Psalm 78

Again, of Asaph.      
A teaching poem, designed to teach future generations to remember God's works and goodness to Israel.

Remember!  Remember what God has called you from, and brought you through, and promised for the future!

This song is intended to recount Israel's history in light of God's promises, works, and patience with them, so that future generations might set their hope in Him also, and not forget His works, or to keep his commandments.  Remembering all He has done, will, hopefully, teach them not to rebel.

When God called Abram and established His covenant with him, He commanded that His laws and covenant should be handed down to future generations.

When Israel rebelled, and did not keep covenant with God, but forgot His works and wonders, they were defeated in battle.

Remember...how He rescued you from Egypt.  He divided the sea for you to pass through!  He led by day with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire.  He brought water from a rock!

But they sinned.....testing God and seeking their own 'fancy' (NKJV v 18), or wants, rather than being satisfied with their needs being met.  They questioned God's intent and ability.  He was angry!  but gave them 'angels food', the 'bread of heaven' (manna).  He also sent them the meat they craved, literally dropping it in their laps.  They ate, and their 'fancy' was satisfied.....but He struck them all with illness.

>>>sometimes our 'wants' aren't really what we need. <<<

They still sinned--resulting in wasted years in the wilderness.

At His discipline, they turned and sought Him again, but not with their whole hearts.  Lip service; insincere and fake.  Yet God, who knows all and sees all, still had compassion on them, forgiving them time and again.

I love verse 39.....and find great comfort in it when I am faced with an awe and proper fear of God because of His greatness and my insignificance in light of that.....

     "For He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come             again."

They limited Him by not remembering His power, or how He had redeemed them.  They forgot the plagues of Egypt and how God destroyed them, but saved His people.  He brought them out miraculously and established them in Canaan.

Yet still......they provoked Him.  They worshiped other gods, and bowed to carved images.  God allowed them to b punished by other nations, defeated and ruled by them.

and yet again.....God, in His steadfast love and covenant, rescued them once more.....and established David, a man after his own heart to be their king.  

A shepherd to shepherd His people.

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Wow.   So much to take away from this.

I have, many times, sought my own 'fancy' instead of being content with what God has provided.   I am thankful for His discipline in that.  He has taught me over and over again, that He knows best. So, I pour my heart out to Him, asking for my 'wants' when I can't see any biblical reason that they are sinful, yet in the same breath acknowledge that they are but just that.....wants.....and not needs.
yet how often I run back to the same place of not being content with what He's given.

And how often I have rebelled and paid Him lip service, knowing that He knows this.

And how often in His compassion has He forgiven and restored a right relationship with Him?

I will remember..........