Ps. 78.52 (set in motion)

And then / he set his people moving
and guided them / as a flock / in the wilderness. 

Her appearance. The psalm now shifts in perspective as God now centers his attention on Israel, “his people”. It is interesting to note that, in contrast to the account in Exodus of the plagues, Israel has been entirely absent until this point. Rather, the focus has been exclusively on God’s dealing with Israel’s enemies; there is no account of the plagues not harming Israel or of their dwelling in a type of secure sphere of protection. The psalmist has bracketed that entire aspect. Now, however, Israel makes her entrance. Set in Motion. And she is described as “being set in motion”. This is important for two reasons. The first is how this directly contrasts with the previous verse where the firstborn of the Egyptians were “struck down” in their tents. From absolute immobility we are now presented with the movement of life, deliverance and ransom. In this we see that God’s deliverance is one that causes ‘removal to Himself’. Israel’s deliverance is not found purely in the destruction of the Egyptians, but rather in their ‘being set in motion’ toward God’s land. Resurrection. On a deeper level, although intimately tied to the first, is that this is a type of ‘resurrection’. Israel is being ‘set in motion’ out of the death that has become Egypt. It is analogous to the sick man’s deliverance from Sheol. As we saw last time, with the destruction of the firstborn, the plagues had reached their consummation—consuming all of the created order (water, vegetation, animals to human). From land to life, Egypt had become curse by entering into the silence and immobility of death. Now, with Israel, we see from within that realm, immediately upon her appearance, movement, life and blessing. Israel emerges as the complete antithesis of Egypt. Death as Prologue. Further, it is important to note the ‘precondition’ to Israel’s movement. Unlike in the Exodus story there is no previous request for Israel’s liberation that is met by refusal. Rather, there is only the sending of plague after plague. The sense is more of a steady destruction not so much as ‘warning’ but as a concerted aim at completely leveling Egypt. It is as if the death of the first-born is the summation, not the final but most dramatic warning. The point to all this is that Israel’s ‘raising up’ is founded upon the intentional (and absolute) ‘casting down’ of Egypt. Her life will come from death. Israel the flock. There are several layers to Israel’s being a flock. Only one will I mention here, saving the others for the next reflection. The only other mention of a ‘flock’ in the psalm is the flocks of Egypt that are given over to death by hail. In a sense, the shepherd of Egypt has failed to keep his flock safe (or, is unable). Here, however, when Israel is ‘set in motion’ they move as God’s flock and under his protection. Egypt’s flocks end in death; as God’s flock, Israel will move in(to) life. They travel in resurrection power.