The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 131

Evidently there was some well-:emembered occasion when Ephraim suffered an ignomini0us defeat in consequence of their apostasy from God. There is e. Hebrew legend which records how, during the Egyptie.n captivity, the tribe of Ephraim, in the pride of their heart, endee.voured to forestall the appointed time of the Exodus, e.nd went out armed, only to be massacred by the men of Gath. It has, however, been observed that in the prophetical books (especially Hosea), the whole northern kingdom is mentioned under the term "Ephraim;" and, t11.king this view, the "psalmist may allude to a defeat ?fa peculiarly disgraceful character, which was regarded e.s a punish- ment of the ten tribes for their secession from the divinely appointed Davidic dynasty. Precisely of this nature is the defeat of the 800,000 men of Jeroboam by the 400,000 of Abijah, in 2 Chron. xiii." But we ought to look for some instance in which Ephraim made a show of taking part with the other tribes, and forsook them-perhaps through jealousy-in the moment of stress. The image is one of faithlessness. 'l'he thought that calls to mind the sin of Ephraim is given at the close of ver. 8, " A generation ... whose spirit was not steadfast with God." We are to learn, not from their act, but from the spirit which found expression in their act. Illustrate from all known of this tribe. I. A BAD EXAMPLE OF WAVERING. Compare Reuben, "unstable as water." This is the corumon failure of impulsive people, who t~ke up things excitedly, but have no staying power. (See the "stony ground" hearers.) It implies grave weakness of character, which prevents success iu life being won, or confidence being felt. We can never be sure of the wavering man, who may respond to the last impulse, and fail us at the most trying time. Constancy, steadfastness, are not recognized sufficiently as elements of character that may be, and should be, developed and educated in the young, who should be made to carry through what they begin. II. .A llAD EXAMPLE OF LACK OF PRINCIPLE. In the case before us, Ephraim evidently acted on mere feelin@:, Principles of loyalty, and brotherly service to their fellow-tribes, would have enabled them to master "feeling" and "fear." They had no adequate "sense of the rig~t;" they allowed themselves to be ruled by the "expedient,'' which constantly leads men to do mean and shameful things. He only is noble who can act on principle, and suffer for the right. III. .A BAD EXAMPLE OF SUSPICIOUSNESS. Illustrate by the difficulty Gideon hnd with the Ephraimites (Judg. viii. 1-4). Some always think they are being neglected, i;lighted. In this case, probably Gideon bad not thought about these ·Ephraimites, so he could not have designed any evil. When discontented with ourselves, we readily suspect other people's treatment of us. IV. .A DAD EXAMPLE OF SELF-IMPORTANCE. Ephraim was always thinking what was due to itself e.s the leading tribe. The people who are over full of self are only too likely to fail their friends in the evil day.-R. T. Vers. 12, 3L-God's marvello'UJI doings. The marvel of God's doings is always this -He is ever rescuing, delivering, restoring, redeeming, saving, or, as we may say, putting things straight. The type of all God's doing6 was, to the Jew, the rescue of the race from Egyptian bondage. The Divine attributes are not best seen in punish- ments or scenes of terror; throughout the history of the world they have been most fully revealed in God's savings, deliverings, and redeemings. Moses compoRerl a song when the Hebrews had safely reached the further shores of the Red Sea. To him that rescue was a most impressive demonstration of the Divine righteousness; so the song runs thus: " Who is like unto thee, 0 Lord, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? " When God would declare the great foundation laws, he revealed himself as the nation's Deliverer and Saviour: "I am the Lord thy God, that brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." When Joshua pleaded so earnestly, "What wilt thou do unto thy great Na.me? " the thing distressing him was that God seemed to have ceased to be a Deliverer and Redeemer of bis people. David gains right impressions of tho Di~ine righteousness by meditating on the Divine mercy. Started on this line, we may consider as "marvellous doings"- I. THE D1v1:!("E DELIVERANCES. Reading sacred history for illustrations, we find : l. Noah delivered from peril of 1lood. 2. Abraham deUvered from Chaldean polytheistio PS, LXXVIII, 1-72.) TllE BOOK OF PSALMS. 143