Psalm 78

Can you understand the dark and mysterious events of even one life? How about the motions of God's love and justice with an entire people?

But God is still good, powerful, and wise, even when we cannot fathom the pathway of pain. He moves His people to worship Him, though they may not receive what they feel that they earnestly requested of Him. There is something very impressive about His covenant-keeping love and our genuine response of reverence and adoration that He has placed inside us and has nurtured up within His worshiping people as they come to desire Him more than anything He can give them. There is some unfathomable goodness in the way He leads us home to Him.

God is a good Father. The pathway of His providence may seem dark to us, but His deeds are glorious.

Israel's (and our) stubborn sin is an important part of the story of the Lord's discipline that we dare not forget. The Lord rescued His people from Egypt with great signs and wonders. Yet they rebelled against the Most High in the wilderness and spoke against God.

The fatherly discipline of the Lord toward Israel combined both provision (meat from heaven) and frightening consequences (the death of many strong young men). What can anyone say about events such as this in the history of the Lord's special care for His people? We cannot deny His power? Dare we deny His goodness and wisdom?

Why was the sin of His people so deep? He showed His wonders, even in judgment. Why did people forget Him and return to paths that only led to death? What would it take for His beloved children to stay on the pathway of blessing and life? Only the Spirit of the King of heaven Himself living within us could adequately change us and keep us in the way of truth and peace.

Without the increasing power of a true renewal within the Lord's nation, they would repeatedly bring Him the offerings of hypocrisy. But a willing people in His day of power will truly come to Him. See Psalm 110:3.

The Lord was very patient with Israel. He provided a system of ceremonial atonement for them. Through the blood of the sacrifice they could admit their sin and their need for atonement. But God is no hypocrite. He required that His people would be truly holy.

He gave them a clear testimony of His judgments in the plagues that He brought upon Egypt, and in the way that He drove the Canaanites out of the land. How could the Lord forever tolerate evil among His own, the people of Israel? How would the story of their election combine with the story of His holy justice and end well?

Over and over again they provoked Him to anger with their high places of idolatry and their pursuit of depravity. How young were you when what should have been rejected as disgusting became first intriguing, then enticing, then addictive, and finally enslaving? What happens when the people of God become locked in the prison house of spiritual adultery and immorality? Who can save us from certain destruction?

There must be a strong Deliverer who will be our strength and shield. Our strength and shield, the best Son of David has come. His home was in that Mount Zion which is above. He came from heaven to save. He has rescued us with better blood than that of the old sacrifices. His resurrection is the key fact for all men everywhere to seriously consider. Is it true? What does it mean? It has provided for us the beginning of a good end to the story of God's righteousness and His covenant-keeping love. This story is not only for the Jews, but even for the Gentiles.

The King has come. By His death and resurrection we have a true ground for hope. By His life within us we experience that hope, and are filled with compassion even for those who have wronged us.

Israel wronged God. But God gave His Son for the salvation of Israel. And now people throughout the earth have been caught up into this amazing song of love that is so deep and beautiful and good. In the words of the John Newton hymn, “Let us love and sing and wonder! He has hushed the law’s loud thunder. He has quenched Mount Sinai’s flame. He has washed us with His blood. He has brought us nigh to God.”