Psalm 78 recounts the story of the Israelites. These 72 verses perfectly describe the cycle of the Israelites following, leaving and returning to the Lord. It tells of how God provided water for them by striking a ROCK, yet they still sinned against Him and tested the Lord, demanding Him to provide their food cravings. God was full of anger because they did not believe or trust in Him. YET HE still miraculously provided them with their desires; He caused manna to rain down from heaven and caused an abundance of birds to fall in their camp. It says that “in spite of all this, they still sinned”. Even though they witnessed all His wonders, they still did not believe.
It is only after God, in His perfect wisdom, allowed them to fend for themselves that they turned and repented to Him. However, God saw past their actions and saw the truth in their hearts. It says that “they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues”; they were not truly repentant or faithful. YET HE still showed them compassion, paid for their sins and did not destroy them. Verse 39 says it beautifully, “He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind the passes and comes not again”.
Even after the Lord drove out nations and provided the Israelites with land in abundance, they rebelled against Him. God rejected His children and allowed their enemies to overtake them. After awhile, He returned to His children. He rebuilt His sanctuary and picked David to shepherd His people well.
How often am I like the Israelites? How often is the Lord miraculously working right in front of my eyes and I either don’t see it or I shortly forget and act like He’s never provided? How often do I test God right after He provides and proves Himself trustworthy? How often do I sin and rebel against Him, yet He is ALWAYS faithful? How often to I turn to idols, something I glorify over the Lord?
How often does He forgive my sins? How often does He show me compassion and remember that I am but flesh? How often does He provide even though I test Him or don’t believe? How much does He keep me safe from enemies that I’m unaware of?
One of my favorite verses is 2 Timothy 2:13, it reads, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful-for He cannot deny Himself”. God continually reminds me of His constant and steady faithfulness, regardless of my faith or faithlessness. I am constantly in His thoughts, even if He is not in mine. He is constantly providing, even if I don’t recognize it. He is always working miraculously, even if I don’t believe or see it.
