Despite Me, There is Hope

In my Quiet Time today I read Psalm 78.  I think I usually speed through this chapter because it's pretty long and it tells a story I've read so many times--Israel in the wilderness.  Today, though, several aspects of the story jumped out at me.  The Psalm begins with God establishing His testimony in Jacob (Israel) in verse 5.  He does this in order that they might teach it to their children who would in turn teach it to their children (v. 6).  This was so that their hope would be established in God alone and so that they would not forget His works and keep His commandments.  

But like every other generation before and after them, they fell away, even while God was providing for them in the wilderness!  And guess what, God lets them have their desires (v. 29).  Paul says the same thing of people in Romans 1:26.  In my reading today I also read the story where Nathan confronts David's sin of sleeping with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah the Hittite.  All of these remind me that there are consequences for sin-for not obeying and trusting God.  And like so many other times, it's when these consequences happen that the people return to God.  

And God "being full of compassion" forgave them!  Because He "remembered" that they were fallen--we aren't what/who God intended us to be and it's our own fault!  Yet Israel did not learn and sinned again.  The Psalm says, "Yes, again and again they temped God, and limited the Holy One in Israel."  It could be asked how do we limit God?  Even Jesus couldn't perform miracles because of the people's unbelief (Matthew 13:58, Mark 6:5).  But couldn't God/Jesus just perform miracles to make the people change?  Isn't that what Psalm 78 is all about?!  God gives every opportunity available and the people still don't follow Him!  So, He gives them over to their desires.  

That seems like it should be the end like a tragic movie where the two characters have been dancing around each other the whole time, but still don't end up together.  But God is better than that!  He continues to pursue and continues to lead.  Despite the cycle that goes on and on, Psalm 78 ends in hope.  God raises up David to shepherd His people.  Despite Israel's continuous failings, God extends to them grace and hope.  

Despite my failings God has compassion upon me and extends this grace and hope to me as well.  He gave another shepherd who sacrificed His own life for mine.  The hope God extends can only be truly realized through the cross of Christ.  Despite my continuous failings God is merciful and just and forgives my sins to cleanse me from all unrighteousness.  This does not give me an excuse to sin (Romans 6:1-2), but rather is an extension of grace that only God can give.  As Psalm 78 so reminded me today, I am only flesh--I am a fallen human.  But God extends hope which is Christ Jesus.  Let me not be as Israel and fail to teach my children His story.  And let me be thankful that despite my failings God will never fail me.  There is hope.  Look to the Cross of Christ.