RR Psalm 68:23,24 Part 17
Shalom,
Psalm 68:23 My Lord said: “I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea. 24 So your foot may wade in blood, and your dogs’ tongue may have their share of your enemies’ blood.”
Every “Rabbi’s Reflection” should have something in it that lifts us up and encourages us in our walk with God. A quick reading of our subject verses tells us the poet is using descriptive language to celebrate “I will bring them back” twice, in victory over your/their “enemies’ blood.” So we’re going to celebrate in victory over our enemies… let’s be lifted up and encouraged.
But, (there’s always a “but”) it’s not that simple (“it” never is). Bashan, as we have already learned, is a place of mountains covered with forests. And, the “depths of the sea” is a reference to the Dead Sea. There are a several (more than a couple) of problems with that. Our destiny is (at least the hills of) Jerusalem, not the distant mountains. It’s great to be “brought back,” but not so good we have to go there in the first place.
Also, the Dead Sea is called the Dead Sea because nothing lives there. The “depths” refers to the lowest place on earth. There is nothing downstream, there is no way out. In Hebrew it is called “Yam HaMelach,” meaning the “salt sea.” Not to be confused with “Melech” meaning “king” but spelled differently, or “Malach” meaning “messenger” or “angel,” also spelled differently.
For both the mountains of Bashan and the Dead Sea, it is great to be brought back from there, but so much better if we didn’t have to go there in the first place. Moses prophesied this trouble…. (five times in Deuteronomy and once in Leviticus, here is the first example in Deuteronomy)
Deuteronomy 4:25 “When you father children and children’s children and have been in the land a long time, and you act corruptly and make a graven image in the form of anything and do evil in the sight of Adonai your God, provoking Him to anger, 26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that you will certainly be carried off quickly from the land you are crossing over the Jordan to possess. You will not prolong your days on it, for you will certainly be destroyed. 27 Adonai will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where Adonai will drive you.
However; God always promises a return or restoration….
Deuteronomy 4:29 But from there you will seek Adonai your God and you will find Him, when you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in distress and all these things have come on you, in the latter days you will return to Adonai your God and listen to His voice. 31 For Adonai your God is a merciful God. He will not abandon you or destroy you, or forget the covenant with your fathers that He swore to them.
That restoration is available today through Messiah Yeshua. Why wait? Jeremiah 31:33 “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—it is a declaration of Adonai—“I will put My Torah within them. Yes, I will write it on their heart. I will be their God and they will be My people.”
This restoration will not come without repentance…. Acts 2:36 “Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him—this Yeshua whom you had crucified—both Lord and Messiah!” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the emissaries, “Fellow brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be immersed in the name of Messiah Yeshua for the removal of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach ha-Kodesh. 39 For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away—as many as Adonai our God calls to Himself.”
Hear, O Yisrael, these words of life and live! Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have boldness to enter into the Holies by the blood of Yeshua. 20 He inaugurated a new and living way for us through the curtain—that is, His flesh…. 22 So let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Amen and shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed 11-Nov-2026 1st of Kislev, 5787 Rosh Chodesh Kislev (Day 2)
Ge 26:23-29 Jdg 12-13 Ps 35 Mt 26:31-56 (Ro 11:17-36)
Psalm 68:23 My Lord said: “I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea. 24 So your foot may wade in blood, and your dogs’ tongue may have their share of your enemies’ blood.”
Every “Rabbi’s Reflection” should have something in it that lifts us up and encourages us in our walk with God. A quick reading of our subject verses tells us the poet is using descriptive language to celebrate “I will bring them back” twice, in victory over your/their “enemies’ blood.” So we’re going to celebrate in victory over our enemies… let’s be lifted up and encouraged.
But, (there’s always a “but”) it’s not that simple (“it” never is). Bashan, as we have already learned, is a place of mountains covered with forests. And, the “depths of the sea” is a reference to the Dead Sea. There are a several (more than a couple) of problems with that. Our destiny is (at least the hills of) Jerusalem, not the distant mountains. It’s great to be “brought back,” but not so good we have to go there in the first place.
Also, the Dead Sea is called the Dead Sea because nothing lives there. The “depths” refers to the lowest place on earth. There is nothing downstream, there is no way out. In Hebrew it is called “Yam HaMelach,” meaning the “salt sea.” Not to be confused with “Melech” meaning “king” but spelled differently, or “Malach” meaning “messenger” or “angel,” also spelled differently.
For both the mountains of Bashan and the Dead Sea, it is great to be brought back from there, but so much better if we didn’t have to go there in the first place. Moses prophesied this trouble…. (five times in Deuteronomy and once in Leviticus, here is the first example in Deuteronomy)
Deuteronomy 4:25 “When you father children and children’s children and have been in the land a long time, and you act corruptly and make a graven image in the form of anything and do evil in the sight of Adonai your God, provoking Him to anger, 26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that you will certainly be carried off quickly from the land you are crossing over the Jordan to possess. You will not prolong your days on it, for you will certainly be destroyed. 27 Adonai will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where Adonai will drive you.
However; God always promises a return or restoration….
Deuteronomy 4:29 But from there you will seek Adonai your God and you will find Him, when you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in distress and all these things have come on you, in the latter days you will return to Adonai your God and listen to His voice. 31 For Adonai your God is a merciful God. He will not abandon you or destroy you, or forget the covenant with your fathers that He swore to them.
That restoration is available today through Messiah Yeshua. Why wait? Jeremiah 31:33 “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—it is a declaration of Adonai—“I will put My Torah within them. Yes, I will write it on their heart. I will be their God and they will be My people.”
This restoration will not come without repentance…. Acts 2:36 “Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him—this Yeshua whom you had crucified—both Lord and Messiah!” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the emissaries, “Fellow brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be immersed in the name of Messiah Yeshua for the removal of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach ha-Kodesh. 39 For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away—as many as Adonai our God calls to Himself.”
Hear, O Yisrael, these words of life and live! Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have boldness to enter into the Holies by the blood of Yeshua. 20 He inaugurated a new and living way for us through the curtain—that is, His flesh…. 22 So let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Amen and shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed 11-Nov-2026 1st of Kislev, 5787 Rosh Chodesh Kislev (Day 2)
Ge 26:23-29 Jdg 12-13 Ps 35 Mt 26:31-56 (Ro 11:17-36)
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