Psalm of God’s Faithfulness
Below is the Message Audio followed by Typed Notes.
Psalm 78 is the longest History Psalm of God’s faithfulness to the people of Israel who were repeatedly rebellious against God. Psalm 78 was written by Maschil Asaph who was a prominent Levite, chief musician, and prophet appointed by King David to lead worship in the ancient tabernacle. He wrote Psalms 73-83.
Psalm 78 is a review of the history of Israel, stressing that these lessons should be taught by faithful Israelite parents to their children. It is a record of forgetfulness, faithlessness, foolishness, and failure on the part of Israel. Yet God remained faithful to them through it all. But Psalm 78 isn’t just historical—it is also instructive.
Introduction to the Psalm. Vs. 1-4:
Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 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.
Rememberance of God’s Faithfulness: Vs 5-7.
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 so that the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children, that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments, and might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
The people’s Rebellion Despite Mercy: Even when God works wonders, hearts can still grow hard (v. 8–42).
God delivers Israel from slavery in Egypt. Vs.12-17
In the sight of their fathers, he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan. He divided the sea and let them pass through it and made the waters stand like a heap. In the daytime he led them with a cloud and all the night with a fiery light. He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers. Yet they sinned still more against him.
The people’s demands in the desert and God’s response. Vs. 18–27
They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness? He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?” Therefore the Lord heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full. He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
God’s Persistent Compassion: His mercy is greater than Israel’s failure Vs. 36–39
Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
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. For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
After delivering them from Egypt, He brought them to the Promised Land. Vs. 51-55
God smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham: But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased. 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.
The psalm ends by highlighting King David, The Shepherd King, a for-runner of Christ, as the leader God raised up to shepherd His people well. Vs. 70–72.
He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.