Psalms 78 God is Faithful!

Psa 78:1  Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

Psa 78:2  I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

Psa 78:3  Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

Psa 78:4  We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

Psa 78:5  For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

Psa 78:6  That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

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Psa 78:7  That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

Psa 78:32  For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.

Psa 78:33  Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.

Psa 78:34  When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.

Psa 78:35  And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.

Psa 78:36  Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.

Psa 78:37  For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.

Psa 78:38  But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

Psa 78:39  For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

Psa 78:40  How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!

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Psa 78:70  He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:

Psa 78:71  From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

Psa 78:72  So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

This Psalm holds such a place in my life as I see the seasons of life pictured here as

Maschil of Asaph recalls the faithfulness of God amidst our unfaithfulness.  It begins with a cry to give ear to God’s words, just as in revelations there is a cry for any who have ears to let them hear.  God is faithfully crying out to us that we may just hear His word and remember the works he has done especially with the cross behind us presently.  I look at this psalm and see a theme of seasons of blessing and of curses as the people of God follow then forsake His law.  The amazing characteristic of God’s love is clearly seen in this psalm as it mentions His wrath being withheld because of a love He had for His people and how He always put them through trials to redeem them not to forsake them.  Looking back in my time at college (the past 3 years) I see this cycle of seeking God and falling away and consistently not walking a path towards Christ.  I wasn’t necessarily living riotously, but I was wandering in a wilderness without God’s promise guiding me.  Israel even after the Red Sea constantly doubted God and would turn from rejoicing to complaining and questioning God’s call to them as a nation.   We know this cost them dearly and unfortunately for me my time in the wilderness vs. God’s way is costing me.  It is a huge comfort to know that in the end He feeds me according to the integrity of my heart and guides me by the skillfulness of my hands v.72.  This verse confirmed my steps towards Bible College as I saw how God had preserved me through 3 years of college and had equipped me to step forward into His call to ministry through missions.  Just as Moses, the People of Israel, and David had a wilderness to be tried and equipped I know that my time in college(without attaining a degree) was not a waste and was my wilderness experience to come to the point of seeing God’s promise land(or call) for my life.  This psalm will always hold a close place to my heart as I pursue Christ here at MBC&S and will be an altar to look back at and know God is faithful and will continue to perform a work in me until the day of Jesus Christ PH 1:6.