Psalm 78 – God is patient, magnanimous and forgiving

Psalm 78 is a long Psalm, written by Asaph to teach the children of Israel. He set out to show the past faithfulness of God despite the rebelliousness and ingratitude of their forefather. He took them through the past mighty acts of God on Israel’s behalf. In rehearsing God’s faithfulness, Asaph sought to admonish the people of God to set their hope on Him, and to remember His past faithful works among them. Ephraim was brought up to show what could happen when they put God out of their minds. They forgot not only the works of God but also His law given through the covenant. Their defeat was not for want of weapons but for not remembering God. 

In summary, this Psalm provides us with the history of God’s marvellous dealings with His people, despite their repeated unbelief and rebelliousness. Their response to God was one of disappointment. This Psalm recollects how God had dealt with them since He delivered them from their bondage in Egypt, and how He supernaturally guided and provided through their wilderness wandering, until they entered the Promised Land. Multiple times God had provided, punished, forgave their rebelliousness, yet they took Him for granted. And with the generation that entered and settled in the Promised Land, He continued to deal with them. He drove back their enemies and gave them David, their king, to shepherd and guide them. 

What do we learn from this Psalm? Every generation needs to diligently teach the next generation concerning the goodness and grace of God. We should seek to impart to our posterity the wonderful grace of God so that they too will experience Him for themselves. In so doing, they too will be enabled to willingly praise Him. While it is good to be mindful of God’s goodness and grace in all His dealings with us, but we must also be honest with our flaws and failings. This will help us to appreciate God more and to know that we have a loving and forgiving God. Although He is tough on our sin, when we repent He magnanimously forgives. Do not neglect such a great privilege!