April 26, 2017

A REMINDER TO REMEMBER

Psalm 78:32–72

Ellie Troyer
Wednesday's Devo

April 26, 2017

Wednesday's Devo

April 26, 2017

Central Truth

We can look back on history and see patterns in order to learn from past mistakes. But even though we have that opportunity, we often forget to apply it to our own lives. Psalm 78 reminds us how God is compassionate and offers us a happy ending to our story.

Key Verse | Psalm 78:38

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.
(Psalm 78:38)

Psalm 78:32–72

32  In spite of all this, they still sinned;
    despite his wonders, they did not believe.
33  So he made their days vanish like 1 78:33 Hebrew in a breath, 2 78:33 Or vapor
    and their years in terror.
34  When he killed them, they sought him;
    they repented and sought God earnestly.
35  They remembered that God was their rock,
    the Most High God their redeemer.
36  But they flattered him with their mouths;
    they lied to him with their tongues.
37  Their heart was not steadfast toward him;
    they were not faithful to his covenant.
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.
40  How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness
    and grieved him in the desert!
41  They tested God again and again
    and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
42  They did not remember his power 3 78:42 Hebrew hand
    or the day when he redeemed them from the foe,
43  when he performed his signs in Egypt
    and his marvels in the fields of Zoan.
44  He turned their rivers to blood,
    so that they could not drink of their streams.
45  He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them,
    and frogs, which destroyed them.
46  He gave their crops to the destroying locust
    and the fruit of their labor to the locust.
47  He destroyed their vines with hail
    and their sycamores with frost.
48  He gave over their cattle to the hail
    and their flocks to thunderbolts.
49  He let loose on them his burning anger,
    wrath, indignation, and distress,
    a company of destroying angels.
50  He made a path for his anger;
    he did not spare them from death,
    but gave their lives over to the plague.
51  He struck down every firstborn in Egypt,
    the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.
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.

56  Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God
    and did not keep his testimonies,
57  but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers;
    they twisted like a deceitful bow.
58  For they provoked him to anger with their high places;
    they moved him to jealousy with their idols.
59  When God heard, he was full of wrath,
    and he utterly rejected Israel.
60  He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh,
    the tent where he dwelt among mankind,
61  and delivered his power to captivity,
    his glory to the hand of the foe.
62  He gave his people over to the sword
    and vented his wrath on his heritage.
63  Fire devoured their young men,
    and their young women had no marriage song.
64  Their priests fell by the sword,
    and their widows made no lamentation.
65  Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
    like a strong man shouting because of wine.
66  And he put his adversaries to rout;
    he put them to everlasting shame.

67  He rejected the tent of Joseph;
    he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,
68  but he chose the tribe of Judah,
    Mount Zion, which he loves.
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.

Footnotes

[1] 78:33 Hebrew in
[2] 78:33 Or vapor
[3] 78:42 Hebrew hand

Dive Deeper | Psalm 78:32–72

I love stories. Whether the storyteller intends to make me laugh, reminisce, or illustrate a point, I lean forward and intently focus on the words I am hearing. I usually try to figure out the ending before the narrator can finish; and, for some reason, it makes the story sweeter if I get it right. If you think about it, Psalm 78 is a story, but it's not to earn a laugh. This story is written to warn the coming generation of what will happen if they do not have steadfast hearts toward the Lord or stay faithful to His covenant.

Now, this is not just a warning of things that might happen. The author of this psalm went back in history and recounted the history of the nation of Israel and all their ups and downs. He also recounted the faithfulness of the Lord and His efforts to continually draw His people back to Himself.

Psalm 78 is simply a plea to remember. Remember His compassion. Remember the plagues God sent to allow His people to be freed from bondage in Egypt. Remember how He led them safely without reason to fear. Remember their rebellion. Remember God and His justice. Remember God and His mercy. Remember that He was, is, and will forever be the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18; Psalm 78:72).

I have a hard time remembering. I forget I am loved by the Creator of the universe. I forget there are consequences for sin and blessings for obedience. Psalm 78 reminds me of history: the past chapters of the Israelites and their sins, consequences, obedience, and blessings. But ultimately, I am reminded of what I get to look forward to! As a believer, I have the opportunity to turn to the last page and be reminded of how my story turns out. Remember that the last sentence of our story reads "happily ever after," because our story is His story, and His story never ends.

Discussion Questions

1. What truth have you forgotten? What truth do you need to remind yourself of more often?

2. Do you believe that your story has a happy ending? How can you tell others about your "happily ever after"?

3. If you were writing a letter to the coming generations, what would you tell them? How would you remind them to remember?