Psalm 78:38-39
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.
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 every 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 His mercy and grace.
The
following verses remind us of how, despite God’s compassion toward them, the
Israelites continued in their sin. They rebelled, they tested and provoked God,
failing to remember his power. Yet God continued
to be faithful to His promises.
Psalm
78:52-55
Then
he led out his people like sheep
and
guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
He
led them in safety, so that they were not afraid,
but
the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
And
he brought them to his holy land,
to
the mountain which his right hand had won.
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
He
built his sanctuary like the high heavens,
like
the earth, which he has founded forever.
He
chose David his servant
and
took him from the sheepfolds;
from
following the nursing ewes he brought him
to
shepherd Jacob his people,
Israel
his inheritance.
With
upright heart he shepherded them
and
guided them with his skillful hand.
God
has not changed. He continues to show His compassion for 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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