Wait! Don’t give up! Nothin’ is ever so bad as it seems at first! Be true to what your heart says is right! It’s never too late! Love is the only good in life!”
–Zane Grey (The Mysterious Rider)
“Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.”
–2 Thessalonians 3:5 (NKJV)
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Israel was called into special status with the Lord. They were the covenant nation, the nation that was to be a light unto the world. Israel was to set the example for the rest of the world in how to serve God. They utterly failed. Jesus tells us to forgive “seventy-times seven.” From this we should recognize the frailty of man. How many times have you asked God to forgive you?
A new Monday, a new week, and we’re back to Psalm 78. God shows us the ups and downs of Israel. They said they wanted to worship Him, but then it was on their terms. They said they would serve Him, but they were hirelings, not loyal to the task.
34 — When He slew them, then they sought Him; and they returned and sought earnestly for God.
35 — Then they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer.
36 — Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, and they lied to Him with their tongue;
37 — For their heart was not steadfast with Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant.
38 — But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath;
39 — For He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again.” (NKJV)
This in one way is a sad portion of Scripture. Look at some of the words, “sought earnestly.” That indicates dedication and willfulness of purpose. “Remembered that God was their rock,” in times of trouble, when enemies approached they rushed to the Lord; He was their rock. He was their Redeemer. Then there is that terrible word, “Nevertheless.” In spite of what they said, in spite of what they knew, in spite of the many times He delivered them–they still tried to get their own selfish way.
I think it interesting, and maybe we all do it, but they tried to use the same techniques on God that they used on their fellow man. They tried to flatter Him. The praises they gave Him were gilded, sugar-coated. Didn’t they understand that God looks on the heart? Didn’t they realize that God is omniscient; He knows all the thoughts of mankind? The verses 38 and 39 show us the heart of God. Instead of destroying them in His wrath He showed His compassion and forgave them.
“Many a time He turned His anger away.” Over and over again we promise the Lord something and we sincerely mean it, but then we back away, think nothing of our words and go back into sin. How many times have we promised never to do something again, and within days, maybe hours, maybe even only minutes from the vow we do it again. Are we in anguish, or are we trying to play a game in which the Lord will not participate? Remember, if you break the vow, it does not negate it. The vow is still valid, ask for forgiveness and He will forgive and not destroy.
That last verse is one that we should take to heart. The Lord knows our weaknesses. He knows that we are but flesh. Our life is short, and once gone it will not pass this way again. However, in God’s forgiveness He still expects something from us. Let me close with the following from George O. Wood, “Have you contrasted your own wayward-ness with God’s mercy? How many times have you put the Lord to the test and rebelled against Him in your own wilderness, grieving Him in your wasteland? It’s easy to forget the Lord’s deliverance; therefore, we must engage in the discipline of remembering.” Yes, this Psalm was about the nation of Israel, but it would be good for each one of us to personalize it, and remember the Lord.
“Nought can I bring Thee, Lord, for all I owe;
Yet let my full heart give what it can bestow;
Myself my gift; let my devotion prove,
Forgiven greatly, how I greatly love.”
–Samuel John Stone
———————————
Israel was called into special status with the Lord. They were the covenant nation, the nation that was to be a light unto the world. Israel was to set the example for the rest of the world in how to serve God. They utterly failed. Jesus tells us to forgive “seventy-times seven.” From this we should recognize the frailty of man. How many times have you asked God to forgive you?
A new Monday, a new week, and we’re back to Psalm 78. God shows us the ups and downs of Israel. They said they wanted to worship Him, but then it was on their terms. They said they would serve Him, but they were hirelings, not loyal to the task.
34 — When He slew them, then they sought Him; and they returned and sought earnestly for God.
35 — Then they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer.
36 — Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, and they lied to Him with their tongue;
37 — For their heart was not steadfast with Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant.
38 — But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath;
39 — For He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again.” (NKJV)
This in one way is a sad portion of Scripture. Look at some of the words, “sought earnestly.” That indicates dedication and willfulness of purpose. “Remembered that God was their rock,” in times of trouble, when enemies approached they rushed to the Lord; He was their rock. He was their Redeemer. Then there is that terrible word, “Nevertheless.” In spite of what they said, in spite of what they knew, in spite of the many times He delivered them–they still tried to get their own selfish way.
I think it interesting, and maybe we all do it, but they tried to use the same techniques on God that they used on their fellow man. They tried to flatter Him. The praises they gave Him were gilded, sugar-coated. Didn’t they understand that God looks on the heart? Didn’t they realize that God is omniscient; He knows all the thoughts of mankind? The verses 38 and 39 show us the heart of God. Instead of destroying them in His wrath He showed His compassion and forgave them.
“Many a time He turned His anger away.” Over and over again we promise the Lord something and we sincerely mean it, but then we back away, think nothing of our words and go back into sin. How many times have we promised never to do something again, and within days, maybe hours, maybe even only minutes from the vow we do it again. Are we in anguish, or are we trying to play a game in which the Lord will not participate? Remember, if you break the vow, it does not negate it. The vow is still valid, ask for forgiveness and He will forgive and not destroy.
That last verse is one that we should take to heart. The Lord knows our weaknesses. He knows that we are but flesh. Our life is short, and once gone it will not pass this way again. However, in God’s forgiveness He still expects something from us. Let me close with the following from George O. Wood, “Have you contrasted your own wayward-ness with God’s mercy? How many times have you put the Lord to the test and rebelled against Him in your own wilderness, grieving Him in your wasteland? It’s easy to forget the Lord’s deliverance; therefore, we must engage in the discipline of remembering.” Yes, this Psalm was about the nation of Israel, but it would be good for each one of us to personalize it, and remember the Lord.
“Nought can I bring Thee, Lord, for all I owe;
Yet let my full heart give what it can bestow;
Myself my gift; let my devotion prove,
Forgiven greatly, how I greatly love.”
–Samuel John Stone