When the Lord first laid this Psalm on my heart, I saw the depths, the errors, and the fickleness of my own human condition. In and of myself, I can’t be anything but a current picture of the children of Israel in the wilderness–but oh the depths and the riches of God Almighty! He paid a way–a better way! But it is not an “automatic” change apart from our participation, it is a choice of surrender to His will and way–allowing HIS grace to flow into our weaknesses. I challenge you to allow the following verses from Psalm 78 to wash over you in the Wisdom and Truth of the Holy Spirit Himself. May He lead us all to the point of full surrender!
Verse 1: “Give ear, O My people, to My law: incline your ears to the words of My mouth.”
Verses 7-8: “That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments: and might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.”
Verses 10-11: “They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in His law; and forgot His works, and His wonders that He had showed them.”
Verses 17-24: “And they sinned yet more against Him by provoking the Most High in the wilderness and they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. Yes, they spoke against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Behold He smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can He give bread also? Can He provide flesh for His people? Therefore the Lord heard and was angry: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel because they believed not in God, and trusted not in His salvation: Though He had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, and had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven…” (Just a note here: There is a BIG difference in “Can God” and “Will God”! Their question of “Can” was complaining and doubt! They should have known that He could–they had seen too many things already! What are we complaining about that we have already seen Him handle in the past?)
Verses 32-33: “For all this they sinned still, and believed not for His wondrous works. Therefore their days did He consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.”
Verses 34-37: “When He slew them, then they sought Him: and they returned and inquired early after God. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their Redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter Him with their mouth, and they lied unto Him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with Him, neither were they steadfast in His covenant.”
Oh the wickedness in our fleshly lusts!! We see great things, then cry out, “Where’s God?” Shame on us ALL!
I know this is strong. I know this is grievous. THANK YOU JESUS FOR YOUR WORD! Thank You for writing their story as an example unto us!! (1 Corinthians 10:11)
We need to HEED these words. We need to grieve over our complaining and our doubt and turn full on toward Him in steadfastness and truth and repent of not trusting fully in Him!
I love that even though Psalm 78 was written before Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection, the TRUE heart of God is seen in verses 38-39: “But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not; yea, many a time turned He His anger away and did not stir up all His wrath. For He remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.”
Sometimes feelings seem to rise up higher than faith. We feel confused, lost in purpose, hopeless. It is then that our FaithFULL Father reaches in, speaks softly and reminds us that He alone is worthy of ALL praise. It is in that act of praise that the spirit of heaviness lifts.
BUT before we go, note verses 40-41: “How often did they provoke Him in the wilderness, and grieve Him in the desert! Yes, they turned back and tempted God and limited the Holy One of Israel.”
Are your decisions, your attitudes, your motives, limiting the Holy One? Seek Him. Turn your heart and mind fully to Him and repent of trying to do it your way. Don’t be claiming Him with your mouth, yet not truly trusting Him to fully handle it all.
Let Him IN! Stop allowing “self”, the walls and boundaries you are setting, to cause your days to be consumed. He paid for a better Plan! Surrender and see!!
Prayer:
Thank You Jesus for Your unending Love and Faithful Word of Truth and purchased Righteousness! Be FOREVER praised O King, my King! Lord, forgive me for forgetting. Forgive me for fear. Forgive me and make me mindful of ALL Your goodness toward mankind. Let me be forever in praise, trust and blood covered faith in You! Thank You that I CAN TRUST IN YOU TO HANDLE EVERYTHING I WILL FACE! In Jesus’ Name I pray, AMEN
