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Day 159

Psalm 78:63a "The fire consumed their young men..."

Day 159 – Psalm 78

“The fire consumed their young men…” Psalm 78:63a

WAR

War at all times is a terrible thing. The losers are the worse hit. The following text describes Israel’s loss.

“The fire consumed their young men,
And their maidens were not given in marriage.
Their priests fell by the sword,
And their widows made no lamentation.”
Psalm 78:63-64

1. “The fire”

a) Literal fire
Many cities were torched by conquerors.
b) Symbolic fire
This was severe chastisement.

2. “Consumed their young men”

a) Young men were conscripted to fight.
b) Many would die in battle.

3. “Their maidens were not given in marriage”

a) There were not enough young men available.
b) Many maidens would be captured and sent into captivity as slaves.
c) Few would experience normal rite of passage of marriage.

4. “Their priests fell by the sword”

a) In war hardly anyone would be spared.
b) The priests of Israel were not spared.
c) Many died in war… falling to the sword of the enemy.

5. “And their widows made no lamentation”

a) Too many priests had perished.
b) The grief was so great that no lamentation was possible.

It would have been endless rites of lamentation for the many who had died!