the text

 

Psalm 35:1 ¶  «A Psalm of David.» Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. 2  Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. 3  Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. 4  Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. 5  Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. 6  Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them. 7  For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. 8  Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall. 9  And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. 10  All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

 

In verse 2 a buckler is a small shield that you hold in your fist. It is used in combat both as a defense and a weapon as the boss, the center raised part that accommodates your fist, as well as the edges, can do considerable damage.

 

See David’s plea for deliverance speaking of the weapons of war of the time.

 

In verse 5 chaff is the husks of grain separated by winnowing and threshing that are blown away by the wind.

 

The angel of the LORD is God’s appearance whom I have stated repeatedly is the preincarnate Lord Jesus Christ.

 

David’s promise here is that He will praise God for His mighty deliverance. A good question, I think, is how we would adapt this prayer to our current circumstances and pray the Scriptures back to God.

 

Starting again in verse 1 let’s look at this part of what David says to King Saul;

 

1Samuel 24:12  The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 13  As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 14  After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. 15  The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.

 

And what is said in Psalm 9:4;

 

Psalm 9:4  For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.

 

Psalm 35:11 ¶  False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. 12  They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. 13  But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. 14  I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. 15  But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: 16  With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

 

As David complains of those who spoke lies against him in his conflict with Saul so did the Lord Jesus Christ have false witnesses against Him.

 

Psalms 27:12  Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

 

Matthew 26:60  But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, 61  And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. 62  And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

 

The martyr, Stephen, also had to face false witnesses;

 

Acts 6:8 ¶  And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 9  Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10  And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. 11  Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. 12  And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 13  And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: 14  For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. 15  And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

 

See also in verse 16 that this is the same type of reaction, this grinding of one’s teeth in fury, was done at Stephen’s speech.

 

Matthew 7:54 ¶  When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

 

According to commentators like John Gill no matter what was said about David in his conflict with Saul he proved that he had no intention of murdering the king. In addition, he was rewarded evil for the good he did for Saul and his kingdom. We saw David’s behavior in our study on the historical books that contain the story of his reign. And yet the people for whom he had done good works tried to spoil his soul, to separate it from his body, to kill him.

 

And yet, when those who made themselves his enemies were sick David humbled himself and prayed for them. As Christ kept Judas among His friends even though He knew Judas would betray Him and as Christ wept for Jerusalem and the Jews who would betray Him so David wept for his own enemies in this type of Christ.

 

Psalms 41:9  Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

 

Psalm 55:12  For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13  But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 14  We took sweet

counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

 

John 13:18 ¶  I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

 

Matthew 26:47 ¶  And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48  Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 49  And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 50  And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

 

Matthew 23:37  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

 

Luke 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

 

Sadly, the people that David did this for and the people that Christ came to save cared not for their suffering and turned on them as the wicked people they were.

 

Gnashing on someone with your teeth means to grind your teeth in fury and anger.

 

Psalm 35:17 ¶  Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. 18  I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. 19  Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. 20  For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land. 21  Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it. 22  This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me. 23  Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord. 24  Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. 25  Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up. 26  Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me. 27  Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. 28  And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

 

 

David starts out with a complaint and a query that is made elsewhere in Psalms. It is one that we might make. How long are you going to keep letting this go on?

 

Psalm 6:3  My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?

 

Psalm 13:1 ¶  «To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.» How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

 

Psalm 89:46  How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?

 

Psalm 94:3  LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?

 

Soul and darling are synonyms, for as John Gill put it, there is nothing more precious to a man or woman than their life, of which this is a reference to.

 

For verse 19 John 15:25;

 

John 15:25  But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

 

Saul hated David without a cause as the Jewish leadership of the time hated Christ for no justifiable reason.

 

David notes that God is righteous in verse 24 by appealing to His righteousness. If God had not delivered him Saul would have killed him but because He does deliver David, David will sing His praises. 

Bible Study with Fred # 500, Exodus 16:32-36; ate Manna for forty years

Bible Study with Fred # 499, Exodus 16:22-31; gathering the Manna

Bible Study with Fred # 498, Exodus 16:13-21; quails and manna

Bible Study with Fred # 497, Exodus 16:1-12; raining bread from heaven

1Samuel, chapter 13, comments

 1Samuel 13:1 ¶  Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, 2  Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. 3  And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. 4  And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal. 5  And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven. 6  When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. 7  And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

 

In the second year of Saul’s reign he goes to battle against a much superior force, the Philistines. They are said to have thirty thousand chariots at their disposal and six thousand horseman, a very large number which in the ancient world could include mercenaries. At this point I might go back to review what I’ve said previously about chariot warfare.

