And he rejected the tent of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim,
Psalm 78 retells Israel's whole story, and by this point enemies have carried off the ark and Shiloh lies abandoned. This verse names what God did next: He set aside the tribe that had held the leading place, and the question is why.
Joseph and Ephraim were not minor names. The right of the firstborn had passed to them, and God's sanctuary stood on their ground at Shiloh.
After that, Shiloh lost the standing among the tribes that it had held since the days of Joshua — more than three hundred years. Jacob had given Ephraim the place of firstborn over his brother Manasseh — the place of privilege. But the tribe failed, so God's sanctuary left Ephraim's territory, where it had stood, and settled at last in Judah's inheritance, at Jerusalem. "Our Lord was descended from Judah." Here we see a truth found everywhere in Scripture. When the first man fails, and everything trusted to him falls into ruin, God steps in and brings in Christ, "the second Man." Under His headship, and in His hands, everything is secured for ever.
Ephraim had turned back in battle. Nothing was missing on God's side.
They were equipped, and so they could have stood. God had not failed them. Circumstances were not too strong for them. They had every assurance of success. They stood on ground that God's own promise had secured for them: "Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours." Yet despite all this, they turned back. This was no small slip: "they did not keep God's covenant, but refused to walk according to His law. They forgot His works and the wonders that He had shown them."
God did not repair the old arrangement. That is the force of "chose not."
But new grace must come with new experience. We must see that this is not a return to the old conditions. Once again God sets aside the firstborn, nature's own first place. The tent of Joseph is not restored. Taking up the tribe of Ephraim again as His dwelling would not display God's sovereign choice. His new relation rests on one thing only: the love in His own heart. So Zion becomes the unchanging seat appointed for His kingdom on earth, and Judah the tribe linked with it.
The names of the two tribes carry the contrast, and the same setting aside runs back through the family.
Ephraim's name speaks of the fruits of the life. Judah is the contrast: our Lord came from that tribe, and its name, "praise," points to the one thing God can dwell in: "You are enthroned on the praises of Israel." Praise for Christ is the only atmosphere in which God can stay. See how everything stresses the refusal of the flesh! Joseph himself displaced Reuben the firstborn. Ephraim, the younger brother, was chosen before Manasseh. So now again the tribe that had held the headship must be set aside — the tribe the nation's great leader Joshua came from. "The Lion of the tribe of Judah" is the only One who can prevail. All these changes press home a fact God has written all over His word: man cannot be relied on, the flesh is of no use, Christ is all.
The refusal of Ephraim comes with a choice — of a tribe, a mountain, and a man.
He refuses Ephraim and the strength of nature. He acts according to His own sovereign choice. In sovereignty He "chose" the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion for His sanctuary, and David to feed His people. So Zion becomes the symbol of grace, and David a picture of Christ, the One through whom all the grace comes to us.
If Ephraim lost the place by failing, one might assume Judah earned it. The record says otherwise.
Joseph and his son Ephraim (for whom the ten tribes were named) are displaced by Judah (vv. 67-68). Is this because of Judah's faithfulness? No indeed. Judah had been deeply guilty in selling Joseph into captivity. So he shows the total failure of the flesh. But later Judah broke down completely in repentance when Joseph revealed himself to his brothers. This shows that Israel can be blessed only when they give Christ His place of total authority and are humbled in broken repentance before Him.
- Privilege — Ephraim held the firstborn's place, and God's sanctuary stood at Shiloh on his ground. No tribe began with more.
- Failure — They were equipped and had God's promise. He never failed them. Still they turned back and forgot His works.
- Refusal — God did not rebuild the old order. He set nature's first claim aside; He did not repair it.
- Choice — God took up Judah and Zion, not for merit, but out of the love in His own heart. Zion becomes the symbol of grace.
- Christ — Where the first man fails, God brings in the second Man. The Lion of Judah alone prevails, and in His hands everything is secure.
