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Day 144

Psalm 78:47a "He destroyed their vines with hail..."

Day 144 – Psalm 78

“He destroyed their vines with hail…” Psalm 78:47a

DEEPER INSIGHTS

The psalmist Asaph must have done much more than just read the Biblical account of the Ten Plagues in the Book of Exodus. He brought illuminating new insights into the study of the Plagues.

“He destroyed their vines with hail,
And their sycamore trees with frost.”
Psalm 78:47

1. The worship of the deity Geb

Pharaoh and the ancient Egyptians worshipped many gods. One of them was Geb. He was worshipped as the god of the earth. He was supposed to guard the earth so that the land may enjoy prosperity.

2. The plague of hail (Exodus 9:13-35 The seventh plague)

a) It was God who sent a terrible hailstorm.
b) Geb had no answer to God’s hailstorm.
c) Geb could not protect the vine from the hail.
d) God’s power was supreme.

2. “And their sycamore trees with frost”

a) Frost was not mentioned in the Book of Exodus.
b) How did Asaph come up with this statement concerning “the frost”?

3. Understanding the weather

a) What is hail?
b) Hail may be described as “hardened snow”.
c) A hailstorm is possible if the weather is sufficiently cold.
d) Frost is also associated with very cold weather.

4. Additional insights

a) Both hail and frost were employed by God.
b) Both served to destroy the vines and the sycamore trees.

These would add to the agricultural woes of the Pharaoh.