 

The chariot was a mobile fighting platform with a wooden box for the occupants that could deliver an armed fighter using spears or arrows quickly to a part of any battle although the vulnerability of its horses was a weakness as the infantry would have killed them first to render the chariot useless. The number of chariots an army fighting with very expensive bronze technology for fittings and other parts versus one with cheaper iron is significant.

 

The Pharaoh chasing Moses had 600 chariots as per Exodus 14:7. In 2Chronicles 12:3 Pharaoh Shishak represented an Egypt so powerful that it possessed twice that number with which to invade Israel. This may be evidence of how the world’s superpower of the time converted from bronze to iron. Sisera, Jabin king of Canaan’s captain, in chapter 4 will field 900 chariots. In 2Chronicles 14, though, the Ethiopians could only muster 300 chariots though they came with a million soldiers. Now, if I can just be permitted to draw some conclusion from these numbers. Solomon could field 4,000 chariots and teams it is suggested by 2Chronicles 9:25. Consider the possibility that this increase in numbers represented a cheaper military technology and a more fabulously wealthy kingdom. It is possible they started out with bronze chariots and then as iron became more prevalent some would have bronze chariots, fewer in number, and at the height of chariot warfare some would have many more, less expensive iron chariots. Just a thought. Cheaper iron means a revolution in military technology as evidenced by the Philistines fielding 30,000 chariots here.

 

By taking the Philistine garrison at Geba Saul, with only three thousand men, has painted a target on the Israelites. The Philistines will mean to destroy them. The Israelites are terrified.

 

1Samuel 13:8 ¶  And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. 9  And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. 10  And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. 11  And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; 12  Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. 13  And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. 14  But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

 

 

See what Samuel had said;

 

1Samuel 10:8  And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.

 

Saul disobeys and when Samuel arrives he confronts Saul with his disobedience. Saul, not willing to admit guilt, blames Samuel for being late. Imagine a child or even an employee who, when confronted with outright disobedience, turns it back on you and blames you for their transgression.

 

Saul makes excuses for his actions, justifying himself. There are three things, it has been said, that mankind is known for; a lust for self-glorification, self-propagation, and self-justification.

 

This is a good lesson for us. Think of others who have lied and excused wrongs they have committed.

 

Adam;

 

Genesis 3:12  And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

 

Aaron;

 

Exodus 32:1 ¶  And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. 2  And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. 3  And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. 4  And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 5  And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD. 6  And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play…21 ¶  And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them? 22  And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. 23  For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. 24  And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.

 

See this episode in Acts where someone lies to the Holy Ghost.

 

Acts 5:1 ¶  But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2  And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid

it at the apostles’ feet. 3  But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4  Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5  And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

 

This disobedience will cost Saul his kingdom. I wonder how many kings throughout history lost their kingdoms because they willfully disobeyed God and justified it.

 

Communists in the present day and other weak-minded people will justify their actions based on their feeling a need to do something. They justify any egregious sin against God simply by saying they had no choice, that pragmatically, it was something they just had to do and that makes it okay.

 

God is seeking him a man after his own heart. See the reference in Acts back to this.

 

Acts 13:22  And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

 

If you think this to be a trivial matter for which to be punished consider what Samuel will say;

 

1 Samuel 15:23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

 

1Samuel 13:15 ¶  And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men. 16  And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 17  And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual: 18  And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. 19  Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: 20  But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. 21  Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. 22  So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. 23  And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

 

Saul started out with three thousand men, divided by two thousand directly following him and a thousand with his son, Jonathan. By now only six hundred are left with him suggesting a very high desertion as they feared the Philistines’ wrath as noted earlier in this chapter. They are facing an enormously powerful army with a very small number of fighters.

 

Notice also how poorly armed the Israelites are, with the only truly legitimate weapons of war being with Saul and Jonathan. The Philistines sent out parties from their base at Michmash of what are called in the text spoilers to ravage the countryside after Saul and his army attacked the Philistine garrison at Geba. Things don’t look good for Israel.