But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved;
Psalm 78 has just told a long story of failure. Shiloh lost its place, the Philistines took the ark, and Israel's king and his sons were killed. Then, in one verse, everything turns on what God Himself chooses. Why did He pass by Ephraim, the tribe that held the birthright, and settle on Judah and on one hill He loved?
Here God starts again on a new basis, after the old one had collapsed.
Up to this point, God had dealt with Israel on the basis of their own works. But when they had brought themselves into complete ruin, He falls back on His sovereignty and acts on His own initiative for their blessing. So we read that He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which He loves, and again, that He chose David. This is the sovereignty of divine mercy, making a sovereign choice for the blessing of man. A mountain is a symbol of power. Mount Zion is a symbol of mighty power used in sovereign grace.
Jacob gave Ephraim the place of the firstborn, and the tabernacle stood in Ephraim's land at Shiloh for centuries. Then the tribe failed, and God moved His sanctuary south.
From that hour Shiloh lost the standing among the tribes that it had held since the days of Joshua — more than three hundred years… Jacob gave Ephraim the place of firstborn over his brother Manasseh — the place of privilege. But the failure of the tribe moved God's sanctuary out of Ephraim's territory, where it had been, and settled it at last in the inheritance of Judah, at Jerusalem. "Our Lord was descended from Judah." Here we see a truth found everywhere in Scripture. When the first man fails, and everything entrusted to him falls into ruin, God comes in and brings in Christ, "the second Man." Under His headship and in His hands everything is secured beyond change.
Psalm 78 keeps repeating one verb: God chose. That choice sets aside the rights that birth would have given.
After describing the ruin of Israel, Psalm 78 shows us Jehovah awaking. But it sets aside all rights of inheritance, and all witness to His earlier dealings with Israel. For, as 1 Chronicles 5 records, the birthright was Joseph's — yet He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which He loves. He chose David His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds.
Judah's own history rules out any thought of merit. It also shows the one thing God waits for before He blesses:
Is this because Judah was faithful? No indeed, for Judah had been badly guilty in selling Joseph into slavery. So Judah illustrates the total failure of the flesh. But Judah later broke down completely in repentance when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. This shows that Israel can be blessed only after they give Christ His place of total authority, humbled in broken repentance before Him. God loves Mount Zion because it stands for the pure blessing He will finally give His people Israel in the millennium.
The verse gives no reason for Zion beyond God's love for it.
What reason did God have to interest Himself in this place more than in another? There was no reason whatsoever except that He loved this city which had been under the power of the Jebusites, the enemies of Jehovah and of His anointed. His heart was attached to this place, because this is where He wanted to set up the throne of His grace on earth for good. "For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it" (Ps. 132:13-14).
Scripture sets two mountains against each other.
No mountain in the Old Testament stood in such direct contrast with Sinai as Zion. The one was the unforgettable scene of the nation's responsibility to the law. The other was Jehovah stepping in with grace for His king when everything was in ruins. People and priests alike were wicked. The Philistines had taken the ark. Israel had said "Ichabod" — the glory has departed. Israel's king and his sons were killed. The Jebusites held the centre and stronghold of Jerusalem, and they were defiant and insulting. It was then that Jehovah, just as He chose David, also chose Mount Zion which He loved.
The choice of David points beyond David.
The crowning fact is His sovereign grace in choosing Judah, Mount Zion which He loved. Here we may well think of the Son of David, God's Anointed. In Him God makes His sovereign grace known, and He will yet feed Jacob and Israel His inheritance.
- Ruin first. Shiloh lost its place and the ark went to the enemy first. God chooses at the point where everything trusted to man has collapsed.
- Choice, not claim. Ephraim held the birthright and lost it; Judah had no better record. The verb "chose" cancels every natural right.
- Love as the reason. Nothing in Zion explains the choice. God loved it, desired it for His dwelling, and made it stand for the blessing He will yet give Israel.
- Zion against Sinai. Sinai stands for Israel's responsibility under law. Zion stands for God stepping in with grace after that failed.
- David, then David's Son. The choice of Judah and Zion prepares for the King who will yet feed Jacob as His inheritance.