English: Solomon and the Plan for the Temple, as in 1 Kings 6, illustration from a Bible card published by the Providence Lithograph Company (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today, we read the first 24 verses of this comparatively lengthy historical psalm, which according to the superscription was one of about a dozen written by Asaph – one of the singers at Solomon’s dedication of the temple (2 Chronicles 5:7-14). Verses 2-3 are somewhat familiar to Christians today, as Jesus referred to it in Matthew 13:35:

I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us

Parables and “dark sayings” (somewhat the kin of riddles) were used by great teachers to impart wisdom, while challenging and exercising the imagination more than to entertain. Obviously, as any good teacher knows, the more thought the student has to put into the lesson, the more that student will learn. One has to be interested in learning the subject in order to benefit – which is one reason Jesus used them.

Verses 5-8 speak of the covenant with Jacob and the tradition of fathers teaching their children about the covenant, the law, and the wondrous things that God has done for them. Verses 9-16 continue with the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14) and God’s providing of water from the rocks to an ungrateful and unfaithful people (Numbers 20:5-9). Verses 17-20 tell of their rebellion in the desert and how they tested the Lord (Numbers 20:2-4). Verses 21-24 recount how, though God’s anger was kindled against these people who did not trust Him despite all He had done, He still provided food for them in the form of manna from heaven (Exodus 16).

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.