Psalm 78:21-39
22 Therefore the Lord heard and was full of wrath; and a fire was kindled against Jacob and anger also mounted against Israel, 22 because they did not believe in God and did not trust in His salvation.
23 Yet He commanded the clouds above and opened the doors of heaven; 24 He rained down manna upon them to eat and gave them food from heaven. 25 Man did eat the bread of angels;
He sent them food in abundance. 26 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens and by His power He directed the south wind. 27 When He rained meat upon them like the dust, even winged fowl like the sand of the seas, 28 then He let them fall in the midst of their camp, round about their dwellings.
29 So they ate and were well filled, and their desire He gave to them. 30 Before they had satisfied their desire, while their food was in their mouths, 31 the anger of God rose against them and killed some of their stoutest ones, and subdued the choice men of Israel.
32 In spite of all this they still sinned and did not believe in His wonderful works. 33 So He brought their days to an end in futility and their years in sudden terror. 34 When He killed them, then they sought Him, and returned and searched diligently for God;35 and they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer.
36 But they deceived Him with their mouth and lied to Him with their tongue.37 For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant.
38 But He, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them; and often He restrained His anger and did not arouse all His wrath.39 Thus He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and does not return.
Message: Ingratitude and Hypocrisy
Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a
thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been
compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor
shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.
What the Lord is Saying:
I read this passage and I immediately think of the Sunday's following September 11, 2001 when the World Trade Center towers came down following terrorist attacks. Verse 34 of Psalm 78 says, "When He killed them, they sought him." When people died on that day people ran to church in weeks following, seeking the Lord. They remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer. But nothing had really changed in their lives. Their mouth said one thing, their heart something else. In verses 36 and 37, But they deceived Him with their mouth and lied to Him with their tongue. For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant.
God is continually trying to get our attention. He is a merciful God. He is compassionate and really does desire the best for His children. It is true that some live hard lives, but our response to God in these hard situations is to continue to love Him and Honor Him, not turn ourselves from him. We have a God that loves us. But, we are too short sighted. We are impatient. We look around and see what others have and shake our fist at God because we do not have the same.
This passage speaks of God's great love for us. We quickly forget that he has our best in mind. I forget this. I want to do things my way and I get impatient and don't want to wait on God for his answer, but I would rather craft out my own response and outcome. Lord, help me trust you no matter what. I don't want to be wind like you mention in verse 39 that blows and does not remember where it has come from. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins and thank you for destroying me, but keeping me alive, and always alive in Christ. Lord, if you need to teach me through life events to follow you and you alone, then I need to learn and I want to accept your ways as the best way. I praise you.
Promise: I need to frequently examine myself to make sure I am seeking the Lord and following His truth.
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