NOTES for Psa 78:34-72
34 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God. |
35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. |
36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. |
37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. |
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. |
39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. |
40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! |
41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. |
42 They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy. |
43 How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan: |
44 And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink. |
45 He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them. |
46 He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust. |
47 He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost. |
48 He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. |
49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them. |
50 He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; |
51 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham: |
52 But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. |
53 And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. |
54 And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased. |
55 He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents. |
56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: |
57 But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. |
58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. |
59 When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: |
60 So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; |
61 And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand. |
62 He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance. |
63 The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage. |
64 Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation. |
65 Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. |
66 And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach. |
67 Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: |
68 But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. |
69 And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever. |
70 He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: |
71 From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. |
72 So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands. |
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The Lord has no need of outward worship far removed from a conversion of the heart, yet He is gracious and merciful to all who turn to Him, even if they are not entirely sincere. It does not follow from this that mercy is granted in response to an outward appeal in time of need. No, the Lord has mercy out of His own mercy; His faithfulness to His word surpasses human devotion. People constantly stray from walking before Him, habitually cross themselves when thunder strikes, and when the thunder passes they once again immerse themselves in their accustomed bustle.
But He, knowing that people are constantly unfaithful to Him, continues faithfully to keep the word He has given us and protects us from misfortune. Even when He permits punishments to fall upon sinners and apostates, they are not an end in themselves but a forced measure, a last resort that must be used so that frightened, thoughtless children will no longer try to frolic at the edge of the abyss. It often helps...
Readings for 19 March 2024
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