GOD
SHOWS MERCY, BUT WE MUST HONOR HIM BY OUR RESPONSE
Psalm
78:38-39
38 Yet he, being compassionate,
atoned for their
iniquity
and did not destroy
them;
he restrained his anger often
and did not stir up all
his wrath.
39 He remembered that they were
but flesh,
a wind that passes and
comes not again.
These
verses should fill us with humble gratitude. God has the right to judge us for
our sins, and our sins do deserve His wrath, but God is compassionate to His
own. He certainly showed His grace to the children of Israel, and continues to
do the same for us.
God
remembers that we are flesh and shows compassion to His children.
Hebrews 4:14-16
Since then we have a great high
priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold
fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted
as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne
of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Christ can
sympathize with us because as a man He was tempted in all the ways we are, but never
sinned. Because of Him, we may confidently pray to the Lord in our need of help,
and receive mercy and grace.
The following
verses remind us how, in spite of God’s work for them, the Israelites continued
in their sin. They rebelled, they tested and provoked God, they did not
remember his power. Yet God continued to
be faithful to His promises.
Psalm 78:52-55
52 Then he led out his people
like sheep
and guided them in the
wilderness like a flock.
53 He led them in safety, so
that they were not afraid,
but the sea overwhelmed
their enemies.
54 And he brought them to his
holy land,
to the mountain which
his right hand had won.
55 He drove out nations before
them;
he apportioned them for
a possession
and settled the tribes
of Israel in their tents.
What a merciful
God, Who guided them to safety and provided for them. God protected them and
preserved them continually. Yet God did judge their disobedience, and they had
to bear the consequences of their sins. But He rescued them when they repented
and provided an upright king for them.
Psalm 78:69-72
69 He built his sanctuary like
the high heavens,
like the earth, which he
has founded forever.
70 He chose David his servant
and took him from the
sheepfolds;
71 from following the nursing
ewes he brought him
to shepherd Jacob his
people,
Israel his inheritance.
72 With upright heart he
shepherded them
and guided them with his
skillful hand.
God has not
changed. He continues to show His compassion on man. His kingdom continues, and
in Christ, the house of David reigns eternally. God is in perfect control and
chooses to show mercy to His children, even today.
The children of
Israel, as they dealt with their difficulties, reverted to grumbling. They
quickly forgot the mercy of God and did not trust in His power and wisdom. They
failed to impress upon the following generations the immense grace and
faithfulness of their God.
How are we
doing? Are we quick to forget God’s grace and love when we face trials? Do we
lose sight of God’s power when we face adversities? Are we like the children of
Israel, who were led to sin by their ingratitude? Are we transmitting our love
and praise for our God to the next generations?
Yes, we are
encouraged by God’s awareness of our frailty, but we cannot forget that we
offend Him every time we complain and lose sight of who He is. May this psalm
drive us to review our lives and respond in a way that would glorify our God
and King.
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