Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
The verse is a cry of sorrowful longing from God that His people had listened to Him and walked in His ways. Israel did not heed His voice but forgot Him and walked after its own counsel instead of walking in His ways. That forgetting of God is why Israel was scattered.
The listening and walking called for meant keeping God's commandments, treasuring His words and promises, and teaching and singing them through the wilderness journey and to the children. Obedience was their life, while disobedience brought His displeasure. Had they obeyed, He would have soon subdued their enemies and brought their adversaries into submission, defending them and providing abundantly for them. That abundance included the finest wheat and honey out of the rock, even life from the tree of life, and by refusing to heed Him they lost the blessings He wanted to give.
Christ's tearful words over Jerusalem echo this same plea, as He holds back the pronouncement of its final judgment while grieving that the city has not known what would have brought it peace. The verse also carries His desire to gather His children, which unbelief and self-sufficiency resist by holding people in error and keeping them from knowing Him. The same warning reaches today, for the churches are forgetting God as Israel did, and every impenitent person is called to accept His counsel to be saved from coming judgment. Refusing His invitations keeps a person from being numbered among the saints in light. The psalm stands written for admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come, giving reproof, warning, encouragement, and rich promises, and it is to be studied in the schools as meat in due season for the youth.
The verse is a cry of sorrowful longing from God that His people had listened to Him and walked in His ways. Israel did not heed His voice but forgot Him and walked after its own counsel instead of walking in His ways. That forgetting of God is why Israel was scattered.
The listening and walking called for meant keeping God's commandments, treasuring His words and promises, and teaching and singing them through the wilderness journey and to the children. Obedience was their life, while disobedience brought His displeasure. Had they obeyed, He would have soon subdued their enemies and brought their adversaries into submission, defending them and providing abundantly for them. That abundance included the finest wheat and honey out of the rock, even life from the tree of life, and by refusing to heed Him they lost the blessings He wanted to give.
Christ's tearful words over Jerusalem echo this same plea, as He holds back the pronouncement of its final judgment while grieving that the city has not known what would have brought it peace. The verse also carries His desire to gather His children, which unbelief and self-sufficiency resist by holding people in error and keeping them from knowing Him. The same warning reaches today, for the churches are forgetting God as Israel did, and every impenitent person is called to accept His counsel to be saved from coming judgment. Refusing His invitations keeps a person from being numbered among the saints in light. The psalm stands written for admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come, giving reproof, warning, encouragement, and rich promises, and it is to be studied in the schools as meat in due season for the youth.