[We are travelling to a faraway land with no internet service – our house in Ohio- so here’s a post I wrote a while back but never published. I’ll be back Tuesday with a fresh study tip.]
When I read passages like Psalm 78, it is easy to berate Israel for their faithlessness to God after all He had done for them. However, if I’m honest it would be fairly easy to write a psalm like this of my own life. God has done great things, intervened on my behalf, providentially cared for me, and yet I’ve rebelled, been faithless, certainly provoked Him.
38 But He, being full of compassion, forgave their [my] iniquity,/ And did not destroy them [me]./ Yes, many a time He turned His anger away,/ And did not stir up all His wrath; 39 For He remembered that they were [I was] but flesh,/ A breath that passes away and does not come again.Thank God He remembers my frailty.
I, like Israel:
did not keep the covenant refused to walk in His law forgot His works sinned even more against Him rebelled against Him in the wilderness tested God did not believe in God did not trust His salvation still sinned [after seeing His power manifest] did not believe His wondrous works sought Him returned earnestly sought for God remembered that God was my rock, the Most High is my Redeemer flattered Him with my tongue lied to Him with my mouth my heart was not steadfast was not faithful in His covenant grieved Him limited Him forgot His power turned back acted unfaithfully turned to idols (the biggest one being myself)But He is patient and gracious and receives me after I’ve learned these lessons… again.